More than 800 years have past since the last barbarian horde slaughtered and plundered its way across Asia and Europe, yet civilized folks are still fascinated by tales of these half-naked, bloodthirsty savages. The impact they had on world history was truly astonishing: they destroyed the Roman Empire, founded the nations of Europe, and united China into a world power. This narrative will emphasize the dramatic and human element of this period in history the terror of the barbarians' victims, as well as the almost insane pleasure the barbarians themselves took in fighting and pillaging. This highly readable, entertaining, but authoritative book contains action-packed stories, little-known facts, and information from the latest research on the barbarians and their importance in world history.