Questions About Thusnelda & Armin the Younger Years Book 1

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If you were one of the Cherusci listening to debates about Roman training, trade, law, and independence, what would you want your people to keep, and what would you be willing to learn from Rome?

Michael Kramer The Cherusci and indeed, most German tribes found that the Germanic women had a great fondness for the red cloth available from Roman traders. Therefo…moreThe Cherusci and indeed, most German tribes found that the Germanic women had a great fondness for the red cloth available from Roman traders. Therefore, the trade must remain. Roman law was harsh and exploited the German tribes. Therefore it was high on the list of Roman things to get rid of! Roman engineering was perhaps the most important Roman item for the Germans to not only keep, but to learn and in time even to surpass it!(less)

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Rivers, forests, swamps, hills, and narrow paths repeatedly affect what armies can and cannot do. How does the landscape become a pressure on both Roman and Germanic choices?

Michael Kramer Thusnelda and Armin and their hand full of warriors used the rivers and swamps to completely destroy the Roman forces while having only minimal casual…moreThusnelda and Armin and their hand full of warriors used the rivers and swamps to completely destroy the Roman forces while having only minimal casualities themselves. The Germanic forces quickly realised that they had to taunt the Roman to the point where the Romans became enraged and chased after the Germans who led them into swamps, rivers and marshes along very narrow tracks where no Roman war machine could go. Many Roman soldiers found that the great weight of the armour they were wearing and their heavy weapons were making movements difficult. The narrow tracks even stopped the Romans from using their favourite order of march, the Tripple Line, which could very quickly become a formidable formation. The Germans used warriors who were unseen by the Romans but very close to them, because they were under the dark water and they used hollow reeds to breath. When the agreed signal was sounded, these warriors arose from the water and surprised the startled Romans. That resulted in Augustus ordering the recall of all Roman forces in Germania, after all, his army had lost three legions as well as all of their supporting units. A loss of between 20,000 and 25,000 soldiers. (supporting units were Cavalry, Engineers, Slingers, Archers as well as cooks and other camp followers.)(less)

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Segestes values Roman ways, while Alruna and Thusnelda challenge his view of Rome. Which side of that family disagreement felt most persuasive to you, based only on what the book shows?

Michael Kramer I completely agree with the attitudes of Thusnelda and her husband, Armin, that Germania, like all other places must have complete freedom of its peop…moreI completely agree with the attitudes of Thusnelda and her husband, Armin, that Germania, like all other places must have complete freedom of its people without any foreign interference from Rome or anywhere else! To put it into the perspective of the 21st Century, instead of Rome, imagine that the brutal aggressor is the current government administration of the USA. By doing that, you shall be able to obtain an accurate picture of how the Germanic tribes and the Gauls felt about the presence of Romans invading their countries and doing things to the population such as crucifying or impaling their people! I have little doubt that in the times such as 9 A.D., that there would have been an attitude towards the Romans such as "Roman go home!" which of course is similar to the current world-wide attitude of "Yankee go home!" There are also other similarities between the current American Administration and ancient Rome. Another of these similarities is in the Coat of Arms of the USA having an eagle.(less)

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Thusnelda begins training with a heavy wooden Rudus before using heavier weapons. What does that scene reveal about patience, preparation, and her sense of duty?

Michael Kramer The whole idea of trainees using the rudus was to enable them to quickly build up their physical strength before they went to use other weapons. That …moreThe whole idea of trainees using the rudus was to enable them to quickly build up their physical strength before they went to use other weapons. That she sucessfully completed all of her warrior training using the heavy rudus is a testament to her determination to suceed. She knew that by mastering the use of the rudus, that she would quickly gain appreciation and respect from other warriors, both female and male, and so it happened!(less)

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How does Thusnelda & Armin the Younger Years Book 1 use the status of Germanic women to prepare readers for Thusnelda’s role as a Cherusci noblewoman and warrior?

Michael Kramer The ancient Germanic tribes had full equality between men and women. Normally, the women would appauld the male warriors as they set out to battle the…moreThe ancient Germanic tribes had full equality between men and women. Normally, the women would appauld the male warriors as they set out to battle the enemy. They then followed their men and stayed a short distance from them. If the men did badly in the fight, the women who had their weapons with them, would enter the fight, and often, they would bring victory to their male partners. It was because the Germanic woman had the right to love and cherish, as well as the right to defend her family if that was called for, that the ancient German women were also tribal elders with full powers of decision making, even on war councils! The ancient Germanic male warrior had to provide a dowdry to his wife. The dowry could be anything that would aid the woman in her duty to defend her family and husband, so the dowry could be a set of battle axes, a suit of chain-mail armour or a bridled charger. After Charlemagne of the German tribe called Franks, missionaries decesended upon Germania and they brought with them the the views of how women should be treated as was held by the southern nations. Eventually, that resulted in the end of the free spirited Germanic warrior and with him, disappeared the equal rights of women in German societies. It has only been since the times of the world wars, that German women have regained the full equality that they shared with men in ancient times. I have used the example of Thusnelda to illustrate how the Germanic woman lived and that she had far more freedom than many people thiink was possible and was a strong voice within all tribal meetings.(less)

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