The Goths
- The Goths are an East Germanic tribe who originated in Scandinavia.
- The appeared in Roman Empire in the 3rd Century
- The Huns liked to attack the Goths, which pushed the Goths to seek more land to conquest from the Romans.
- The Gothic War of 376-382
- Major turning point of the Roman Empire, as this was the first barbarian invasion that triggered the fall of Rome
- The Huns were attacking the Goths, so the Goths saught asylum in Rome. They wre allowed in, because the Romans saw the Goths as a new group of people to tax!
- Their point of entry was treacherous and killed many Goths
- Weapons were supposed to be confiscated, but Romans accepted bribes to allow Goths to keep them
- So many people crammed into one small, pretty terrible, part of the Empire led to famine-- Rome failed to delievered the food, water or land they had promised the fleeing Goths. Eventually, they were ushered into a large ghetto (guarded by Romans) and left to starve while the Roman guards ate the last of the grain.
- The Romans offered an alternative to starving: slaves for dog meat
- The Goths were told to go south to find resources and aid, so they set off on a death march.
- The Goths were barred from the city they were promised and Romans tried to assassinate many Goth leaders at a banquet
- Open revolt began, and many Goths plundered Roman towns and resources, which led to war.