Mesopotamia to the Fall of Rome

This chapter contains a mixture of historical information which relate to how the civilization of today was formed. Some of you readers with more historical knowledge than I probably will throw darts on my picture for my generalizing and prioritizing of what to include. A walk thru history wasn’t my initial idea, but I couldn’t ignore its importance when digging facts concerning the main subject. I earge you to have an open mind when reading this chapter and think of it as needful pointers into the history of forming today’s civilization. The idea behind a brief walk thru history until today, starting before the birth of civilization and point out some important event is to enlighten you as a reader of the complex world of leadership.

Before Civilizations (>3500 BC)

There are many definitions of what to include when defining birth of civilization. I agree with those who say it’s when people learned to read and write. The first writing we know about today was created around 5500 years ago. People had lived thousands of years before this, but they then lived like nomads and not much changed between generations. Nomads are people how have no permanent home. Generally, men were hunters and women gathered wild plants. When there were no more animals to hunt or plants to gather, they moved to a new place.

The general term “division of labor” state that people do individual jobs. This marks the birth of society when certain people do certain jobs. Further, when doing the same job over and over again, profession is created. The “division of labor” caused people to depend on each others to survive. When ordinary nomad tribes met and fought against developed tribes with more skilled warriors, they was defeated and killed or possibly merged into the more skilled tribe. As the advanced tribe grow more professions was created and as people understood that their existence was based on their own part within the tribe they also learned its value. Knowledge was passed between generations to secure family existence. The father did teach his son for example. Complicated things demanded some kind of outside storage to be passed. Wall paintings of fishing and hunting techniques evolved into smaller signs and characters to form the first forms of writing. This allowed people to pass more complex knowledge between generations.

A section in the Middle East called “The Fertile Crescent” (extends from the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf) was a rich food-growing area perfect for settling. Mesopotamia which means “between the rivers” (Tigris and Euphrates), was the best farmland in this region. It was in this region the first writing we today know of came about 5500 years ago. This area is today known as Iraq.

“If I have seen further than others, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants.” — Sir Isaac Newton

What he meant was that his accomplishments were possible because he learned from the people who came before him.

Aborigines and Natives

Aborigines, derived from the Latin: ab origine - “from the origin”, are in general the peoples who were the first inhabitants of a land, or with some identified pre-existing or prior association to a land. Traces of aboriginal tribes and settlements are found all over the world, both living today and those who does not exist anymore. Its no use mentions any of them, because there are so many. I must take the opportunity to point out that many of these inhabitants of the old world developed their own structures of life, laws, rights, religions, responsibilities etc. I think we have much to learn from them about the essence of life.

I put a big BUT here, as in our modern world it’s not that uncommon to misunderstand history and build a mental misleading picture of special aboriginal rights to the land were they once lived in. It’s the same with old views of life. We should learn from both and not promote or adopt them as if they would fit into our global society without compromises. Old views of life were made up in the minds of the old world. Today, both rights to land and views of life is not owned by anyone else but all equally. In history tribes, settlements, citizens, countrymen etc died if they claimed such rights from those who were stronger. In our modern society this is called murder and is a crime but by suppressing one does not justify claiming of the other. Today we all must raise claims using politics and opinions. All other path is radical, and must so be treated.

Don’t misinterpretation my view here. I do not justify the history of terror and slaughter against aborigines in history, but I understand our modern society. If we do not work together on equal terms, none of us have a chance to survive.

The World’s First Empire

It was the Sumerians who formed the southern parts of Mesopotamia (Sumer). It seems like the Sumerians really was no ethic group, but a common language and culture. Together they called their land Ki-en-gi, “place of civilized lords” and were initially independent city-states, whose limits were defined by canals and boundary stones. Each state had a temple and was ruled by a king or a priest tied to the states religious rites. As these cities developed, they sought to assert primacy over each other, falling into a millennium of almost incessant warfare over water rights, trade routes, and tribute from nomadic tribes. By time one of the states, the Amorites, conquered Sumer and founded the city of Babylon around 2300BC, just north of the today existing Iraqi town al-Hillah.

