Changes

== Early history==

== Early history==

=== Earliest History and Myths ===

=== Earliest History and Myths ===

The Low Countries were inhabited by numerous Germanic tribes who had an agricultural society. By the third century, these tribes organized into larger federations and three main groups emerged: the [[Franks]] in the South, the [[Saxons]] in the East, and the [[Frisians]] in the North and West. Little is known of the pre-Christian pagan beliefs of the Germanic tribes, though it seems that [[Wodan]] and [[Donar]] were worshiped by the Germanic tribes in the Low Countries.   

The Low Countries were inhabited by numerous Germanic tribes who had an agricultural society. By the third century, these tribes organized into larger federations and three main groups emerged: the [[Franks]] in the South, the [[Saxons]] in the East, and the [[Frisian]]s in the North and West. Little is known of the pre-Christian pagan beliefs of the Germanic tribes, though it seems that [[Wodan]] and [[Donar]] were worshiped by the Germanic tribes in the Low Countries.   

In earlier research of the origins of Dutch society, a number of myths shaped the scholarly discourse as well as the national consciousness. Led by the great scholar [[Hugo Grotius]] (1583-1645) historians in the 17th and 18th centuries believed in the "Batavian myth" which posited the existence of an independent and free Batavian state and society in the Roman period. They interpreted the revolt of the Batavi in AD 70 as the earliest Dutch war of freedom against tyranny; the founders of the new Dutch "Batavian Republic" in 1795 saw themselves as recreating this heroic action. By 1890, scholars realized the myth was false, but Civilis, leader of the Batavians, remained in the national consciousness.<ref>E. O. G. Haitsma Mulier, "De Bataafse Mythe Opnieuw Bekeken" [The Batavian Myth Viewed Anew]. ''Bijdragen En Mededelingen Betreffende De Geschiedenis Der Nederlanden'' (1996) 111(3): 344-367.</ref>

In earlier research of the origins of Dutch society, a number of myths shaped the scholarly discourse as well as the national consciousness. Led by the great scholar [[Hugo Grotius]] (1583-1645) historians in the 17th and 18th centuries believed in the "Batavian myth" which posited the existence of an independent and free Batavian state and society in the Roman period. They interpreted the revolt of the Batavi in AD 70 as the earliest Dutch war of freedom against tyranny; the founders of the new Dutch "Batavian Republic" in 1795 saw themselves as recreating this heroic action. By 1890, scholars realized the myth was false, but Civilis, leader of the Batavians, remained in the national consciousness.<ref>E. O. G. Haitsma Mulier, "De Bataafse Mythe Opnieuw Bekeken" [The Batavian Myth Viewed Anew]. ''Bijdragen En Mededelingen Betreffende De Geschiedenis Der Nederlanden'' (1996) 111(3): 344-367.</ref>