Question

According to Tacitus, why do the Germans fight with their families close by? What does this reveal about Germanic society? Describe the most important features of the Germanic economy. What in particular does Tacitus admire about the Germans?

Answer 1

According to Tacitus, it was the duty of the family members to take up the feuds as well as friendships at the father's side or the kinship. Thus, they took up the feuds of their family or close relative and fought with each other. These feuds mostly occurred among men in their intoxicated state, as the men drank and feasted a lot during the peace time. However, they never kept these feuds for long, as, they paid for the feuds even the homicide with certain number of cattle and sheep. This revealed about their barbaric aspect, as well as, their plain nature that made reconciliation easier.

The Germanic economy was chiefly agrarian. The main occupation of people was to grow grain crops, the others engaged themselves in cattle rearing. They practiced barter system.

Tacitus most admired the purity of race aspect of the Germans. He mentions that Germans rarely married out of their people, this has kept their blood line pure. Also, that German men had only one wife, and adultery in any form was not permitted in the society. Women had high respect in comparison to the Roman society and they played an active role in their husbands life.