MIGRATION PERIOD Meaning and
Definition
-
The migration period, also known as the Migration Age or the Barbarian Invasions, refers to a historical era in Europe that spanned from the late 4th century to the early 8th century. It is characterized by widespread and significant population movements, often involving groups of people in search of new territories or better living conditions. The migration period was a time of immense societal, political, and cultural changes, reshaping the landscape of Europe and leaving a lasting impact on its history.
During this period, numerous tribes and ethnic groups migrated across Europe, encountering and often clashing with each other as well as with established Roman or Byzantine civilizations. This era witnessed the rise and fall of various kingdoms and empires, including the Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Vandals, Lombards, and Huns. The fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD is typically considered as one of the defining events of the migration period.
The migrations during this time period were driven by a myriad of factors, including overpopulation, political instability, economic pressures, and external threats such as the Huns. This led to the displacement of entire communities and the establishment of new territories and cultural groups.
The migration period also saw the assimilation of different ethnicities and the blending of cultures, as migrant groups settled in new areas and integrated with the existing populations. The impact of the migration period on Europe's social, political, and cultural landscape cannot be overstated, as it laid the groundwork for the formation of new kingdoms and nation-states, and influenced the development of European civilization in the centuries that followed.
Etymology of MIGRATION PERIOD
The etymology of the word "migration" can be traced back to the Latin word "migratio" which means "movement of people (or animals) from one place to another". It is derived from the verb "migrare" which means "to move, migrate, or change one's abode".
The term "migration period" refers to a specific historical period characterized by mass movements of Germanic, Hunnic, and other peoples across Europe during the 4th to 7th centuries AD. The term was coined in the 19th century and it reflects the understanding that this period marked significant population shifts and movements of various groups across different regions of Europe.
