New Invasions: Arabs, Magyars and Vikings

Troubles in the 9 th and 10 th Centuries: Main Themes  Charlemagne had provided Western Europe with an enduring model of imperial rule, but almost immediately after his death, his empire collapsed as his successors fought over territory.  As centralized political authority collapsed, Western Europe in the ninth and tenth centuries experienced a new series of migrations, invasions and raids: the Arabs from northern Africa, Vikings from Scandinavia and Magyars from the steppes of Russia.  The Vikings, although feared for their violent and sudden attacks by sea, also fostered trade and urban development across a wide area at this time.

 Charlemagne dies in 814, Empire passes to only surviving son, Louis the Pious  Louis the Pious ( )  Oaths of Strasbourg (842) and Treaty of Verdun (843) The Splintering of the Carolingian Empire

The Vikings (There are some dedicated re-enactors in the world)

Viking Raids: The Attack on Lindisfarne, 793 “Lo, it is nearly 350 years that we and our fathers have inhabited this most lovely land, and never before has such terror appeared in Britain as we have now suffered from a pagan race, nor was it thought that such an inroad from the sea could be made. Behold, the church of St. Cuthbert spattered with the blood of the priests of God, despoiled of all of its ornaments; a place more venerable than all in Britain is given as prey to a pagan peoples.” -Alcuin of York 793. Here terrible portents came about over the land of Northumbria, and miserably frightened the people: these were immense flashes of lightning,and fiery dragons were seen flying in the air. A great famine immediately followed these signs; and a little after that in the same year on 8 January the raiding of heathen men miserably devastated God's church in Lindisfarne island by looting and slaughter. And Sicga passed away on 22 February. -Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Above: Stone commemorating the attack on Lindisfarne

Early medieval Scandinavia

Viking Ship, 8 th century, at the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, Norway

Cuerdale Hoard: largest assemblage of Viking treasure found in England Includes 8,500 items, buried c. 900: coins from England, Byzantine Empire, Scandinavia, Islamic Empire, Italy and Carolingian empire; jewelry from continent, hacksilver (discovered in 1840) Evidence of trade networks

Lancashire (England) Viking hoard, early 10 th century: contains Anglo-Saxon coins of Alfred the Great, Viking Northumbrian coins, German and Islamic coins, as well as silver jewelry, ingots and hacksilver (just found in 2011)

Conclusions: The Vikings  Violence of Viking attacks (“pagans,” “heathens,” “Northmen”) seem unmistakable in written sources  Archaeology seems to indicate evidence of pillage and looting, but also, of Vikings as traders  Extensive trading networks: N. American coastline, N. Atlantic islands, British Isles, N. Europe, Russia, Black Sea, Middle East  Trading silks from Constantinople, amber from the Baltic, jewelry and beads from Carolingian Francia, silver (used to make brooches and jewelry), Islamic and Byzantine coins  Set up towns in Ireland: trading settlements along the coast (Dublin, Waterford, Wexford)  Political impact: Vikings come to settle across Europe  Danes take over much of England (Danelaw); Danish also in western France by 911 (Normandy); Swedes in Russia (Kievan Rus)  Vikings serve as mercenaries in Byzantine army (Varangian Guard)

Next Class  Thursday  Short Essay 2 Due  Read Bald’s Leechbook  Read Bede’s Life of St. Cuthbert