The European Migration Period: A Historical Overview
The European Migration Period occurred between the fifth and eighth centuries A.D. and it was a crucial moment in European history. During this time, there were vast movements of people throughout Europe, as past their own borders in search of new lands, new lifestyles, and a better future. This complex period in European history is often referred to as the “Migration Period”, “Völkerwanderung” (“migration of peoples”), or “Barbarian Invasions”. Before we dive into a full overview of the European Migration Period, let’s take a moment to explore the geographical and environmental context of this period.
Geographic Context
To understand the European Migration Period, it is important to explore the geography of Europe at this time. Europe was a diverse place during this period, with different people living in different places and with a multitude of cultures.
It is estimated that the population of Europe in 450 A.D. was 44 million people. The vast majority of these people were Germanic Tribes living in the Northern, Central and Eastern parts of Europe as well as the British Isles. The Slavic Tribes were located in the Baltic regions, while the Finno-Ugric (or otherwise known as the Finns) tribes were found in what is now Finland, Estonia, and the Ukraine. In the Southern part of Europe, the Roman Empire was on the verge of collapse, while the Lombards had established their strong presence in parts of Northern Italy. In the Southwest of Europe, the Visigoths were largely concentrated in the Iberian Peninsula and the Suevi in Galicia and Portugal.
Environmental Context
During this time period, Europe also experienced environmental changes that had a great impact on the Migration Period. One of the most important environmental adjustments was the development of the Medieval Warm Period. This warm period lasted from the tenth century to the fourteenth century and enabled Europe to cultivate a milder climate in the region. This, in turn, led to a rise in population and a surplus in food production.
Furthermore, during the Migration Period, Europe also experienced a strong rise in sea levels due to the melting of glaciers and vast changes in the frequency of storms and floods. This also had a great influence on the movements of people and the nature of settlements during this period.
The Causes of Migration
Now that we have established the geographical and environmental contexts of the Migration Period, let’s turn our attention to the main causes behind this particular era of migration. There are several different theories on the causes of the European Migration Period. One popular theory is that the European Migration Period was caused by overpopulation. This is certainly supported by the fact that the population of Europe was growing rapidly around this time, particularly among Germanic tribes living in the Northern, Central and Eastern parts of Europe as well as among the Slavic Tribes living in the Baltic regions.
Another popular theory is that the migrations of the Migration Period were caused by a need to expand and find new lands to settle in. This is supported by the fact that during this period, many Germanic tribes, such as the Visigoths, the Lombards, and the Franks, moved south and west, into the Roman Empire and across the rest of the continent.
Political unrest was also a major factor in the migrations of the Migration Period. The unrest caused by the Roman Empire’s decline led to the fall of the Western Empire in 476 A.D, and the Eastern Empire in 1453 A.D. This, in turn, increased chaos and shifted political and power dynamics around Europe. This instability led to an influx of new rulers, as well as to many different wars fought by Germanic tribes over territories within and beyond the Roman Empire boundaries.
Economics were also a major factor in the European Migration Period. Many Germanic tribes were living in subsistence and were eager to find more fertile lands to cultivate. This, in turn, led to large-scale population movements towards more fertile southern lands.
Some historians have also argued that climate change played a role in the movement of people during the Migration Period. The development of the Medieval Warm Period enabled people to live in more northerly regions of Europe, which had a lasting impact on the geography and migration patterns of this area.
The Migrations of the European Migration Period
Now that we have explored the causes of migration during this period, let’s look at the migrations that occurred during this era.
The Visigoths
The Visigoths were a Germanic tribe which moved from Scandinavia to parts of Northern Italy, modern-day France and Spain during the Migration Period. The Visigoths settled in Aquitaine in 418 AD and gradually expanded their control over the rest of modern-day Spain. They were eventually defeated by the Moors in the 8th century.
The Lombards
The Lombards were another Germanic tribe who moved from Scandinavia to Northern Italy during the Migration Period. The Lombards crossed the Alps into Italy in 568 AD and established their firm control over the area. They eventually went on to expand their control over much of Northern Italy.
The Ostrogoths
The Ostrogoths were a Germanic tribe who moved from Scandinavia to Italy and the Western Balkans during the Migration Period. The Ostrogoths moved into the Byzantine Empire in 488 AD, eventually settling in Greece, Anatolia, and the Italian Peninsula.
The Frisians
The Frisians were a Germanic tribe who moved from Scandinavia to the British Isles during the Migration Period. They moved into the lower Rhine region around the 4th century and later moved to England during the 5th century.
The Suevi
The Suevi were a Germanic tribe who moved from Scandinavia to Portugal, modern-day Spain and Galicia during the Migration Period. The Suevi originally settled around the mouth of the Vistula River, eventually migrating south and west in the 5th century.
The Franks
The Franks were a Germanic tribe who moved from Scandinavia to modern-day France, Belgium and parts of the Netherlands. The Franks began to settle on the Lower and Middle Rhine in the 4th century and eventually established their control over the area in the 8th century.
The Slavs
The Slavs were an Indo-European people who moved from the Baltic region to modern-day Poland and the countries of Eastern Europe. The Slavs were initially divided into several independent groups. They gradually migrated towards the West in the 9th century and eventually established their control over the area.
The Finns
The Finns were a Uralic people who moved from the Baltic region to modern-day Finland, Estonia, and the Ukraine during the Migration Period. The Finns moved eastwards during the 7th century and eventually established their own independent Finland.
The Impact of the Migration Period
The migrations of the Migration Period had a great impact on the history, politics and culture of Europe.
Politically, the Migration Period divided Europe into different regions and led to the expansion and strengthening of various states in the continent. The migrations of the Migration Period also led to the rise of new states and countries, such as the Lombards in Northern Italy and the Franks in France.
The migrations of the Migration Period also had a great impact on the spread of languages throughout Europe. The migrations of the Germanic and Slavic tribes led to the spread of new languages, such as German, Polish, and Romanian. At the same time, the contact between different peoples during the Migration Period also led to the formation of new, hybrid languages, such as Frisian, an Germanic-Slavic language.
The Migration Period also led to the creation of a new religion in Europe. Christianity was introduced in the Roman Empire during the Migration Period and gradually spread throughout Europe. This eventually led to the creation of the Holy Roman Empire and the establishment of the Catholic Church.
The European Migration Period also had a great impact on European culture. During this period, many of the Germanic tribes adopted Roman traditions and values, leading to the preservation of Roman culture in parts of Europe. This, in turn, led to the emergence of “Romanesque” art and architecture in Europe, which still has an impact on European culture today.
The European Migration Period was a time of great migration and change in Europe. This period was driven by various factors, such as overpopulation, the need to find new lands, political unrest, economics and climate change. During this period, many different tribes and peoples, such as Visigoths, Lombards, Franks and Slavs, moved from their homelands to new locations in Europe. This period of migration had a great impact on Europe’s history, geography, languages, politics, and culture, and it is still recognizable today in Europe’s modern landscape.
