The Barbarian West, A. D. 400-1000: The Early Middle Ages

By the 4th century’s end, signs of decay were cropping up in the Roman Empire. The Emperor Constantine had embraced Christianity, which weakened the imperial power of the throne. The statue of Victory, symbol of glory dating back to Augustus, was removed from the senate to placate the Christians. Unrest was spreading thru the far-flung frontiers. Two Germanic peoples–the eastern Ostrogoths & the western Visigoths–erupted & vanquished the imperial mercenaries in 378, killing the Emperor. When Alaric the Goth took Rome in 410, the mighty Empire had already withered. For the next 600 years, Goths, Huns, Franks, Saxons–all waxed & waned, both militarily & politically. This very readable comprehensive study of the various tribes, their cultures & their place in history places the violence & tumult into logical perspective.