Geographie et environnement d’une Germanie insoumise (Ier siècle av. et ap. J.-C.)
Geography and Environment of an Insubordinate Germania (1st century BC and AD)

Summary/Abstract: Tacitus is still one of the major sources when it comes to the Holy Roman Empire’s history. And, the Roman-Germanic relationship’s really special nature cristallizes, from the first century before to the first after Christ, in the military field. In short, a geopolitical and intellectual context which promotes the Roman-Germanic ties uniqueness. His treaty about germans – De Origine et situ Germanorum – gives a wonderfull sketch of the Germans society’s ethnographic aspects. Our questioning here aims to understand the Roman very contrasted look towards this geographic entity that is Germania, in the first century B.C. This constrast originates in the Tacitus. Hence a hostile definition of Germania at the margins of the Empire. The notion of a gigantic and exotic, boorish society, as well as of an isolated territory. Mentions of Germania find their place in the intellectual reflection among the leaders in Rome at a time when the policy of Romanization gains momentum. Indeed, the territory remains unruly despite the Augustan dream. There is a continuity in the German’s hostility within the territory. At the border, this idea takes the shape of a mostly military occupation also known as the Limes, a porous border to protect the Roman Empire which potentially an asset to isolate the German barbaricum.

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