Poggio Bracciolini, found the lost text of Tacitus’ Germania. The past idea that the aboriginals of Europe were originally from “legendary forebears”(p.46) sent scholars on a search to find proof to support this idea through classical Greek and Latin sources. Studies were conducted by humanist scholars in order to support the identity of each nation through classical period. States worked to gain a national identity and Germania helped Germany earn a place as its own separate people from other nations. Germania showed Germans were important and interesting even in ancient times.
I found this work of literature to be of importance because it laid the foundation for the national identity of Germans. Before the Germania manuscript was discovered, Germany was not recognized as its own nation with a distinct people. The term “German” was used to depict various dialects. With Tacistus’ Germania, Germany could be recognized as having important ancestors worthy of recognition. This would be Germany’s defense against offensive portrayals of their countrymen. Rather than being termed “alcohol sodden barbarians” Germans had a much more positive label of being the Germani.
The fact that Germans are concerned with having a distinct national identity tells something about the country’s people. Clearly, Germans want to separate themselves from other cultures. It demonstrates the importance of ethnography through classical literature.
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