The Migration Period

The Migration Period

Called VÐ"¶lkerwanderung, by Germans, the period of AD 200-700 is marked the Great Migration Period of Europe. It describes the invasion, and migration of Germanic tribes, in Europe. The migration included Goths, Huns, Vandals, Franks and other Germanic Tribes. Although the fall of the Roman Empire is subject to many interpretations, it is agreed that the Migration Period of Europe had a serious impact. This migration was due to military pressures, climate change and population pressure. The Germanic tribes at this time were first to make the mass migration in Europe.

The first people to settle in what is now southern Scandinavia and Denmark were people who shared a common culture. Called the “Nordic Bronze Age” (World Book) this period is described as pre-A.D. times. What brought about a migration to the south, and the European mainland was a change in climate around 2700 B.C. This brought about a much colder climate, deterring crops and farming. Most of the people moved south into what is now modern day Germany and Denmark. The loss of people in Scandinavia brought about and end to the “Bronze Age” and they settled off until the rise of the Viking age. New settlements began to spread into the mainland as time progressed.

в-?в-? Settlements before 750BC

в-?в-? New settlements until 500BC

в-?в-? New settlements until 250BC

в-?в-? New settlements until AD 1

The Romans started invading this territory in the 2nd century. Rome extended its empire to the Rhine and Danube rivers, conflicting with Germanic tribal territory. The Germanic people held their ground and kept the Romans out beyond these boarders; the Romans quickly named them “barbarians” meaning foreigners. As the Romans seized Celtic tribes in the area and established important northern cities such as Cologne and Mainz, the Germanic people were getting annoyed with the Romans and a rebellion seemed forthcoming. (Pagden)

The first people to challenge the Roman Empire were the Goths. This Eastern Germanic Tribe was believed to originate on the Island of Gotland, an island off the coast of Sweden, the largest in the Baltic Sea. The Goths were divided into 2 different groups, the Thervingi and the Greuthungi. These two groups migrated south to what is now Poland and the region north of the Black Sea. (World Book) During their inhabitance in these regions, the Goths invaded eastern provinces of the Roman Empire during the A.D. 200’s. Labeled “barbarians” by Romans, the Goths were the first to challenge the Roman Empire.

Around the 3rd Century A.D. the Goth’s split again into two groups, the Visigoths, north of the Danube river, and The Ostrogoths, Goth’s north of the Black sea. Pestered by Huns, the Goths were forced to migrate westward into the Roman Empire. A civilized deal was reached with Emperor Valens, the eastern Roman Emperor and the Visigoths, were allowed to settle in the Balkans.

Civil unrest, discontent with Roman rule, and a famine lead to the Gothic War in 376 A.D. Visigoths and Ostrogoths became unhappy with the Romans and began attaching and plundering the Eastern Roman army. Many battles were fought the most important being the Battle of Adrianople, a decisive Gothic victory, and a decisive first barbarian attach of the Roman Empire. Emperor Valen was killed in this battle, and this sent shock waves throughout Europe.

Under their king Alaric, the Visigoths invaded Italy during the early 400’s and sacked Rome on August 24th 410. (World Book) The first time in 800 years that Rome had been invaded, Alaric reached great success as the Visigoth leader. Now permanently splitting up, the Visigoths followed Alaric and moved westward into Gaul, modern day France, and Spain. They remained there until the early 500’s where they were drove south to Spain by the Franks. The Visigoths stayed here in Spain until the Arab invasion of 711.

The Ostrogoths remained in their current location and gained freedom from the Huns around 453. They remained a controlling power in this territory until around the mid 500’s where they were finally taken back by the Byzantine Empire.

The Franks were Germanic Tribes of the lower Rhine. They came into existence in the A.D. 200’s after the encroachment of the Roman Empire into Germanic Territory. The Franks,