|
( Ostsiedlung)
This article covers the medieval eastward migrations of Germans. For a general view, see History of German settlement in Eastern Europe Preceding and along with German settlement, late medieval Central and Eastern Europe societies underwent deep cultural changes in demography, religion, law and administration, agriculture, settlement numbers and structures. Thus, Ostsiedlung is part of a process termed Ostkolonisation (East colonisation) or Hochmittelalterlicher Landesausbau (Late medieval rural development), though these terms are also used synonymously. After the migration period, Central Europe had undergone dramatic changes. The Roman Empire lost its dominating position. The Franks had created an empire that, besides former Roman Gallia, united the former West Germanic tribes and adopted Christian faith. East Francia, an early predecessor of Germany, aimed to be the successor of Catholic Western Roman Empire and developed into the Holy Roman Empire. In Scandinavia, the former North Germanic tribes entered the Viking Age affecting all Europe by trade and raids. Former East Germanic tribes had in parts entered and merged into Rome, their culture ceded to exist, instead the new Slav culture arose and became dominating in Eastern and large parts of Central Europe. The Slavs living in reach of the Frankish (later Holy Roman) Empire were termed Wends, they seldom formed larger political entities but rather organized in various small tribes, dwelling as far West as to a line from the Eastern Alps and Bohemia to the Saale and Elbe Rivers. As the Frankish Empire expanded, various Wendish tribes were conquered or allied with the Franks like the Obodrites, who aided the Franks in defeating the West Germanic Saxons. The conquered Wendish areas were organized by the Franks in marches (German Marken, meaning border or border lands), that were administered by an entrusted noble collecting the tribute and enforced by some military units. Also, the establishing of marches went along with missionary efforts.
|
Ostsiedlung Subcategories
Ostsiedlung Articles
|
|
