Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

63

Barbarians

By the fourth century ce, the once great roman empire was in decline.

A great threat came from tribal groups living outside the boundaries of the

empire. the romans had mixed feelings about these tribes. they thought they

were uncivilized because they did not live in cities but often recruited their

warriors to serve in the roman army. today, we often call these tribes barbarians.

But in fact they were superb metalworkers, farmers, and great warriors, with

well-organized laws and customs. Around 370 ce, hordes of one particular tribe,

the huns, moved from central Asia. other tribes were pushed westward, and

some of those nearest the empire asked the romans for shelter. But in 406, hordes

of Alans, Vandals, and Sueves swept into Gaul (modern-day france); in 410, the

Goths, under Alaric, attacked and captured rome, and even more

barbarians entered the roman empire. In 452, the huns, led by

Attila, attacked northern Italy. Many areas of the empire

were now conquered by barbarian tribes,

who set up their own kingdoms.

SAckInG of roMe

In 410 Alaric, king of the Visigoths,

captured and looted the great city of

rome, which had been unconquered for

800 years. the sacking of rome shocked

the civilized world, but the empire itself

did not collapse until 476.

AttIlA the hun

the nomadic huns were

jointly ruled by Attila (434-453)

and his brother Bleda. In 452,

after killing Bleda, Attila

invaded Italy.

BArBArIAn InVASIonS

By 500 ce, barbarian tribes had overrun the

Western roman empire. they divided their

territory into separate kingdoms. With time, the

invaders adopted some roman ways, laws, and

some latin words. this map shows the routes

of the

barbarian

invasions

in the

5th century.

Craftwork

each barbarian tribe had

its own culture, laws, and

customs. even before 500 ce,

many barbarians had lived

inside the roman empire,

and many eventually became

christians. the barbarians

were not just warriors. their

metalwork and jewelry were

particularly beautiful.

This gold and enameled

fibula was used to fasten

a barbarian man’s cloak.

Gold buckle set

with garnet

Anglo-

Saxons

Alans

Huns

Visigoths

Vandals

ROMAN EMPIRE

ROME •

Find out more

charlemagne

europe, history of

roman empire

Vikings

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