The main occupations of the ancient Germans were cattle – breeding, land – tilling of a primitive nature, hunting. According to Tacitus cattle was the most desirable kind of wealth with the Germans. And linguistic data prove this fact.
OE - sceatt
Goth – skatti all meant “money” and “cattle” at the same time.
OHG - skaz
Old Saxon - skat
Ancient Germans had a tribal social structure. Tribes possessed common dialects and sometimes formed unions of tribes.
Land was owned by the community. In the time when Tacitus lived the social differentiation of the Germanic society was going on. There appeared the rich and the poor. The supreme power originally rested with the popular assembly. People gathered and decided most important questions, e.g. the election of the chief of the tribe. In the meantime the eldest of the tribe were vested with the power.
The social stratification of the society led to the development of royal power. First kings were elected. But soon the royal power became hereditary. The development of royal power in the depth of the tribal society is reflected in linguistic facts.
OE cyning (король) – OE cyn (рід)
Goth. könig (король) – Goth. kuni (рід)
And the traces of this fact can be seen in modern language:
kinsman – родич,
kinsfolk – рідня,
kinship – рідство.
