The thesis first describes the Germanic tribes in general, their origin, migration and general characteristics. The second part of the thesis is representing selected ancient writers from the late Roman republic and early Empire, who report on Germanic tribes, especially Caesar, Tacitus, Pliny, Strabo and Plutarch. The main focus of the thesis lies on the tribes of Cimbri and Teutones, their migrations and contacts with the Roman state and their decline due to defeats at the end of the 2nd century BC. Based on the reports of ancient writers the main battles of Cimbri and Teutones with the Roman forces are described and reconstructed in more detail, with descriptions of Germanic armament, their warfare and reasons for the final success of Rome.
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