Goths

Goths is a term that can refer to two related but distinct phenomena: an ancient East Germanic people and a modern music and fashion subculture. Historically, the Goths appeared in the Roman world during the 3rd century AD and later split into two main groups: the Visigoths in the west and the Ostrogoths in the east. Their homeland is generally traced to regions around the Baltic, from which they migrated into Roman territories. In late antiquity they played a significant role, including the sack of Rome in 410 by the Visigoths and the establishment of successor kingdoms such as the Visigothic Kingdom in parts of Hispania and the Ostrogothic Kingdom in Italy under Theodoric the Great. Over time Gothic kingdoms were absorbed by larger powers, and the Gothic language—an East Germanic tongue—became extinct. The Goths are described in sources as adherents of Christianity, originally of the Arian tradition, though their cultural practices and political structures left a lasting imprint on the era.

In the modern sense, Goths identify with a music- and fashion-based subculture that emerged in the United Kingdom in the early 1980s, evolving from post-punk and darkwave scenes. The subculture emphasizes a distinctive aesthetic—primarily black clothing, distinctive makeup, and an interest in macabre, romantic, or melancholic themes—along with related music styles such as gothic rock and darkwave and various forms of art and literature. Goth culture is diverse, with numerous substyles and regional variations. It is not a religion or a single belief system, but a cultural identity supported by clubs, publications, festivals, and online communities.