What Was Tacitus Germania
Tacitus composed Germania in order to illustrate his cynical assessment of the Germans and their nation. Tacitus presented thorough descriptions of what the German citizens looked like and the disorderly way their country was set up. Tacitus also emphasized the significance of family life for most Germans, the nonimportance of a class system to the Germans, and the violent behaviors German individuals often impulsively resorted to. Tacitus provided this information in a negative way to expression his perspective that the Germans were more barbaric than other societies from the same time period.
Tacitus opened his work, Germania, by pronouncing how the average person agreed the word Germany was contemporary. Tacitus recounted how he was told …show more content…
The only fact of the German society Tacitus praised was the fact that most German marriages were monogamous. Once married, many wives gave gifts to their husbands which often included “oxen, a caparisoned steed, a shield, a lance, and a sword” (436). These offerings were not romantic but were all practical items that warriors would need in battle. Men never married women from foreign realms. Most spouses stayed faithful to one another, but when cheating did occur the wives were cruelly punished and publically humiliated. In most cases, the children would spend their childhood being cared for by their mother. Class system in Germany was not as apparent as it was in other areas considering “the master is not distinguished from the slave by being brought up with greater delicacy” (427). Slave possessors normally treated their slaves pleasantly and would seldom discipline their slaves with physical abuse. But when the owners’ emotions got the best of them, the punishment they gave their slaves was homicide. In Germany it was usual for travelers to require aid during their expeditions. When guests were in need, hosts would always try to provide assistance. The hosts would ask as though the strangers were friends, and would not think twice about it. The fact that all German citizens were raised and treated the same way is why there was less distinction between kings and
Tacitus opened his work, Germania, by pronouncing how the average person agreed the word Germany was contemporary. Tacitus recounted how he was told …show more content…
The only fact of the German society Tacitus praised was the fact that most German marriages were monogamous. Once married, many wives gave gifts to their husbands which often included “oxen, a caparisoned steed, a shield, a lance, and a sword” (436). These offerings were not romantic but were all practical items that warriors would need in battle. Men never married women from foreign realms. Most spouses stayed faithful to one another, but when cheating did occur the wives were cruelly punished and publically humiliated. In most cases, the children would spend their childhood being cared for by their mother. Class system in Germany was not as apparent as it was in other areas considering “the master is not distinguished from the slave by being brought up with greater delicacy” (427). Slave possessors normally treated their slaves pleasantly and would seldom discipline their slaves with physical abuse. But when the owners’ emotions got the best of them, the punishment they gave their slaves was homicide. In Germany it was usual for travelers to require aid during their expeditions. When guests were in need, hosts would always try to provide assistance. The hosts would ask as though the strangers were friends, and would not think twice about it. The fact that all German citizens were raised and treated the same way is why there was less distinction between kings and