Unit 6 The Early Middle Ages
Chapter 17: The Germans
1.About 300 CE, Germans began settling in the Roman Empire. 2.German warriors were organized and commanded by a chieftain, to whom the warriors gave complete loyalty. 3.The Germans were very religious and settled cases of guilt or innocence through a process known as the ordeal. 4.The ordeal decided guilt or innocence in a few ways: A) Walk over hot coals, or B) Stick your arm in boiling water. The innocent’s wounds would heal in three days. Another way to determine guilt was by way of water. A person would be tied hand to foot and thrown into the river. If they sunk, they were innocent. If they floated, their guilt was proven.
5. The penalty for crime depended on a person’s wealth or importance. 6. Germans believed laws came from the people and the ruler could not change them. 7. Between 378 and 410 CE, the Germans captured many Roman cities in the Northwestern part of the Roman Empire. 8. By 550 CE, the Roman Empire had been replaced by 6 German kingdoms.
Chapter 18: The Franks
1.The Germanic people called the Franks, built a civilization in the modern day countries of France and Germany. 2.The first great Frankish King was Clovis. 3.Clovis established a capital in Paris. 4.Clovis accept the Catholic religion as his official religion. 5.Clovis made Latin the official language of his empire and gained the support of the Pope and the people. 6.The official title given to the leader of the Franks was “Mayor of the Palace.” 7.In 732 CE, Frankish king, Charles Martel become a hero for Catholicism. He halted a Muslim advance into central Europe at the Battle of Tours. This battle would forever cement Christianity in Europe.
8. Charles Martel’s son Pepin replaced his father as “Mayor of the Palace,” and was anointed leader of the Franks by the Pope. 9. Pepin had a successful rule, and his son Charlemagne was even a more successful ruler. 10. Charlemagne brought all of western Europe under his control and the Pope proclaimed him the emperor of the new Holy Roman Empire. 11. Charlemagne led a strong empire, but it did not last long as his kingdom was divided amongst wealthy landowners after his death.
Chapter 19 & 20: The Irish, Anglo-Saxons, & Vikings
1.In 410 CE, the Romans left Great Britain as it was gradually conquered by the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes. 2.These groups united to become the Anglo-Saxons. 3.The Anglo-Saxons set up a centralized government that paved the way for the formation of the country of England. 4.The Vikings lived in Northern Europe (Scandinavia). 5.The Vikings were excellent warriors, sailors and navigators. 6.The Vikings were polytheistic, but later accepted Christianity as the migrated into Roman lands. 7.By 862 CE, the Vikings migrated east into modern day Russia and established a settlement called Kiev under the leadership of a Viking named Rurik.
8. The Vikings also migrated west into Greenland and North America. 9. Viking culture eventually assimilated into all areas of the world.