Germania

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For alternate meanings see Germania (disambiguation)

Image:Imperium Romanum Germania.png Image:Pre Migration Age Germanic.png

Dating back to the Roman era, Germania was the Latin name for a geographical area that stretched from the west bank of the Rhine to a vaguely-defined eastern frontier with the forest and steppe regions of modern Russia and Ukraine (Sarmatia).

History

Germania was inhabited by different tribes, mostly Germanic but also including Celtic, Baltic, Slavic and Scythian, or steppe elements. Though Germanic tribes were in the majority, the ethnic makeup was complex and changed over the centuries as a result of migrations. The Germanic peoples spoke Proto-Germanic dialects.

The most complete account of Germania that has been preserved from Roman times is Tacitus' Germania.

Regions

Germania was defined by Rome as having two regions: 'the inner Germania', west and south of the Rhine, occupied by the Romans, and 'the free Germania' (Magna Germania) east of the Rhine. The occupied Germania was divided into two provinces: Germania Inferior (approximately corresponding to the southern part of the present-day Low Countries) and Germania Superior (approximately corresponding to present-day Switzerland and Alsace).

See also

• Limes Germanicus

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