Peoples living beyond the empire1s borders

Notes

Peoples living beyond the empire's borders Roman civilisation developed around the Mediterranean Sea in areas with a temperate climate and fertile soil. The Romans believed that all the peoples living beyond Roman borders were barbarians. This word meant "foreign" but also "savage" and "uncivilised". The Germanic peoples, such as the Alans, Suevi, Vandals, Franks and Ostrogoths, lived in the north and east of Europe. Many tribes were nomadic, but they also became livestock and crop farmers. They moved southwards, in search of fertile land and a milder climate. Other peoples, such as the Huns, were nomadic animal herders who travelled across the Asian steppe. They constantly attacked other peoples, such as the Germanic tribes, who moved closer to the Roman Empire in search of protection. Beyond the borders of the Roman Empire in Africa were vast, almost uninhabited deserts. Only a few nomadic tribes lived there. The German threat and division of the empire The relationship between Germanic peoples and the Romans was generally peaceful. For example, they sold the Romans amber, fur and wood. Some Germanic people joined the Roman army. However, there were also Germanic raids on ...