The sixth ruler of Babylon, Hammurabi ~1780–1750 BC was a very efficient, giving the region stability after turbulent times. Babylon became transformed into the central power of Mesopotamia. One of the most important artifacts found from the area and time is the compilation of a code of laws. The 282 laws were engraved in stone and placed in a public location for everyone to see. Hammurabi required that people were responsible for their actions. Some of Hammurabi’s laws were based on the principle “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”. This stone made on Hammurabi’s order and is today viewable for the public at the Louvre museum in Paris, France. The rule of Babylon was even obeyed as far as the shores of the Mediterranean. But Mesopotamia had no clear boundaries, which made it vulnerable to attacks. Trade and culture thrived for 150 years, until the fall of Babylon in 1595 BC.

Babylonia then lost its empire over western Asia. Syria and Canaan became independent, and the high-priests of Asshur made themselves kings of Assyria. Babylon was renamed to “Kar-Duniash” by the new rulers, the Kassites, and continued to be the ‘holy’ city of western Asia, where the priests were all-powerful. Through the centuries of Assyrian domination, Babylonia enjoyed a prominent status. Modern Assyrians trace their heritage to an ancient race of the same name, responsible for creating the world’s first empire in recorded history. At its peak, the empire encompassed what is now western Iran, all of Mesopotamia (Iraq) and Syria, Palestine, the Armenian highlands and which even threatened Egypt in the 8th and 7th centuries BC. This finally changed in 627 BC with the death of the last strong Assyrian ruler, Ashurbanipal.

Egyptian Civilization

The Egyptian history is magnificent. Just by reading a few lines of Egyptians history make me jealous on archeologists. There is so much to explore and so much is so well preserved. Take the impressive works that are statued by the pyramids for example. The Egyptian history goes back as far as the Mesopotamian, but artifacts show that technology probably evolved earlier in Mesopotamia. Around 4500 BC individual dwelling, towns, and “urban planning” began due to trade. Life still was simple and slowly evolved as threats made tribes work together to gain strength. Some artifacts found prove there also was some trade between Egypt and Mesopotamia. First samples of writing have been dated to around 3500BC proving the division of labor and that the civilized world had found its beginning. It’s likely that civilized life gave society members more value to fight for and unite around. After a long period of raising and falling rulers in different parts of Egypt, everything changed in mid 3100BC when the so called “Scorpion king” unified Egypt.

To the people of Egypt, the ruler, later called pharaoh, was considered by many to be a god. As a god, pharaoh was believed to posses the secrets of heaven and earth. The pharaoh was responsible for all aspects of Egyptian life -- keeping the irrigation works in order, directing the army, keeping peace, and issuing laws. Government and religion were inseparable in Egypt. After this first unification a history of countless numbers of kings and dynasties has ruled Egypt. The first 6 dynasties seem to have established a rather calm life without major conflicts. During 3rd dynasty 2650-2575BC the pyramids was built, which of course demanded enormous devotion. However as a result centralized power collapsed due to internal affairs between 7th and 10th dynasty 2150-2060BC and was replaced with many kings.

Centralized power was regained during 11th to 18th dynasty (2055-1539BC) when an era of foreign trade, enormous building projects along with the use advanced jewelry was created. At the end of the 19th dynasty the priesthoods increasing power corrupts central government and old moral collapse as tomb robbing is done even by officials. The priesthood becomes hereditary and begins to assume secular power. The central government again breaks down around 1070BC. The capital is moved many times and then Assyrians invade Egypt around 590BC. The Greeks help re-establish order. A renaissance in the arts of the 25th Dynasty shows a return to the Old Kingdom style. The 30th Dynasty contains the last of the Egyptian-born rulers. Persian and Greco-Roman rulers are replaced in 332BC by Alexander the great and after him two more Macedonians. The following Ptolemaic dynasty seems a bit merged with the Macedonian and Egypt’s authority and wealth was intact until the death of Cleopatra, at which time, Egypt was overpowered by Rome around 30BC.

The Romans later was replaced by the Byzantine/Christians around year 306, lasting to around year 750 when Islamists took over power. Between the years 1174-1192 Egypt was ruled by Saladin, who is also known for his capture of Jerusalem in 1187 between the second and third Christian crusades. In the 14th century the Ottoman Empire had grown to as they conquered what was left of the old Roman Empire. Egypt also was ruled by the Ottomans which Empire lasted for almost 600 years to the early 20th century.

