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The word barbarian came into English from medieval latin, (Barbarinus) this word came from ancient Greek (BapBapoc) The ancient Greeks used the word liberally and generally to describe people or tribes that did not speak Greek. The Greeks used the term as they encountered different cultures including the Egyptians, Persians, Indians, Celts, Germans, Phoenicians, Etruscans and Carthaginians.

The term has also ben used historically to describe the Vikings, Mongols and the Goths. The "Normans" also were commonly called barbarians during their invasion of England. Idiomatic usage of the term barbarian (brutal, cruel, warlike, insensitive), would put such people as Hitler and Stalin as being Barbaric.

Attila the Hun is one of the best-known barbarians. Adolf Hitler, although he was a despicable man, was not a barbarian. With regard to the alleged "idiomatic usage" of the term "barbarian" (brutal, cruel, warlike, insensitive), some think it is correct to classify Adolf Hitler as a barbarian, but that would be inaccurate.

As Merriam-Webster defines "barbarian" or "barbarous":

1 : of or relating to a land, culture, or people alien and usually believed to be inferior to another land, culture, or people.

2 : lacking refinement, learning, or artistic or literary culture.

Germany in the 1930s was anything but lacking in refinement, learning, or artistic or literary culture, and the Germans and German culture and technlogy were hardly believed to be inferior. They were ahead of the United States and most other countries at the start of WWII in science.

Call Hitler and the Nazis evil, genocidal, racist murdering miscreants. But don't confuse evil with barbarism. They key connotation you should come away with from the word barbarian is an inferiority (of culture) compared to the surrounding cultures. As such, Attila, Odoacer, Genseric, Vercingetorix, Boadicea, and Theodoric are well-known barbarian leaders who challenged the (culturally and scientifically superior) Roman Empire. One could also call Genghis Khan and the Mongol khans barbarians.

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13y ago
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14y ago

who was a barbarian to the Romans? The answer is: the Visigoths (west goths) and the Ostrogoth (east goth). they were the first to be.

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What group of barbarians were difficult for the Romans to conquer

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Someone who Romans considered primitive and uncivilized was called a?

Barbarian. they called everyone a barbarian if they weren't roman.


What groups did the Romans consider to be uncivilized?

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What did the Romans call anyone outside the empire who did not share in the Greek or Roman cultures?

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Were vikings and barbarian alike?

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The Romans abandoned the wall by about 410AD, and withdrew from England. There were various reasons, among which were; Increased Barbarian invasions, military coups and econimic decline.


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Ihr Seid verfluchte hunde! (you are damned dogs!)


What is the meaning of barbarian?

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Why did the barbarians not get along?

Barbarian was a Greek word which was a derogatory term for all non-Greeks, who were considered uncivilised. It can be roughly rendered as foreigners. The Romans adopted both this word and this attitude from the Greek and used to refer to the peoples who lived outside the Roman Empire. it is not that the barbarian did not get along. There were was great number of barbarian peoples. Therefore, it was natural that some of them clashed at times. However, some of them also formed alliances at time. Some of then attacked the Roman Empire and some of them were allies of the Romans.