Influences of the Roman and Germanic peoples on Contemporary Western Society

The Roman and Germanic Societies were the two groups of people that gave modern European civilization its foundation to become what it is. Their practises of government, economics and society are all reflected in modern Europe and the Americas. These two groups in particular contributed the most in the cultural unification of Europe by spreading their languages and cultures by conquest and acquisition of surrounding territory. Many governmental practises were first applied in the Germanic and Roman cultures- Feudalism developed out of their respective practices of Hereditary Monarchy and the Democracy. Finally, one of the effects of these groups that is still very evident today is the spreading of Christianity throughout Europe and into Scandinavia and Siberia.

The Roman Republic and Empire, in particular, is well-remembered for its aggressive annexation of land. Much of their territory was conquered by military strength and tact. Rome was the first government to build major roadways for their armies to march quickly and efficiently to the borders of their realm. This is still recalled today by the phrase 'All roads lead to Rome'. The process of cultural integration, in which conquered or acquired peoples would eventually adopt the Roman way of life, is referred to as Romanization, an influence that was even seen along the coast of Africa. This, above all else, contributed the most to the integration of the previously scattered and disconnected peoples of Europe. Many areas that had been ruled by local kings or princes was often willed to the Roman Empire, as many rulers recognized the great growing power and wished their people to be part of it voluntarily, rather than by conquest.

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The Germanic people were apparently the first anywhere west of Arabia to practice any form of political Monarchy, after which many European governments have been modeled; both the Feudal and National Monarchy are direct descendants of the Germanic Monarchy. Upon their collision with the Roman Empire, the principal diffused through the Catholic Church. A Germanic Monarch was also the head of the local religious following, a system which would also later be used in European Government, notably the Protestant Church of England. Rome, after its own monarchial period, adopted the form of Republic and eventually Empire. Within these governments were many assemblies which are still used today in the Western world, most notably the Senate and the Plebian Assembly. This was also the first major use of an elected term for government positions. When Caesar came to power, he eventually centralised the government and laid the foundations for his successor, Augustus Caesar, to declare himself the first Emperor. Many of the policies and practises of the Republic and Empire endure today in European government, albeit in refined forms.

A tactic that the Roman Empire employed later in its existence was the use of the Catholic Church as another facet for cultural and political domination of their citizens. Through the church, Rome could command the people with the sanction of God, thus keeping an even more careful leash on those who could not be administered by the government directly. Christianity was spread through the Germanic society slowly and by many means, but the influence of Rome did not extend so far that some indigenous religions did not endure. Although conquered peoples were lawful subjects to Rome and under their military influence, the process of acculturation was often slowed and afflicted by local culture, often forming what would now be called a Creolized fusion of the two. This was one thing that Roman government or their military representation in the northern Germanic settlements could not fully control. Nevertheless, by the end of the seventeenth century, Catholicism, perhaps in the form of Arianism or even retaining aspects of what is now dubbed Norse Mythology, was firmly rooted as the dominant religious practises in Europe.

The social customs and governments of Germanic and early Roman society are still fairly prominent in modern European civilization if one knows where to look. Monarchies and Democracies, two of the most basic and common forms of government in Europe, are direct successors of the governments of Germania and Rome. The processes of Romanisation and Latinisation are still used today, although they go by different names- Westernization and Anglicisation. Religion in Europe is still dominated by the Catholic and Christian presence that the late Roman Empire excerted on the territories it ruled, and much of the local culture that existed previously has been lost, having been forgotten in the face of contemporary imperialism and religion. Indeed, almost every aspect of European culture- language, religion, social structure, economic structure and government- all owe their existence in part to the influence of these peoples.

Bibliography

Hoyt, Robert S. Europe in the Middle Ages.3 ed. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1966.

Ross, Kelly L. "Successors of Rome: Germania." 2007. http://www.friesian.com/germania.htm (accessed 4 September 2007).

Goldsworthy, Adrian K. In the Name of Rome. New York: Sterling, 2004.

Jessee, W. Scott. "Feudalism." 1991. http://web.archive.org/web/20041112062036/http://college.hmco.com/history/rea derscomp/mil/html/mh_017900_feudalism.htm (accessed 4 September 2007).

Goldsworthy, Adrian K. In the Name of Rome. New York: Sterling, 2004.

Goldsworthy, Adrian K. In the Name of Rome.

Ross, Kelly L. "Successors of Rome: Germania." 2007. http://www.friesian.com/germania.htm (accessed 4 September 2007).

Hoyt, Robert S. Europe in the Middle Ages.3 ed. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1966.

Ross, Kelly L. "Successors of Rome: Germania." http://www.friesian.com/germania.htm