Vanacker, Wouter

English

Ghent University Academic Bibliography

Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2010.12.21Klaus Tausend, Im Inneren Germaniens: Beziehungen zwischen dengermanischen Stämmen vom 1. Jh. v. Chr. bis zum 2. Jh. n. Chr. (MitBeiträgen von Günter Stangl und Sabine K. Tausend). GeographicaHistorica 25.   Stuttgart:  Franz Steiner Verlag, 2009.  Pp. 282.  ISBN9783515094160.  €47.00 (pb).  Reviewed by Wouter Vanacker, Ghent University (Wouter.Vanacker@UGent.be)Table of ContentsThis book surveys the development of different types of internal relations among theGermanic tribes between the first century BC and the second century AD. It questionswhether regionally differentiated patterns can be distinguished and aims to explore to whatextent Roman pressure influenced these internal relations. The challenge the author facesis a large one, since one would expect the predominantly Roman origin of the sources tocontain a number of shortcomings and pitfalls and these sources were primarily concernedwith internal relations that were affected by or somehow related to Roman imperial policy.A major consequence of this situation is the fact that about half of the book is devoted tothe subject discussed in the first chapter, namely political and military relations. Firstly,fifty-four attestations of friendly and hostile relations are set out in detail. Few of thempostdate the first century AD. In the subsequent sub-chapters, Tausend moves beyond thecase-specific level and faces the issue of whether foreign affairs were directed for the mostpart by separate clans or by the tribe as a whole. While the identification of the principalactors is often fairly difficult, the author attributes the greatest importance to the latter.Attestations of alliances between Germanic tribes are most frequent in the west. Thissituation presumably resulted from the imminent threat of Roman domination. However,internal conflicts within one particular tribe and the organisation of raids are also said tohave led to separately concluded alliances between various individual clans and tribes.Tausend then considers whether political structures had an influence on the tribes’ foreignaffairs. His conclusion is that the geographical differentiation that marks the politicalorganization of the Germanic tribes (powerful kings in the east contrasted with acompeting nobility with a “primus inter pares” in the west) is not reflected by the patternsof political and military external relations. The tribe’s size seems to have been a moreimportant factor. Attention is then paid to the duration and repetitive character of conflictsand coalitions and the ways in which alliances could be extended to other tribes and clans.Finally, Tausend examines the forces that inspired the actors to conclude an alliance or totake up arms against each other: economic gain (booty, especially in the case of clans, andland, mostly in the case of entire tribes), defence (against oppressive Germans or Romans)and political intentions (for instance hegemonic domination). Interests in trade and saltstocks, as well as protection against or participation in migrations, are also mentioned asmajor motives.The second chapter of the book is dedicated for the most part to migrations in Germania. Itwould seem that these were caused by internal social conflicts, expulsion by otherBryn Mawr Classical Review 2010.12.21 http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2010/2010-12-21.html1 van 3 7/12/2010 11:24Germanic tribes or translocation compelled by Rome. The regularity of such migrationstaken into account, Tausend marks the phenomenon as an important determinant of theGermanic political landscape and of Roman policy in the region. If one accepts theauthor’s view that many migrations were not mentioned or commented upon by theancient sources for the reason that they did not affect Roman policy in the region, then hisstatement that migrations were “ein häufiges geradezu ‘normales’ Phänomen dergermanischen Welt” seems fairly plausible (p. 98). The author also attempts to reconstructtheir trajectories, mainly by seeking similarities with the routes followed by Romaninvaders. The next sub-chapter deals with expansion, for which interference in aneighboring tribe’s internal affairs, conquest and the forging of alliances are perceived tobe the most important mechanisms. From the first century AD onwards, eastern tribesmelted together into great, long-lasting confederations, while Roman influence is said tohave prevented this development in the west. The second chapter closes with a treatmentof dependency relations among the Germanic tribes, which could take the form of clienttribes or clans seeking protection of, respectively, a powerful tribe or noble chief. Mostinterestingly, Tausend looks for analogies in the history of intertribal relations in Gaulduring the first century BC in order to create typologies and comprehend the terminologyused in ancient sources on such relations in Germania. This approach leads to theilluminating observation that in reality the so-called socii may often have been client tribeswho were voluntarily dependent on the powerful tribe and who provided the latter withmilitary support. Tausend argues that, even so, such tribes could retain considerablepolitical and military independence.Next, the author studies attestations of large, cross-tribal cults (such as those of Nerthusand Tamfana) and their connection with particularly long-lasting political coalitions. Muchattention is paid to the origins and developments of various “Kultgemeinschaften”(particularly of the Lugii and the Vandals).The history of Germanic seeresses is discussed next by one of the co-authors, S. Tausend.The connection with the general research intentions of the book remains rather unclear asthe focus is primarily on creating typologies, based upon the seeresses’ activities, statusand