The Barbarians were groups located in Europe and Asia that were not part of Greek or Roman culture. There were many Barbarian groups such as the Visigoths, Gauls, Norse, Huns, Teutons, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, Allans, Germans, Celts, Franks, and Jutes. They had various forms of political organization including kings and clan heads. Their religions included gods from the Ases and Vanes families. The Barbarians practiced monogamy, farming, hunting, and some used runes for writing and magic. Their culture included festivals like Yule and Ostara as well as literary works such as Beowulf and tales of King Arthur.

1. The Barbarians
 To Greeks and
Romans a
Barbarian was
someone who
wasn’t from their
extraction or The Huns
culture.
 What do you think
a Barbarian is?

2. Who were the Barbarians?
 These are some of the
many Barbarian groups.
1. Visigoths
2. Gauls
3. Norse
4. Huns
5. Teutons
6. Anglo Saxons or Vikings
7. Allans
8. Germans
9. Celts
10. Franks
11. Jutes
12. Vandals

3. POLITICAL ORGANIZATION
 They were
nomads and were
located around
Europe and Asia.
 The different
kinds of
Barbarians were
ruled by:
1. Kings
2. Clan heads

4. RELIGION
 Anglo-saxon and
German gods
were divided in
two big families:
1. Ases (Aesir)
dedicated to war
2. Vanes (Vanir)
dedicated to war
Samples of gods and
goddess: Odin riding on his eight legged horse
Odin, Frigga, Thor,
Frey

5. Family and Economy
 Monogamy was the
norm for them
 They used to marry or
“capture” who loved
(women or men could
do that)
 Gender roles were
well delineated but
women and men used
to have almost the
same rights.
 They were good Pictish Barbarian
farmers and hunters

6. WRITING
 Some of them used
Runes. This was a
written alphabet
but also used to
have magical and
religious meanings.
Different runes

7. CULTURAL AREAS
 The Barbarian Festival
of Jul (Yule). Lasted
12 nights and started
the night of December
20 (Solstice Eve)
 The holiday of Ostara
(around March 20-21)
 LITERATURE:
• Beowulf and the
Mabinogion
• Tales of King Arthur
• The Kalevala
• The Volsun Saga