The Greeks and the Athenian Empire

In around 3000 BC the so called Greek Bronze Age began and including the Troy and the Mycenaean civilizations it continued until the historical fall of Troy in 1183 BC. In 900 BC mark the beginning of the polis (city-state) which was followed by raise of the aristocracies between 800-700 BC. Olympic Games were established in 776 BC. Western coast of Turkey was colonized earlier and in 750 BC even Southern Italy and Sicily also was colonized. This was during the same time as new alphabet was introduced to general writing, which boosted lyrics and philosophic writing. In 650 BC colonization of Black sea begins.

Around 5th century BC an association of city-states called “The Delian League” was formed with Athens as the leading city, which also by some also is referred to as the Athenian Empire. Athens is believed to have up to 300.000 citizens during its era ruled using a sort of representative democracy in government. It was actually the Athenians who invented the word “Democracy” in order to define their revolutionary kind of government. Parallel to the Leagues constant battle against pirates and the Persians, there also was an internal battle with those who didn’t like the Athenians to be in control of the League.

In 490 BC king of Persia decided to expand his Persian Empire by attacking Athens. The Persians landed at Marathon. Pheidippides was a messenger who ran all the way to Athens. Pheidippides died from exhaustion shortly after gasping out his news about the invasion. Soldiers from Athens marched to Marathon and forced the Persians to retreat. Today, runners call long races marathons in honor of Pheidippides’ run.

In 460 BC, Egypt had revolted against Persian occupation and requested aid from Athens. After decade of battles with the Persians a formal peace treaty, known as the Peace of Callias, was formalized in 450 BC. During these times the Athenians had moved the Leagues common owned treasury to Athens for better protection and soon after they built the Acropolis and the Parthenon, as well as many other non-defense related expenditures. This was the zenith of the Athenian Empire. As the Battle with the Persians ended, the Leagues internal battles raised. After the Peloponnesian War (431-404BC), between Athens and Sparta, Athens lost, and the Athenian Empire was splittred.

Death of Socrates

Athenian democracy became corrupt and the trail and death of the great philosopher Socrates in year 399 BC along with the expulsion of Protagoras and other incidents of the enforcement is even today, in our times of democracy, seen a warning that unconstrained majorities can act as tyrants. Socrates was sentenced to death by poisoning for misleading the youth and denying the gods. One of Socrates most famous pupils, Plato, left Greece for over a decade due to the death of his Mentor. When he returned he founded the Academy, a school that would be active for over 900 years. Plato described his idea of an ideal society in his most famous book, the Republic. In 377 BC a second Athenian Empire was founded, but never regain same status our power, enemies were now far stronger and more varied.

Odrysian Empire

The history regarding the Odrysian (Thracian) Empire is today of increasing interest. Previously it was seen as a community of evil barbarians by nature, but history changes as the thousands of untouched Thracian tombs just have begun to be inspected. Thracian tribes ranged from Romania to Northern Greece, including Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia and Ukraine united by king Teres and became the Odrysian Empire in the end of 5th century BC. Roads were built and trade was developed and a 100 year rich state with a powerful army of ~150,000 men was created. Its capital was Odrysia (as named by the Greeks) which today is the Turkish city Edirne. Internal problems in mid 4th century BC caused the Empire to separate into three kingdoms who all, towards the end of the century, was conquered by Filip II and his Macedonian armies.

Macedonian Empire

The history of Macedonia begins in early 7th century BC with its founder Peridiccas I. After a short period of Persian over lordship, the state regained its independence under King Alexander I (495-450 BC) and began to expand. Macedonian Empire was attacked by the forces of Sitalkes, King of the Odrysian Empire in 429 BC. The attack was a complete failure and Sitalkes along with his army was defeated. Some years later, Aristotle was born in Macedonia. Aristotle moved to Athens and studied at Plato’s Academy. Aristotle returned to Macedonia after Plato died, year 347 BC. Back in Macedonia, King Philip hired him to prepare his thirteen year old son, Alexander, for his future role as a military leader.