appearance. However, the author pays some attention to the role these women mayhave played in the formation of alliances. Her choice to enrich her analysis by seekinganalogies, not merely in other ancient contexts (such as Gaul and Britain) but also inmedieval sagas and runes, has provided insights that are often innovative yet highlyspeculative.Tausend then focuses on interfamilial contacts among Germanic tribes and their politicalimplications. While direct attestations of political marriages are scarce, indirect sources(such as onomastics and foreign intervention in internal affairs) may furnish additionalevidence. The author observes that the frequently attested intermarriages between theChatti and the Cherusci were hardly motivated by political decision-making towardsRome. It seems that such marriages were merely motivated by a striving for power on bothinternal and external political levels of Germanic politics. Most remarkably, the authorperceives a large number of similarities with patterns of intermarriage attested in laterGermanic history.The book’s next section deals with economic relations. Here, the reader is presented forthe first time with a summary of current results, since the author seems to depend onexisting studies more extensively here than in other chapters. This is also the first chapterwhere archaeological studies receive notable attention. Tausend identifies only Romanobjects of trade as appropriate indicators of intertribal trade. The diffusion throughoutGermania from the trade centers on the limes (Castra Vetera, Fectio, Carnuntum, andBryn Mawr Classical Review 2010.12.21 http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2010/2010-12-21.html2 van 3 7/12/2010 11:24Mogontiacum) and in the interior, as well as the specific trajectories of both Roman andGermanic traders, are examined. The author emphasizes the fact that political relationsprofoundly influenced the direction of trade in Germania. Attention is also paid to theso-called “Reichtumszentern”, which, in all probability, were centers of redistribution ofimported goods among the kings’ dependants. By combining the information provided byarchaeological studies and literary sources, Tausend is able to identify the centers of innerGermanic trade as those regions where strong central power was exercised and importantcult centers were located.Tausend concludes this part of the book with two remarkable observations. The authorfirstly points to a remarkable separation of the western Germanic tribes (which dwelled inthe Rhine and Weser basins) and their eastern counterparts. This view differs from ancientand modern perceptions of Germania. The division of two Germanic sub-regions, however,is not marked by distinct patterns of internal and external political and economic relations,or a result of different cultures or ethnic identities. Tausend argues that the region’stopography created the separation, since it provided far too few opportunities to allowregular contacts between western and eastern tribes. Topography is also said to be able toexplain why the contacts between Celts and “Rhein-Weser-Germanen” were particularlyintense. The second observation emphasizes the notable parallels with later Germanicintertribal relations. With respect to the development of retinues and powerful leaders, ofmigration patterns and of large political entities, Tausend boldly believes that after thesecond century AD Germania was not subject to as much change as one might assume.After Tausend’s conclusion there follows a contribution on the population size and militarypotential of ancient Germanic tribes by G. Stangl. By interpreting both archaeological andliterary sources, the author achieves plausible estimates, which in some cases allow for acritical reinterpretation of the numbers provided by literary sources.The maps are frequent in number and highly informative, but it is often unclear on whichsecondary sources they are based (for instance, p. 189). Considering the authors’ languagechoice and complex writing styles, one fears that the work may be destined to receive theattention it deserves only “im Inneren Germaniens”.However, this book should be welcomed as a valuable contribution to our understanding ofGermanic history. While the lack of abundant evidence forces the authors to rely tooheavily on hypotheses, they nevertheless manage to reach notable conclusions on thecharacter and development of Germanic intertribal relations. Their viewpoints may notmerely be of major interest to scholars of (early and later) Germanic history, but also tothose researchers who study intertribal relations in other parts of the empire, on either sideof the limes. On many occasions, the authors of this work show how fruitful such kinds ofcomparative approaches may be.Comment onthis review inthe BMCRblogRead LatestIndexfor2010ChangeGreekDisplayArchivesBooksAvailablefor ReviewBMCRHomeBryn MawrClassicalCommentariesBMCR, Bryn Mawr College, 101 N. Merion Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA 19010HTML generated at 08:17:38, Friday, 03 December 2010Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2010.12.21 http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2010/2010-12-21.html3 van 3 7/12/2010 11:24

Klaus Tausend, Im Inneren Germaniens

https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/1083590/file/1084158.pdf

Im Inneren Germaniens: Beziehungen zwischen den germanischen Stämmen vom 1. Jh. v. Chr. bis zum 2. Jh. n. Chr. (Mit Beiträgen von Günter Stangl und Sabine K. Tausend). Geographica Historica 25. Stuttgart: 2009. Pp. 282.

Im Inneren Germaniens: Beziehungen zwischen den germanischen Stämmen vom 1. Jh. v. Chr. bis zum 2. Jh. n. Chr. (Mit Beiträgen von Günter Stangl und Sabine K. Tausend). Geographica Historica 25. Stuttgart: 2009. Pp. 282.

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Ghent University Academic Bibliography