Barbarian: Difference between revisions
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'''Barbarian''' is a term generally used to refer to "primitive" people who lack "civilization". |
'''Barbarian''' is a term generally used to refer to "primitive" people who lack "civilization". Nobody ever referred to themselves as a 'barbarian", but instead used it to refer to others. It has been variously applied to the [[Goth|Goths]], the [[Norse]], the [[Germany|Germans]], the [[France|French]], the [[England|English]], the [[Wales|Welsh]], the [[Ireland|Irish]], the [[Scotland|Scots]], the [[Hun|Huns]], [[Native American]]s, [[Pagan|Pagans]], [[Islam|Muslims]], [[Hinduism|Hindus]], [[Christian|Christians]] and just about anyone the speaker doesn't like. |
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The term ''barbarian'' comes from the [[Ancient Greece|ancient Greek]] ''barbaroi'', which literally means "those who speak like [[sheep]]", an unflattering term for non-[[Greek]]-speakers. The ancient Greek definition of barbarian, therefore, was "anybody not Greek." This was similarly the origin of the name "[[Barbary|Barbary Coast]]" for North [[Africa]] as they talked a non-[[Europe]]an [[language]] there. |
The term ''barbarian'' comes from the [[Ancient Greece|ancient Greek]] ''barbaroi'', which literally means "those who speak like [[sheep]]" (i.e ''bar-bar''!), an unflattering term for non-[[Greek]]-speakers. The ancient Greek definition of barbarian, therefore, was "anybody not Greek." This was similarly the origin of the name "[[Barbary|Barbary Coast]]" for North [[Africa]] as they talked a non-[[Europe]]an [[language]] there. |
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Because of a number of [[movie|motion pictures]], modern use of the word ''barbarian'' tends to refer to those persons of migratory inclination who [[clothing|wore]] [[fur]]s and carried large [[sword]]s. |
Because of a number of [[movie|motion pictures]], modern use of the word ''barbarian'' tends to refer to those persons of migratory inclination who [[clothing|wore]] [[fur]]s and carried large [[sword]]s. |
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Revision as of 04:16, 12 May 2006
Barbarian is a term generally used to refer to "primitive" people who lack "civilization". Nobody ever referred to themselves as a 'barbarian", but instead used it to refer to others. It has been variously applied to the Goths, the Norse, the Germans, the French, the English, the Welsh, the Irish, the Scots, the Huns, Native Americans, Pagans, Muslims, Hindus, Christians and just about anyone the speaker doesn't like.
The term barbarian comes from the ancient Greek barbaroi, which literally means "those who speak like sheep" (i.e bar-bar!), an unflattering term for non-Greek-speakers. The ancient Greek definition of barbarian, therefore, was "anybody not Greek." This was similarly the origin of the name "Barbary Coast" for North Africa as they talked a non-European language there.
Because of a number of motion pictures, modern use of the word barbarian tends to refer to those persons of migratory inclination who wore furs and carried large swords.
