I'm looking for good reading on the general history and culture of the Germanic tribes.. from early Frankish through Merovingian and Carollingian, etc. Art, weapons, village life...

Just trying to get a better feel as I dive into a Frankish langseax project (from bloomery steel!)...

The Inheritance of Rome, by Chris Wickham, provides an excellent introduction to the early Middle Ages. It will provide a good, broad context, and covers a surprising amount of detail for the centuries you are talking about. It is more focused on political history than daily life, but I think it might still be illuminating.

Thank you Craig.... I will certainly check that out.

I can only recommend this excellent book: http://books.google.sk/books/about/Before_Fra...edir_esc=y
Intriguing account of transformation of late-Roman world to Merovingian Frankish kingdom, and its development towards early Carolingian. Talks a lot about continuity and longue duree transformations. It´s older (1988) but still available on e-shops (probably re-prints?).