Ostsiedlung

Ostsiedlung is a big fancy word that means the medieval migration of German speaking people to Eastern Europe.

Back in the olden days, around 1,000 years ago, Germany was divided into smaller kingdoms ruled by kings and princes. Some of these kingdoms were overcrowded and people had a hard time making a living.

Also, there were some places in Eastern Europe that were not fully occupied and had a lot of natural resources. These places were very attractive to the German people who wanted to settle and start a new life.

So, the German kings encouraged their people to leave their homes and go to these unoccupied areas in Eastern Europe.

The Germans who went to Eastern Europe had to start from scratch. They cleared the forests, built new towns, and farmed the land. They lived in communities together and created their own laws and customs.

The German settlers in Eastern Europe were very successful and over time, they formed their own identities and cultures. They lived there for many generations and created a new Germanic culture in Eastern Europe.

So, that’s what Ostsiedlung is all about! It’s a fancy word that describes the migration of German people to Eastern Europe a long, long time ago.