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Ancient Greece - The origin of the word barbarian is actually the ancient Greek word for a foreigner whose language you don’t understand.

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Ancient Rome -

As ancient Rome adopted the word, they began to apply it to anyone outside of Rome, such as the Persians, Egyptians, and Indians.

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The Huns -

The Huns are the best-known “barbarians.” They are described as barely-human monsters by ancient historians. The Christians wrote that they ate the flesh of young children. These highly exaggerated and biased accounts are completely inaccurate.

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A new enemy approaches -

The Huns first became known to the ancient Romans around 376 CE. A group of Goths (a German nomadic tribe that usually fought against the Romans) came to the Roman border to beg for help. They were fleeing another nomadic nation of warriors invading from the East.

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Savages, or simply other? -

The Huns were often depicted as naked savages in European art, when in fact they invented trousers—a much easier form of clothing for horse riding!

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Skilled horseman -

The Huns were incredibly skilled horsemen and were able to use bows and arrows with supreme accuracy from horseback. This made them almost unbeatable on the battlefield.

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A simple nomadic lifestyle -

The Huns were certainly expert fighters who sent a ripple of fear throughout the Roman Empire, but they weren’t all that different from their European neighbors. They traveled in small family groups consisting of men, women, children, and livestock.

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An obsession with gold -

As many societies did throughout history, the Huns worshipped gold. The Huns focused their efforts on obtaining as much gold as possible, through pillaging and striking deals.

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Hunnic hoards -

They buried large caches of gold in different locations for safekeeping, as they didn’t have a secure homestead. Many of these hoards have been uncovered by archaeologists and have proven to be invaluable historical finds.

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Psychological warfare -

The Huns employed psychological warfare to get inside the minds of their enemies. They rode into battle with the skins of wolves pulled over their heads, screaming wildly. It’s no wonder ancient historians remembered them as savage beasts!

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Elongation of the skulls -

The Huns also practiced ritual deformation. The skulls of infants were bound so that they grew into an elongated shape. They would wear gold crowns placed on top of their misshapen heads. Their unusual appearance made it even easier for the Romans and Christians to demonize them.

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A clever strategy -

As word of their fearsome appearance and devastating attacks spread, the Huns developed a clever system of extortion to earn gold with minimal effort. They would invade an area, or simply threaten to invade, and demand gold in return for their retreat.

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Paid off by the Romans -

The Romans decided it would be easier to pay the Huns than try to fight them. During the height of the Hunnic Empire, they were receiving 2,500 lbs of gold from the Romans each year. They melted it down and turned it into incredible art.

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Hunnic art -

The Huns had a deep connection with nature, which is seen in their artwork. They had the most affinity with eagles, wolves, and horses. They adored their horses, and decked them out in ornate gold barding.

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Hunnic art -

This broach in the shape of a cicada from the National Museum in Budapest dates back to the 2nd century CE. It was worn by the Huns as a sign of rank.

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The Hunnic Empire -

They formed a sprawling empire that spanned much of modern-day Russia and China. The Hunnic Empire was in fact a confederation of smaller nations living in alliance, with a common enemy in the Romans.

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Attila the Hun -

Their most famous leader was Attila the Hun. He came from a powerful Hunnic family and was given an expansive education. Attila spoke multiple languages, including Latin. He conquered most of Europe through a sophisticated campaign of fear and bribery, and had the Romans right where he wanted them.

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Observations from a Roman guest -

A Roman envoy named Priscus was sent to visit the encampment of Attila the Hun to carry out negotiations. He reported an opulent and civilized banquet where all the guests ate from silver plates and drank from golden goblets. They were all greeted with respect, and there were no signs of barbarity.

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Observations from a Roman guest -

Attila the Hun was noted to eat and drink only from wooden bowls and wore simple clothes without any gold details. Priscus wrote that this was part of Attila’s self-discipline. It seems that Attila and the Huns weren't as wild and barbaric as was once thought!

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The death of Attila -

When Attila died in 453 CE, the Hunnic Empire quickly disintegrated without his strong leadership and broke up into smaller factions. While it hadn’t lasted for more than a few decades, the Huns still managed to prove that the Roman Empire was not impenetrable.

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The Vandals -

Soon after, a new group of “barbarians” came to take advantage of the weaknesses exposed by the Huns. They were known as the Vandals.

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Another misused term - Today, the word "vandal" refers to someone who carries out petty crimes. Historically, it simply meant someone who was wandering. The Vandals were a nomadic people who traveled across Europe and North Africa.

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The capture of Carthage -

They eventually made their way to the city of Carthage, a prosperous part of the Roman Empire located in modern-day Tunisia. The ease with which they took Carthage shocked the Romans.

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A civilized takeover -

Some historical accounts would have you believe that the Vandals destroyed and pillaged Carthage as soon as they arrived, but nowadays we know that’s not the case.

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Prosperity and cultural development -

In fact, they destroyed very little, and contributed greatly to the arts. They built elegant villas and filled them with lavish decorations. The Dominus Julius Mosaic is one of the best-known examples of Vandal artwork.

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The Dominus Julius Mosaic (4th century CE) -

The mosaic (pictured) depicts the daily life of the wealthy Vandals in Carthage, which is almost impossible to differentiate from the daily life of a wealthy Roman.

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Carthaginian baths -

The Vandals also built magnificent bath complexes, which were used as spas, social hubs, and, of course, centers of hygiene.

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Vandal poetry -

The Vandals loved poetry, and the well-known poet Felix wrote a series of poems about the beauty of the baths. His poems were inscribed on the walls of the bath houses in mosaics to enhance the experience of the bathers.

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Barbarians -

Similar to the Huns, the Vandals were demonized as barbaric savages by ancient Roman historians and Christian writers of the era. However, the wider context makes it clear that these accounts were heavily biased by fear, as well as a desire to vilify these Pagan invaders. A more accurate historical analysis shows that many of the groups described as barbarians came from fascinating and developed civilizations that made great contributions to agriculture, the arts, and combat strategy. 

Sources: (Live Science) (Britannica) (History) (Chronicle)

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