Alexander became King of Macedonia when his father was assassinated in 336BC. Aristotle then returned to Athens and opened the school of Lyceum. Aristotle organized his school as a center of research on astronomy, zoology, geography, geology, physics, anatomy, and many other fields. Aristotle became the greatest scientist of the ancient world. Alexander conquered the Persians and when he moved into Egypt, 332 BC, he was declared a God by the Pharaoh. Alexander truly changed the world. He carried the ideas of the Greeks and their love of learning throughout his empire. He founded the great city of Alexandria, which became a center of learning and culture in Egypt.

Alexander, known as “Alexander the Great”, died of fever in 323 BC leaving a huge empire to crumble without his strong leadership. Alexander’s mother, wives, and children were all killed in the struggle for power that followed his death. The Macedonian Empire was divided among his generals in three parts. Starting year 215 BC and ending year 168 BC, the remains of the Macedonian Empire was involved in three battles with the rising power of Rome. This became the end of the Macedonian Empire and the territories became a part of the Roman republics.

Roman Republic

Foundation of the city-state Rome was done by the twins Romulus and Remus in 753BC according to the legend, which in date has been verified to be very likely by archeologists and historians. The legend further tells about the seven kings of Rome, starting with the twin Romulus, who made the city bigger in both power and population without major notice from other great powers in the region. In 510BC Roman leaders Brutus and Collatinus reformed the state into a republic. Romans became dominant in Italy through a network of allies, conquered city-states, colonies, and strategic garrisons in year 268 BC.

The battle of Pydna against the Macedonian Empire, in 168 BC, divided Macedon into four small republics under Roman rule. In year 73-71 BC, the Roman republic was attacked by the revolting slave known as “Spartacus”. Spartacus was a deserter from the Roman legions who had been sold into slavery as a gladiator. His army of over 90,000 escaped gladiators and slaves attacked the roman republic in the third large slave rebellion, which also is known as the “Gladiator War”. The rebellion was ended by Pompey the Great who at the time was one of three great leaders of Rome (Pompey, Crassus and Julius). Crassus died in war against Parthian’s leaving Caesar and Pompey as the two strong leaders of Rome.

In year 59 BC, Julius Caesar became elected to the Rome consulship and in 58 BC he was governor of Rome. A series of wars across Western Europe was initiated on his demand. While Caesar was away from Rome, Pompey managed to get him declared, by the senate, to be an enemy of the republic serving his own purposes. Pompey was elected consul of Rome in 53 BC as result. When the information reached Caesar, he marched on Rome. He crossed the River of Rubicon in 49 BC and initiated a civil war against Pompey that eventually was ended by Egyptians who had the fleeing Pompey murdered - an act the angered Caesar, who didn’t like interference in his war against Pompey. While tracing the path of Pompey, Caesar found himself involved in a local conflict in Egypt. His successive progress was rewarded with enormous honors from the Senate. He became called “the founding father of Rome” and started to wear clothing of the old Roman kings. Caesar reformed the calendar and put his own name on the 7th month (July). This also created a gap between him and some aristocrats, who he had pardoned during the civil war.

Ordinary Man (Caesar) Meets God (Cleopatra)

Beside his progress, Caesar became involved with Queen Cleopatra of Egypt during his conquests. Cleopatra was, as all kings and queens of Egypt, seen as a god by the people. As Caesar saw himself as a man equal to Romans, with status gained by honor, Cleopatra certainly made a special impression on him. Caesar wintered in Egypt in 48 BC–47 BC, and Cleopatra shored up her political advantage by becoming his lover. Egypt remained independent, but three Roman legions were left to protect it. Brutus and Cassius who used the opportunity and blamed Cleopatra for poisoning Caesars mind to gain power in the senate. The people of Rome had begun to dislike Cleopatra and gave her the nick name “Whore of Egypt” for her influence over him. Cleopatra visited Rome between 46 BC and 44 BC were she uncovered a child which she claimed to be Caesar’s. Internal problems peaked with Caesars assassination during Cleopatra’s visit to Rome.

I recommend HBO’s TV-Series named “Rome”, which picture this period in Roman history very well, especially the primitive and hard life of the Roman citizens and legionnaires as well as intrigues and politics of the Noble families. My biggest surprise was that HBO totally missed that Cleopatra (the Egypt Goddess) in fact were in Rome while Caesar was murdered. However, I liked the series and season 2 is being recorded during 2006 and will be released in 2007, which I can’t wait to watch. I hope the second season do not continue were the first ended but instead pictured another important period in Roman history. If HBO are smart, they should move thru history and make seasons of important parts all the way up to our present age. They even could stick with same casting, were especially Kevin McKidd and Ray Stevenson did a marvelous job. It would be a whole new concept – same casting that characterizes same type of individuals in different parts of history.

