Nepedia
Back to Discover
Advanced Reader
📖

Germans

society Maturity 11-13 Next article →

{

"text": "Germans are the inhabitants of Germany or people of German descent. They are often defined by their use of the German language. This language serves as a primary marker of national belonging. Today, there are between 100 million and 150 million Germans worldwide. Most of these people live in the country of Germany in Central Europe.

Berlin reichstag west panorama 2
Berlin reichstag west panorama 2

Modern German identity is also tied to citizenship. The German constitution, implemented in 1949, defines a German as a German citizen.\n\nThe history of these people began with ancient Germanic tribes. The Roman general Julius Caesar first wrote about them in the 1st century BC. He described tribes living on both sides of the Rhine river. He viewed the Rhine as a boundary between Gaul and Germania.

Germania romana
Germania romana

These tribes were diverse and lived across a very large area. This area stretched from the Vistula river in the east to Scandinavia in the north. A major event occurred in 9 AD at the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. A local alliance led by Arminius defeated Roman forces there.\n\nIn the medieval period, different groups began to form a shared identity. These included the Franks, Saxons, Thuringii, and Alemanni. They all spoke related West Germanic dialects. In the 9th century, the leader Charlemagne expanded the Frankish empire. This empire included many Germanic peoples. After his rule, the empire was divided by the Treaty of Verdun in 843. This split led to the creation of East Francia. Under the Ottonian dynasty in the 10th century, East Francia became the core of the Holy Roman Empire.

HRR 10Jh
HRR 10Jh

\n\nThe Holy Roman Empire was a complex and decentralized system. It was not a single unified nation. Instead, it was divided into many small princedoms, cities, and bishoprics. Powerful noble families often elected the kings. These nobles sometimes chose weak leaders to keep their own independence. During this time, many Germans also participated in the Ostsiedlung. This was a movement where people migrated further east into Slavic-speaking regions.

Bevölkerung Mitteleuropas um 895
Bevölkerung Mitteleuropas um 895

\n\nChanges in the 19th century brought new ideas about nationalism. The Holy Roman Empire eventually dissolved. In 1871, the multiethnic Kingdom of Prussia helped create the German Empire. This era also saw many Germans emigrate to the New World. Large numbers moved to the United States, Canada, and Brazil. They also formed communities in Australia and New Zealand. However, the 20th century brought great instability. After World War I, the German Empire was partitioned. This left many Germans living as ethnic minorities in new countries.\n\nDuring the 1930s and

422 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (11)
File:Berlin reichstag west panorama 2.jpg
Berlin reichstag west panorama 2.jpg
File:Germania romana.jpg
Germania romana.jpg
File:HRR 10Jh.jpg
HRR 10Jh.jpg
File:Bevölkerung Mitteleuropas um 895.jpg
Bevölkerung Mitteleuropas um 895.jpg
File:Holy Roman Empire 1648.svg
Holy Roman Empire 1648.svg
File:Deutscher Bund.png
Deutscher Bund.png
File:Mass Grave at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp - Fritz Klein - IWM BU4260.jpg
Mass Grave at Bergen-Belsen concentration...
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-2003-0703-500, Rückführung deutscher Kinder aus Polen.jpg
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-2003-0703-500,...
File:Thefalloftheberlinwall1989.JPG
Thefalloftheberlinwall1989.JPG
File:Legal statuses of German in Europe.svg
Legal statuses of German in Europe.svg
File:Holocaust Memorial Berlin.JPG
Holocaust Memorial Berlin.JPG
More to explore

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.