Germānia

, an extensive country of Europe, at the east of Gaul. Its inhabitants were warlike, fierce, and uncivilized, and always proved a watchful enemy against the Romans. Cæsar first entered their country, but he rather checked their fury than conquered them. His example was followed by his imperial succe ors or their generals, who sometimes entered the country to chastise the insolence of the inhabitants. The ancient Germans were very superstitious, and, in many instances, their religion was the same as that of their neighbours the Gauls; whence some have concluded that these two nations were of the same origin. They paid uncommon respect to their women, who, as they believed, were endowed with something more than human. They built no temples to their gods, and paid great attention to the heroes and warriors whom the country had produced. Their rude institutions gradually gave rise to the laws and manners which still prevail in the countries of Europe, which their arms invaded or conquered. Tacitus, in whose age even letters were unknown among them, observed their customs with nicety, and has delineated them with the genius of an historian and the reflection of a philosopher. Tacitus , German i a .— Mela , bk. 1 , ch. 3 ; bk. 3 , ch. 3 .— Cæsar , Gallic War .— Strabo , bk. 4 .