In spite of the hindrances to fusion, it seems true that
the Germans and the Romans felt no great dislike for each other and that, as a
rule, they freely intermingled. Certain conditions directly favored this
result. First, many Germans had found their way within the empire as hired
soldiers, colonists, and slaves, long before the invasions began. Second, the
Germanic invaders came in relatively small numbers. Third, the Germans entered
the Roman world not as destroyers, but as homeseekers. They felt a real
reverence for Roman civilization. And fourth, some of the principal Germanic
nations, including the Visigoths, Burgundians, and Vandals, were already
Christians at the time of their invasions, while other nations, such as the
Franks and the Anglo-Saxons, were afterwards converted to Christianity. As
long, however, as most of the Germans remained Arian Christians their
belief stood in the way of friendly intercourse with the Roman provincials, who
had accepted the Catholic faith.
CONTRAST BETWEEN EAST AND WEST
If western Europe during the early Middle Ages presented a
scene of violence and confusion while the Germans were settling in their new
homes, a different picture was afforded by eastern Europe. Here the Roman
Empire still survived and continued to uphold for centuries the Roman tradition
of law and order. The history of that empire forms the theme of the following
chapter.
