As the Slavs were focusing their invasions on the Byzantine Empire, the Vikings were invading Europe. Go invade Europe!

In medieval Scandinavian, to go a-viking means to fight like a warrior. They traveled in long deckless ships propelled by oars.

These ships were able to travel in shallow rivers and could be carried around fortified bridges. What they could not steal, they burned.

With names like Eric Bloodaxe and Harald Bluetooth, they fought hard and settled all along the coast of Europe.

The Vikings worshiped many gods, listing their deeds in poems called Eddas. Their history was all spoken history until the 1100’s when they became Christian and used the Roman alphabet.

They had a mythology surrounding the “Green Man”. This was an environmentalist diety that was in all nature.

What the Vikings did to Europe: 1. Isolated communities. 2. Economic decline. 3. Local rulers take over the defense of each little region. 4. Weakened central authority. (…and, of course, violence, death, and other Viking-like activity…)

This created a new system in Western Europe called Feudalism. Is the new dirt here?

As local rulers took over around the 900’s, the common people experienced more stability (no dynasties, empires or kingdoms to rise and fall!) I’m so happy...

Feudalism was a decentralized political system based on giving land to nobles in return for military aid. It stressed alliances for mutual protection. I’ll give you land if you kill all the Muslims.

Charles Martel saw that the Muslims were using stirrups. He wanted a new cavalry army to do the same, but the cost was too high. stirrup

So that each man could support his own costs, Martel granted them each a fief (estate with peasants to work the land.)

The king allowed these local nobles to take over traditional gov’t jobs like raising armies, dispensing justice, and minting coins.

In return, the nobles took an oath of loyalty and pledged military support to the king. In theory, this system was a pyramid. King Lords Knights Dirty Peasants

Some lords could be vassals (workers) for several different kings. Some knights could be vassals for several different lords. This was all based on personal loyalty and things could change. It could get pretty confusing.

When a vassal swore service to his lord (homage), he promised: (1) days of military service per year, (2) food and lodging if the lord visited, and (3) to pay ransom if the lord were captured in battle. In return, the Lord provided Nobless Oblige (the Noble’s obligations.)