Back to history: After Caesars death, Roman republic was led by his grand-nephew Octavian and Marcus Antonius, who was Caesars right hand. Later on Marcus Antonius teamed up with Cleopatra in Egypt and was blamed by Octavian to have been captured by the same hook as Caesar. Civil war broke out in 31BC. One year later, Octavian ends the war by defeating Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra in Alexandria. Both Anthony and Cleopatra managed to create suicide just before they were captured. Thereafter there was no one left in the Roman Republic who could, or wanted, to stand against Octavian as he, the grand-nephew of Caesar, moved to take absolute control.

Birth of an Empire

Both the Senate and the Roman citizens were tired of the civil wars. In year 27 BC, Octavian offered back all his extraordinary power to the Senate and in a carefully staged way, the Senate refused. Octavian was careful to avoid going into the same footsteps as Caesar by not acceptation the title “King”. Instead he did choose the title “First Citizen”, “Imperator”, which normally was given by Roman troops to their victorious commanders. It is from “Imperator” that the modern title “Emperor” is derived. The Roman Empire now was literally born.

Restore Peace and Order

The first thing Octavian did was to ensure that all parts of the Empire were well run and that taxes were fair. He ordered construction of massive roads, bridges, government buildings, and huge public baths. He said, “I left Rome a city of marble, though I found it a city of bricks.” The Roman people awarded Octavian with the title Augustus, which means, “respected one”. Augustus ruled Rome for 41 year, though he did not call himself an emperor. Augustus was very respectful to the senators, but the Senate knew he controlled the army and could do as he pleased. Peace and order was restored in Rome. Augustus powerful and professionally trained legions would protect the Roman citizens from any outside attacks for 200 years. The successful Roman Empire flowered. The Roman model of government still is used as basic model in many nations today.

Religion, Jesus and the Birth of Christianity

The Romans were pagans, which include a broad set of spiritual/religious beliefs and practices of a natural religion (as opposed to a revealed religion based on a revealed text). Romans allowed the citizens to practice their own faiths (Mainly Jewish) and did not force them worship Roman gods. About year 30, a prophet named Jesus began to attract a following in the Roman province of Judea. Judea is part of the modern nation of Israel. His followers came to believe that Jesus was the son of the Jewish God and that he performed miracles. Jesus angered the Jews, as he claimed himself to be the son of God and king of the “Kingdom of heaven”. Jesus’ use of language contrasted with that of the first century Jewish revolutionaries who believed that the Kingdom was a political reality which would overthrow of Roman rule and replace it with theocracy. He was subsequently arrested on the orders of the Sanhedrin and the High Priest, Joseph Caiaphas. He was identified to the guards by one of his apostles, Judas Iscariot, who is portrayed as having betrayed Jesus by a kiss. He was condemned for blasphemy by the Sanhedrin and turned over to the Romans for execution - not for blasphemy, but for sedition against the Empire.

The Romans however didn’t want to be involved in the conflict and handed him over to his home authorities in Galilee, a region of the province Palestine. But again, the conflict was brought back before Roman authorities, with increased anger from the Jews. The Romans then crucified Jesus. Three days after his execution, Jesus’ followers said they saw him raised from the dead. At first the Romans did not mind about the Christians. The Empire was prosperous and there were not many Christians. But things would change…

The Great Fire of Rome

In the night the 19th of July year 64 a great fire broke loose in Rome. Two thirds of Rome was destroyed. This fire has been a mystery ever since. As Rome was such a tightly built city, the fire could have been an accident. However, it may have been created on purpose and fact is that after the fire, Emperor Nero ordered many Christians to be executed, crucified and thrown to lions accused of arson.

Some historians mean that it was Nero himself who created the fire to be able to rebuild his new “Neropolis” in Rome. However, which seem more likely, Gerhard Baudy (a modern historian) mean that it actually was the Christians who created the fire. By putting Rome in flames the 19th of July year 64 fulfilled an ancient Egyptian prophecy, which would serve as secular proof that Rome was a city of Evil, as Egypt and its history was well known by the Romans. Such a strike against Rome possibly would have served the, at the time, minority religion of Christianity well as their hate for Rome of course had grown to enormous proportions after Jesus was crucified thirty years earlier and as Rome in Christian eyes were a city of Evil with Emperor Nero as the Antichrist.

