Page "Germanic peoples" Paragraph 7

First, Germania was a geographical area of land on the east bank of the Rhine from Gaul, and outside Roman control.

This usage of the word is the origin of the modern concept of Germanic languages, but it was not defined strictly by language.

Under other classical authors this sometimes included regions of Sarmatia as well as an area under Roman control on the west bank of the Rhine.

Also, at least in the south there were Celtic peoples still living east of the Rhine and north of the Alps.

Caesar, Tacitus and others did note differences of culture which could be found on the east of the Rhine.

But all of these cultural notes were around the theme that this was a wild and dangerous region, less civilised than Gaul, and requiring of military vigilance in Rome and Gaul.