Abbye Lopez

GCU 114
Germany Earliest Settlement and Population
Summary
In todays world the country of Germany is a well-known subject. With the capitol
being Berlin and the population at 80.1 million in April of 2015, the country is one of the
most popular in the world. When one thinks of Germany their first thought is most likely
World War II and that portion of its history. Not many think of the early settlements. The
very beginning of a country is the most important thing to know when discussing it.
Where the people came from? Why people settled there? What recourses originated from
there? All are valuable aspects of a country.
Its always important to know when civilizations first appeared in a country.
According to one of my sources, the first settlers arrived in Europe about 40,000 years
ago. In the Guns and Steel assignment I learned that Germany was closest to the
Mediterranean climate zone. The climate of early Germany had was a huge impact on the
recourses it provided for its people. This climate is known to be warm, wet winters with
westerly winds and hot, dry summers. During the time of early settlement, Central
Europes plant life consist of mostly shrubs and some small trees but most popular plants/
crops that come from this region would be wheat, barley, strawberry, and rye. The plants
a country grows effects what animals also populate the area.
The animals that occupy an early civilization have a great importance in
understanding its history. During the early settlement horses, cows, and pigs were the
main animals that contributed to present day Germanys success. In the assignment done

the first week of class it showed that Eurasia had the highest number of candidates for
domestication. Something that is unique about Europe is that all 5 domesticated animals
can be found in that one continent. This aspect made it easy for all populations in the area
to consist of every resourceful mammal. Yes, this was a great quality but it had its
consequences. With these animals came the diseases as well creating an obstacle in early
settlement. Europe as a whole had to conquer measles, the flue, and smallpox. The people
of early Germany were unprepared for such thing causing portions of their population to
get sick and die. No worries though, after a few years the people gained immunity to
most of these animal based diseases and progressed.

Why did people settle in this area? The thing about early Germany or better
known as Europe during this time is that it contained sever different claimants in one
area. This was a huge quality back in those times when traveling and shipping materials
was a lot harder. Why people decided to settle in this area has a lot to do with Jared
Diamonds theory on why Europe was so successful. Diamonds theory states that the
reason Europe rose above the other civilizations was not because they were more
developed physically. It was all because they were geographically located in a great
climate area. They were in the perfect spot for both the animals and the plants. Their
range of climate allowed them to grow all different kinds of plants. The reason that there
were settlers and why Europe was more successful than the other civilizations was simply
because of the great location and climate differences across the area.
Yes Germany has quit a bit of other histories that are more popular to most people
but to truly know where a country like this came from, the early settlement and

populations is great information. Knowing why people set there and learning the
recourses the first civilizations produced can say a lot about how it came to be the place it
is today. Germany has come a long way from when it first began 40,000 years ago. Just
imagine all the things it will be 40,000 years from now.

Citations

Early Settlements. (n.d.). Retrieved February 02, 2016, from

http://www.humanjourney.us/europe.html
Early modern human settlement of Europe north of the Alps occurred 43,500 years ago in
a cold steppe-type environment. (2014, October 07). Retrieved February 02, 2016, from
http://www.pnas.org/content/111/40/14394.abstract
Villar, M. (2013, October 10). Europes Early Settlers Uncovered. Retrieved February 02,
2016, from http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2013/10/10/europes-early-settlersuncovered/