A Growing Hate Against Christianity

The Roman Empire reached its greatest size around year 117 and extended from Britain and Spain, across France, southern Germany, and the Balkan Mountains. The empire also included North Africa, and stretched as far east as the Caspian Sea. Many Romans, however, suggested that bad times were coming to the empire because the growing group of Christians did not worship the Roman gods. Roman emperors became increasingly intolerant of Christianity. In year 202, Emperor Septimius Severus banned any Roman citizen from converting to Christianity or Judaism. Those who disobeyed the emperor were often tortured by soldiers or wild animals at sporting events. This, however, did not get a wanted effect. Christianity continued to grow. Because of the increasing instability within Rome, Constantine when seized power in year 306, ended the persecution and made Christianity legal and tolerated.

Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire

To secure his government before the collapse of Rome, Constantine moved to a city called Byzantium in modern Turkey in year 330, which he renamed to “Constantinople”. Constantine supported the church, but he continued to worship Roman gods. At the end, laying in his deathbed, he called to be baptized into the Trinity Church which was his own made flavor of Christianity. Fifty years after Constantine’s death, Trinitarian Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire.

In the matter of fact, Trinitarian Christianity was developed as a merger from “Arianism” which was the religion that took over when the Roman Empire ended. While Arianism did dominate for several decades in the family of the Emperor, the Imperial nobility and higher ranking clergy, in the end it was Trinitarianism which prevailed. Interestingly regarding Arianism is that it became condemned at Council of Nicea in year 325, but Constantine did revoke the condemndment already in year 327, but yet, after decades of theological fights and the death of Constantine in year 337, Arianism again became condemned in 381 and was replaced with the “Credo” which has become the modern Christian theology in the eastern Churches. In Arianism, Christ was not equal to God and thereby it was adapted easier by to the Germanic tribes, were it did linger for some centuries, especially Goths and Longobards kept it. Arianism is considered to be heretic even today. To be known is that the first Merovingian king, Clovis I, did officially convert to Catholicism from Arianism in year 498. He is known to be the first one who used the well known “fleur-de-lily” symbol, which later became a symbol for many monarchs of Europe.

Roman civilization survived for centuries in Constantine’s eastern empire and long after the actual city of Rome and the empires western Constantine provinces fell to invaders. Historians refer to this as the “Byzantine Empire”.

End of the Roman Empire

While the Byzantine Empire continued in the east, the city of Rome slowly was fragmented due to increasing number of conflicts. In year 410, warriors known as Visigoths overran the city. The city of Rome continued to exist, but the old Roman Empire was now dissolved.

East and West Catholic Church Separation

East- (Byzantine Orthodox) and West- (Roman) Catholic Church clearly becomes divided in these parts of historic timeline. Rulers of both sides (Pope and Patriarch) excommunicated each others. Historians mark the fall of Rome as the end of ancient history and the beginning of the co called “Middle Ages”, with a millennia of conflicts and great diseases until the region would experience a “rebirth” known as the “Renaissance”.

The Goths

Origins of the Goths

Gothic culture show relations with Nordic Bronze Age around 1300BC were artifact as well as linguistic development are prominent. Archaeological evidence shows that there was a general tribal depopulation between year 600 BC and 100 BC in the traditional province of Ostrogothia, in Sweden. This matches settlements found in the northern Germanic regions. The Goths are believed to have crossed the Baltic Sea from Scandinavia and especially from the small island Gotland and the area known as Gotaland in Sweden. Roman historian Gaius Cornelius Tacitus work: “De origine et situ Germanorum” also called “Germania” dated year 98, tell about Scandinavia (Scandza), the Scandinavians and their Gods. This information is extra interesting as it takes another 700 years until next external historical record tells about Scandinavians. Tacitus also relates the Scandinavians with the Britain’s in matter of language and culture. The historian Jordanes, in his work “Getica”, also mentions Scandza to be the origins of the “Goths”.

