History Of Barbarians

Words: 1832
Pages: 8

Representation of other peoples:
In every culture and society there is others, people that are not part of or, do not fit in to that society. This selection can be based on origin, appearance, and religion amongst other reasons. The term others is also used when invasion of ‘the others’ country or society is of interest and is often hidden under other words such as natives, pagans and more general, barbarians. How the other peoples are being represented is very important, both to history and to the people being influenced by this description. We can see a strong resemblance trough time in how races and people have been depicted as barbarians, who other than being different from the Romans, did not bear many similarities with each other. This
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The Gauls were described as being good warriors and clean and this description might have been useful to sell the idea of them fighting for the Roman Empire. ‘Throughout the whole region, and especially in Aquitaine, you will hardly find a man or woman, however poor, who is dirty and in rags, as you would elsewhere. They are fit for service in war at any age; old men embark upon a campaign with as much spirit as those in their prime.’ It is Important how the Barbarians were portrayed because there might not have been any truth to it, but have been used as propaganda to achieve the impression needed at the time. ‘The term Barbarian originally meant one who speaks gibberish,’ and was used to describe almost all outsiders of Rome, this caused a generalisation of different peoples. It is interesting to know that ‘from a Roman perspective, the crisis of 376 – 80 and 405 – 8 both saw the Huns push the other groups across the imperial frontier. These migrants then proceeded to generate huge disruption on Roman territory. It was only …show more content…
They circumcise the Christians, and the blood of the circumcision they either spread upon the altars or pour into the vases of the baptismal font. When they wish to torture people by a base death, they perforate their navels, and dragging forth the extremity of the intestines, bind it to a stake; then with flogging they lead the victim around until the viscera having gushed forth the victim falls prostrate upon the ground. Others they bind to a post and pierce with arrows. Others they compel to extend their necks and then, attacking them with naked swords, attempt to cut through the neck with a single blow. What shall I say of the abominable rape of the women? To speak of it is worse than to be silent. The kingdom of the Greeks is now dismembered by them and deprived of territory so vast in extent that it cannot be traversed in a march of two