Download Unit 6

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Empire had been replaced by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.