Barbaricum (from the Greek: Βαρβαρικόν, "foreign", "barbarian") is a geographical name used by historical and archaeological experts to refer to the vast area of barbarian-occupied territory that lay, in Roman times, beyond the frontiers or limes of the Roman Empire in North, Central and South Eastern Europe, the "lands lying beyond Roman administrative control but nonetheless a part of the Roman world". During the Late Antiquity, it was the Latin name for those tribal territories not occupied by Rome that lay beyond the Rhine and the Danube (but not for Persia): Ammianus Marcellinus used it, as did Eutropius. The earliest recorded mention appears to date to the early 3rd century.
In research literature, the terms 'Germania', actually Magna Germania, and 'Barbaricum' are sometimes used interchangeably, but they are not entirely identical in the chronological or the geographical senses. The extra-Roman area described as Barbaricum was, from the beginning of the Migration Period, not exclusively inhabited by Germani, even though they represented the majority of the population until the time of Late Antiquity. In the Migration Period, Alans and Huns also pushed forward into this area before and, later (from the 6th century), Slavic tribes populated the area east of the Albis (River Elbe) that the Germani had largely abandoned.
It is important to highlight the diverse cultural, social and economic contacts between (Germanic) Barbaricum and the Empire since the early imperial period. Archaeologically, numerous imported Roman artefacts have been uncovered among the finds in the Barbaricum region. The formation of major Germanic tribal units such as the Alemanni and Franks, from the time of the imperial crisis of the 3rd century was probably influenced by contact with the Roman world. Likewise, "barbarians" were able to have careers in the Roman army.
References
- Grane, Thomas. Beyond the Roman Frontier: Roman Influences on the Northern Barbaricum. Quasar, 2007, p. 5. ISBN 978-8-87140-346-5.
- Burns, Thomas S. Rome and the Barbarians, 100 B.C.-A.D.400. Baltimore and London: Johns Hopkins, 2003, p. 35.
- See e.g. Ammianus 18,2,14: in barbarico
- Hubert Fehr, Philipp von Rummel: Die Völkerwanderung. Theiss Wissen Kompact, Stuttgart, 2011, p. 30; Eutropius 7.9: trans Albim fluvium [...], qui in Barbarico longe ultra Rhenum est (over the Elbe, which is in the barbarian land far beyond the Rhine)
- Tadeusz Sarnowski: Barbaricum und ein bellum Bosporanum in einer Inschrift aus Preslav. In: Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik 87 (1991), pp. 137–144, here p. 143.
- In Polish archaeological research, for example, the area designated as 'Barbaricum' extends much further east than can be reconciled with the tribal area of the Germani, c.f. Rosemarie Müller: Reaktionen auf die Gleichung germanisch-deutsch im östlichen Mitteleuropa. In: Heinrich Beck (ed.): Zur Geschichte der Gleichung "germanisch-deutsch". Berlin, 2004, pp. 265ff, here p. 269. For the meaning of the term, see also Ulla Lund Hansen: Römische Kaiserzeit. In: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde. Vol. 25 (2003), pp. 90ff., Here p.90.
- On the Migration Period c.f. the current overview by Guy Halsall: Barbarian Migrations and the Roman West, 376–568. Cambridge, 2007.
- See Hans Jürgen Eggers. Der römische Import im freien Germanien. Atlas Urgesch. 1, Hamburg, 1951; Siegmar von Schnurbein: Vom Einfluß Roms auf die Germanen. North Rhine-Westphalian Acad. of Science. Lectures G 331. Opladen 1995; Siegmar von Schnurbein, M. Erdrich: Das Projekt: Römische Funde im Mitteleuropäischen Barbaricum, dargestellt am Beispiel Niedersachsen. Roman-Germanic Commission report no. 73, 1992, pp. 5–27
Literature
- Heinrich Beck (ed.): Zur Geschichte der Gleichung "germanisch-deutsch". Berlin, 2004.
- Hans Jürgen Eggers: Der römische Import im freien Germanien. Atlas Urgesch. 1, Hamburg, 1951.
- Guy Halsall: Barbarian Migrations and the Roman West, 376–568. Cambridge, 2007.
- Gustav Adolf Lehmann: Imperium und Barbaricum. Neue Befunde und Erkenntnisse zu den römisch-germanischen Auseinandersetzungen im nordwestdeutschen Raum – von der augusteischen Okkupationsphase bis zum Germanien-Zug des Maximinus Thrax (235 n. Chr.). Vienna, 2011.
- Ulla Lund Hansen: Römische Kaiserzeit. In: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde. Vol. 25 (2003), pp. 90ff.
- Walter Pohl: Die Germanen. 2nd edn. Munich, 2004.
- Tadeusz Sarnowski: Barbaricum und ein bellum Bosporanum in einer Inschrift aus Preslav. In: Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik 87 (1991), pp. 137–144.