Interference with the Roman Empire

What the Roman Empire called the “Northern Danger” was identified as early as the 2nd century BC. Thou there were many different tribes in the Germanic regions they were migrating with each others, forming larger and more advanced tribes. It was Caesar who first established the term “Germania”, to define the northern threat. The barbarians of the north became a constant problem. It wasn’t until the end of the second century, when the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius had a vision of a culture transparent and equal Reich as Germania was willing to co-operate. Marcus was assassinated and his son Commodus became Emperor. Marcus wanted Livus to become Emperor, which most likely was the objective for the assassination. The new Emperor Commodus changed his father’s plans and betrayed the Goths. This betrayal resulted in surprise attacks against settlements who considered Romans to be peaceful. This was the Roman Empires second biggest mistake, which marked the beginning of the end of the Roman Empire.

A force of Goths launched one of the first major “barbarian” invasions of the Roman Empire in 267. This group then settled on the other side of the Danube from Roman territory and established an independent kingdom centered on the abandoned Roman province of Dacia, as the Visigoths. In the meantime, the Goths still in Ukraine established a vast and powerful kingdom along the Black Sea. This group became known as the Ostrogoths. Emperor Decius who was the first Roman Emperor that was killed in battle, died at the Battle of Abrittus in year 251 against the Goths who were led by King Cniva.

Visigoths

When Rome collapsed in the end of the 5th century the Visigoths spread westwards and established the Kingdom of Iberia that by time covered Gibraltar, Spain, Andorra and southern France. The center of Visigoth rule shifted first to Barcelona, then inland and south to Toledo. The kingdom was tolerant to different religions at first, but by time Catholicism grew stronger and after the Third Council of Toledo in year 589 a new Catholic Kingdom was born. It was announced as a “triumph of the Church and the conversion of the Goths”. Catholic bishops immediately instituted the program of forced conversion of Jews and extirpation of the remains of Aryanism as “heresy”. And in year 633 the Bishops proclaimed the rights to select king from among the royal family. Here by the transfer on power to the new Catholic Church was complete.

The Visigoths also had a few conflicts with the Byzantine Empire but faced the general defeat against the Muslims (“The Moors”) from the south. Surviving Visigoths who were against the Catholic rule found new life with the tolerant Muslims. Those who still proclaimed catholic rights face death or fled north, to the kingdom of the Franks and played a key role in the Reconquista of Spain and Portugal. A few generations later they would play a key role in initiating the Holy Roman Empire under Charlemagne.

Ostrogoths

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the Ostragoths spread eastward and created a Kingdom in the Italian peninsula and neighboring areas during 489 to 553. The King Theodoric the great tried to preserve the social institutions of late Western Roman Empire survived during his rule. He managed to reunite the Goths (Visigoths and Ostragoths) briefly under one crown in the early sixth century. Theodoric moved westward and abandoned the Ostragoth kingdom and became regent of the Visigoth kingdom for nearly two decades. The Ostragoth Kingdom short after collapsed under attacks from the Byzantine Empire in mid to late 6th century.

Tailoring History

The famous and mythical Goths is said to be the once who ended the mighty Roman Empire. Well, I won’t agree. I would say it was the Romans way to handle cultures and religions that killed the Empire. This infected the relations with primarily the Goths (outside threat) but also the Christians (inside threat) who also were one of Rome’s constant threats. Due the myths of the Goths, later many have tailor history to take advantages of the mythical Goths.

Many prominent individuals in Sweden made a great attempt to convince Europe that Visigoths and Ostragoths were the same people as the one’s living in the west- and east-provinces of Gothia, Sweden. In the Council of Basel, 1434, a Swedish delegation proclaimed the above. The Spanish delegation then retorted that it was only the lazy and unenterprising Goths who had remained in Sweden, whereas the heroic Goths, on the other hand, had left Sweden, invaded the Roman Empire and settled in Spain. Who knows if there were distant bounds still connecting the Goths togeather?

However as many greater societies became divided due to cultural reasons in history, I say it’s the same with the two different Gothic traits (Swedish Goths and European Goths). It seems like it was the same type cultural divorce that separated them west from east.

And later in this dossier I have written about the impact of the Swedish Goths separation, which eventually initiated Sweden as a nation state. I would say this cultural force exists still today and are constantly trying to separate humanity for its own agenda.