The biggest difference between an incorrigible barbarian people and the height of civilisation is who's writing the history book (or Daily Mail / FOX News leader).
eg: were Vikings a bloodthirsty barbarian people? Classics of literature, advanced ship designs, extensive trade network and a reputation for OCD cleanliness (due to their habit of taking a bath at least once a week.)
Yet they still have a rap for being little better than horn-hatted hooligans. I suspect it's simply because they were better at it than we were.
Possibly in some far flung future we may even discover there was an advanced culture hidden by the violent facade of Millwall fans.
Is it time for the dance of joy yet?
Yup, Barbarian, as it was used before Conan was invented, is basically a synonym for forgeiner.
As far as the cimmerarians are concered, the heroes and villains are barbarians, since they aren't Roman.
I really should do something about this signature.
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Yup, Barbarian, as it was used before Conan was invented, is basically a synonym for forgeiner.
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One who does not speak Greek, to be exact. The Greeks used to think that all other languages sounded like "ba ba ba", and anyone who didn't speak Greak was clearly uncivilised.
And from this we get a lot of our culture. Explains a lot, don't it? 
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As far as the cimmerarians are concered, the heroes and villains are barbarians, since they aren't Roman.
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The Romans are barbarians, they don't speak Greek.
I think the Romans were a bit more specific about it than the Greeks. They actually knew that not everyone outside the Empire wasn't the same, amorphous blob of non-citizen. They could tell you which kind of barbarian thug was banging on the gates. (Not that they would call them thugs, that one's Indian and much later.) Plus, the Romans tended to work on the theory that if you acted like a Roman, you would get some leeway. The Greeks would just look at you and giggle.
Disclaimer: The above may be humerous, or at least may be an attempt at humour. Try reading it that way.
Posts are OOC unless noted to be IC, or in an IC thread.
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They actually knew that not everyone outside the Empire wasn't the same, amorphous blob of non-citizen.
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Lots of different kinds of barbarian, some with advanced technology, and cultures almost as sophisticated as Rome (from the roman pov). They certainy warrent respect or fear, but they are still barbarians.
I really should do something about this signature.
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You know, looking at that list, what GG describes sounds a lot like Historical Fantasy. Which contains Medieval Fantasy as a sub-heading. Which doesn't mention barbarians... 
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Yeah - a King Arthur story is a medieval fantasy - dragons and witches would be acceptable and expected, but minotaurs and cyclopses wouldn't be.
And it works with normal humans too, not just monsters - like in a Greek fantasy, like that movie "Clash of the Titans" - you wouldn't accept or expect knights or women with those wacky but still quite stylish pointy hats with a bit of silk hanging off the top - because even though it's a fantasy, it's still in a particular historical setting and environment.
But a fantasy fantasy, like the Conan stories, allows a blend of all kinds of periods and cultures.
@Golden Girl
City of Heroes comics and artwork
From Latin barbaria which in turn came from Greek barbaros meaning foreign, strange and ignorant.
I pity women called Barbara.
Rabbits & Hares:Blue (Mind/Emp Controller)Maroon (Rad/Thermal Corruptor)and one of each AT all at 50
MA Arcs: Apples of Contention - 3184; Zen & Relaxation - 35392; Tears of Leviathan - 121733 | All posts are rated "R" for "R-r-rrrrr, baby!"|Now, and this is very important... do you want a hug? COH Faces @Blue Rabbit
No, they were simply snubbed. That's why they tended to raid and attack the other peoples: nobody would be their friends.
Would you like to be my friend? I have carrots.
Rabbits & Hares:Blue (Mind/Emp Controller)Maroon (Rad/Thermal Corruptor)and one of each AT all at 50
MA Arcs: Apples of Contention - 3184; Zen & Relaxation - 35392; Tears of Leviathan - 121733 | All posts are rated "R" for "R-r-rrrrr, baby!"|Now, and this is very important... do you want a hug? COH Faces @Blue Rabbit