What is to be done? An examination of the impact of Roman imperialism upon the Ostrogoths and Vandals in Late Antiquity

This thesis examines the impacts of Roman imperialism upon the Ostrogoths and Vandals in Late Antiquity. Both the Ostrogoths and Vandals took over areas that were important to the Roman Empire and shaped them into kingdoms that benefited their own interests. This all occurred within a complex system of shifting alliances, and pressures from the Eastern Roman Empire, as well as those that resulted internally from aristocratic Romans. These two Germanic groups were heavily influenced by Roman imperialism, which impacted their attitudes towards Roman culture, governmental structures, and even Romans themselves. The kingdoms the Ostrogoths and Vandals ruled over demonstrate their attitudes to all things Roman, even if they adopted aspects of Roman culture. Through examining Roman imperialism, as well as the social, cultural, and governmental structures of Ostrogothic Italy and Vandal North Africa, the long-lasting impact of Rome’s imperial system is shown. This information can provide insight into how imperial systems, particularly ancient ones, might have affected peoples subjected to them.