POPULATION PYRAMIDS
A Brief History on the Settlement of Germany
There have been humans living on German land for about 500,000 years, but the distinction of Germany as a new region was made apparent in the first century BC. Romans became aware of the ethnic and linguistic distinction between the Celts and the Germans. Although Germanic tribes existed in the area for many years prior, there was no separate distinction for the group of people.
The lack of a distinct eastern boundary caused confusion for the people of that area. There was a land battle between people of the area that lasted from about second century BC to 370 AD. By this time, many of the Germanic tribes had split up and rooted themselves in different parts of Germany. Many different Germanic tribes wanted the land for its resources.
Germany is home to many rivers and streams. The Rhine River is the largest river in Germany and provides for many of the other drainage systems in the country. The North Sea also touches German lands. The two major water sources provide for rich soils perfect for growing crops. River valleys are also major areas for grazing.
The climate of Germany also provides for ideal conditions for crops and animals. Just like suggested in Guns, Germs, and Steel, areas along the Eurasia axis line are best for crops, like Germany. Frequent sunshine and precipitation allows for crops to grow a large portion of the year without very much struggle. The climate has a very low chance of variation, so the area is reliable to year after year cultivation. Wild boars are common in the area, so they were often used as a main source of food.
Rural settlements in Germany popped up as early as the 11th Century. During the medieval period, villages and became overpopulated. This pushed peasant settlements into the forest. The peasant people were able to live easily off of the land because of its richness. Although the density of people fluctuated often, Germany still sustained a high population.
SOURCES:
The lack of a distinct eastern boundary caused confusion for the people of that area. There was a land battle between people of the area that lasted from about second century BC to 370 AD. By this time, many of the Germanic tribes had split up and rooted themselves in different parts of Germany. Many different Germanic tribes wanted the land for its resources.
Germany is home to many rivers and streams. The Rhine River is the largest river in Germany and provides for many of the other drainage systems in the country. The North Sea also touches German lands. The two major water sources provide for rich soils perfect for growing crops. River valleys are also major areas for grazing.
The climate of Germany also provides for ideal conditions for crops and animals. Just like suggested in Guns, Germs, and Steel, areas along the Eurasia axis line are best for crops, like Germany. Frequent sunshine and precipitation allows for crops to grow a large portion of the year without very much struggle. The climate has a very low chance of variation, so the area is reliable to year after year cultivation. Wild boars are common in the area, so they were often used as a main source of food.
Rural settlements in Germany popped up as early as the 11th Century. During the medieval period, villages and became overpopulated. This pushed peasant settlements into the forest. The peasant people were able to live easily off of the land because of its richness. Although the density of people fluctuated often, Germany still sustained a high population.
SOURCES:
- Early Settlements. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2015, from http://www.humanjourney.us/europe.html
- Events Before King Egbert's Time. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2015, from http://freepages.family.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~emty/Events_Before_King_Egbert-Beginning_in_Europe.html
- Germany | history - geography. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2015, from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/231186/Germany
- HISTORY OF THE GERMANIC PEOPLES. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2015, from http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ac67
Drainage Systems in Germany:
This map shows all of the different water systems present in modern-day Germany. As you can see, there is an abundance in them, which results in extremely fertile soils and land. |
Germanic Tribes in Western Europe:
This map lays out the settlements of major Germanic tribes in Western Europe. It took years to settle land disputes in the area. |
Suggestions for Additional Information:
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/231186/Germany
This online encyclopedia gives a lot of valuable information about Germany. I used some in my brief history, but more detail and depth is given in this encyclopedia entry.
http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ac67
This article gives a great history of the Germanic Tribes. It goes into further detail on how they settled the land and what disputes they had to solve to settle where they did.
This online encyclopedia gives a lot of valuable information about Germany. I used some in my brief history, but more detail and depth is given in this encyclopedia entry.
http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ac67
This article gives a great history of the Germanic Tribes. It goes into further detail on how they settled the land and what disputes they had to solve to settle where they did.