Tacitus On German Culture

These selections, written by Tacitus, give an in-depth look at the construction of German society of that time from a Roman point of view. These selections can be classified as the cultural construct sozialform, describing societies organization.

The first section describes German society’s rights of passage and how it led to a hierarchy. By some of the young men becoming citizens, it separated them from others who were not, and the citizens were more important; this was the basis of the societal hierarchy. Becoming a citizen meant you were qualified to bear arms. This is an example of the surface culture association. The society was grouped into those who could bear arms and those who could not. These citizens would join older, more experienced men in the retinue of a chief. This led to the chief and his retinue being a major hierarchical structure in German culture.

The second section discusses the chief and retinue’s battlefield etiquette and the importance of war. These are also examples of the deep cultural concept of hierarchy. In this hierarchy the leader must be at the front of the figh

I believe the hierarchy from these selections is no longer necessary. We are individuals in this time, and fight for no spoils for our chiefs. I agree with the use of the hierarchy in its day but these are more diplomatic and individualistic times where there is no room for such thinking.

The selections as a whole show the German society of this period is based on hierarchical principles. These ideas of society have fallen by the way side since the need for loot through war has diminished over time.

The American perspective is not in line with these societal ideas. But one could make the point that the war with Iraq could be considered fighting for the loot, oil, they possess.

The final section discusses the German reasoning for living so far removed from one another. This has to do with territoriality and the society’s isolationist ideals. By picking these far removed dwellings they set up a society with less personal relationships and serve to quench the thirst for land without encroaching on one another.

The third section describes the activities of warriors in times of peace and customs regarding honoring the chief. Another hierarchi

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