- Helmuth Schneider (ed.): Feindliche Nachbarn. Rom und die Germanen. Böhlau Verlag, Cologne, 2008, ISBN 978-3-412-20219-4.
External links
Barbaricum from the Greek Barbarikon foreign barbarian is a geographical name used by historical and archaeological experts to refer to the vast area of barbarian occupied territory that lay in Roman times beyond the frontiers or limes of the Roman Empire in North Central and South Eastern Europe the lands lying beyond Roman administrative control but nonetheless a part of the Roman world During the Late Antiquity it was the Latin name for those tribal territories not occupied by Rome that lay beyond the Rhine and the Danube but not for Persia Ammianus Marcellinus used it as did Eutropius The earliest recorded mention appears to date to the early 3rd century Roman provinces in 116 AD with the adjacent land of Magna Germania In research literature the terms Germania actually Magna Germania and Barbaricum are sometimes used interchangeably but they are not entirely identical in the chronological or the geographical senses The extra Roman area described as Barbaricum was from the beginning of the Migration Period not exclusively inhabited by Germani even though they represented the majority of the population until the time of Late Antiquity In the Migration Period Alans and Huns also pushed forward into this area before and later from the 6th century Slavic tribes populated the area east of the Albis River Elbe that the Germani had largely abandoned It is important to highlight the diverse cultural social and economic contacts between Germanic Barbaricum and the Empire since the early imperial period Archaeologically numerous imported Roman artefacts have been uncovered among the finds in the Barbaricum region The formation of major Germanic tribal units such as the Alemanni and Franks from the time of the imperial crisis of the 3rd century was probably influenced by contact with the Roman world Likewise barbarians were able to have careers in the Roman army ReferencesGrane Thomas Beyond the Roman Frontier Roman Influences on the Northern Barbaricum Quasar 2007 p 5 ISBN 978 8 87140 346 5 Burns Thomas S Rome and the Barbarians 100 B C A D 400 Baltimore and London Johns Hopkins 2003 p 35 See e g Ammianus 18 2 14 in barbarico Hubert Fehr Philipp von Rummel Die Volkerwanderung Theiss Wissen Kompact Stuttgart 2011 p 30 Eutropius 7 9 trans Albim fluvium qui in Barbarico longe ultra Rhenum est over the Elbe which is in the barbarian land far beyond the Rhine Tadeusz Sarnowski Barbaricum und ein bellum Bosporanum in einer Inschrift aus Preslav In Zeitschrift fur Papyrologie und Epigraphik 87 1991 pp 137 144 here p 143 In Polish archaeological research for example the area designated as Barbaricum extends much further east than can be reconciled with the tribal area of the Germani c f Rosemarie Muller Reaktionen auf die Gleichung germanisch deutsch im ostlichen Mitteleuropa In Heinrich Beck ed Zur Geschichte der Gleichung germanisch deutsch Berlin 2004 pp 265ff here p 269 For the meaning of the term see also Ulla Lund Hansen Romische Kaiserzeit In Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde Vol 25 2003 pp 90ff Here p 90 On the Migration Period c f the current overview by Guy Halsall Barbarian Migrations and the Roman West 376 568 Cambridge 2007 See Hans Jurgen Eggers Der romische Import im freien Germanien Atlas Urgesch 1 Hamburg 1951 Siegmar von Schnurbein Vom Einfluss Roms auf die Germanen North Rhine Westphalian Acad of Science Lectures G 331 Opladen 1995 Siegmar von Schnurbein M Erdrich Das Projekt Romische Funde im Mitteleuropaischen Barbaricum dargestellt am Beispiel Niedersachsen Roman Germanic Commission report no 73 1992 pp 5 27LiteratureHeinrich Beck ed Zur Geschichte der Gleichung germanisch deutsch Berlin 2004 Hans Jurgen Eggers Der romische Import im freien Germanien Atlas Urgesch 1 Hamburg 1951 Guy Halsall Barbarian Migrations and the Roman West 376 568 Cambridge 2007 Gustav Adolf Lehmann Imperium und Barbaricum Neue Befunde und Erkenntnisse zu den romisch germanischen Auseinandersetzungen im nordwestdeutschen Raum von der augusteischen Okkupationsphase bis zum Germanien Zug des Maximinus Thrax 235 n Chr Vienna 2011 Ulla Lund Hansen Romische Kaiserzeit In Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde Vol 25 2003 pp 90ff Walter Pohl Die Germanen 2nd edn Munich 2004 Tadeusz Sarnowski Barbaricum und ein bellum Bosporanum in einer Inschrift aus Preslav In Zeitschrift fur Papyrologie und Epigraphik 87 1991 pp 137 144 Helmuth Schneider ed Feindliche Nachbarn Rom und die Germanen Bohlau Verlag Cologne 2008 ISBN 978 3 412 20219 4 External linksLook up Barbaricum in Wiktionary the free dictionary
