Jordanes facts for kids

Jordanes (also known as Iordanis) was a 6th century churchman who later became a historian. He is famous for writing about the Goths, an ancient people. His most important book is called De origine actibusque Getarum, which means The Origin and Deeds of the Goths. He wrote this book around the year 551 AD.

Jordanes's book is very important because it is one of the only sources we have today about the early history of the Goths. The Goths were a powerful group of people who lived in areas that are now Poland and stretched south towards the Black Sea. They had their own empire and spoke a unique language called Gothic. Over time, they were defeated by the Huns and spread out across Europe, eventually disappearing as a distinct group.

Who Was Jordanes?

Jordanes lived during a time when the Roman Empire was changing a lot. He was a churchman, which means he worked for the church. Later in his life, he decided to write down the history of the Goths. We don't know many details about his early life, but his writings give us a glimpse into the past.

Jordanes's Main Book: The Getica

Jordanes's most famous work is The Getica. This book tells the story of the Goths, from their earliest beginnings to Jordanes's own time. He wrote it quickly, using other history books that are now lost. This makes The Getica incredibly valuable.

Why The Getica is Important

The Getica is important because it helps us understand the Goths. Without Jordanes's book, we would know much less about them. It describes their movements, their battles, and how they interacted with the Roman Empire. Historians still study The Getica today to learn about this ancient group.

What The Getica Covers

The book covers a long period of time. It starts with the Goths' supposed origins in a place called Scandza (which might be Scandinavia). Then, it follows their journey across Europe. It describes their conflicts with the Romans and other groups. The book ends with the Goths' defeat by the Huns and their spread across the continent.

Images for kids

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  The Mediterranean area around 550 AD, when Jordanes wrote Getica. The Byzantine Empire, with its capital Constantinople, is shown in pink. Areas conquered by Justinian I are in green.

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  This image from Trajan's Column shows the deeds of the Dacians and Getae. Jordanes sometimes mixed up these groups with the Goths.