Muslims established a Muslim state in what is today Spain.



Charlemagne respected learning and set up a school at his court and put an educated man from England, named Alcuin, in charge of it.
The crown of Charlemagne.

Alcuin>>

After Charlemagne's son died, the Frankish kingdom was divided into 3 parts and that threw Europe into a chaotic state once more.

Europeans were so afraid of the Vikings because the Vikings destroyed villages, churches, and ships at sea.



Two other terms are used to describe the period known as the Middle Ages:
1. medieval (Latin for "Middle Age")
2.  Dark Ages-this term was used because it was thought that the light of civilization went out in Europe during this time.  However, this term is wrong and is not used anymore.

Vikings worshipped many gods and believed that a god named Odin was the supreme king god.
<<Odin

Thor was the Viking god of the sky who was responsible for good harvests, wind, rain, thunder, and lightning,




According to Viking beliefs, heroes who died in battle were taken to Valhalla, the great hall of Odin, for more battles and feasts.

The Normans

The date 1066 is so important to English history because it is the date when William, Duke of Normandy, later known as William the Conqueror, defeated Harold, the Saxon king of England, which resulted in a Norman, French-speaking king being installed on the throne of England.

The Norman conquest changed England as the new kingdom blended Norman and Saxon culture and language.
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Feudal kings divided their lands into fiefs to control their lands and reward nobles for their loyalty and support.

The Difference between a Vassal and a Serf:

Vassals were nobles who received a fief, or land grant, from the king; serfs were peasants who worked the land.

A serf might want to live in a town to experience freedom and live a life less harsh than on the manors.

Stages in Becoming a Knight:

Stage 1-     This stage began at age 7.  Pages were expected to attend to knights and know etiquette.

Stage 2-     A page became a squire at a church ceremony, during which a priest blessed him.  The squire received a belt and a sword.

Stage 3-     Before the ceremony that would make him a knight, a squire prayed and fasted all night.  The next day a noble dubbed him a knight by tapping him three times with a sword.

The Code of Knighthood:

*Chivalry-knights were supposed to follow this code of conduct.
*Be a good Christian.
*Defend the Church.
*Know poetry and music.
*Have good manners.

The Tough Part of being a Knight:

*Knights had to have atleast 3 horses.
*Knights had to have a suit of armor.
*Knights had to have squires to serve them.
(All of the above were expensive to maintain and acquire.)

**Some knights tried to make a living by fighting in tournaments such as jousting.



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England's King John was forced by his vassals to sign the Magna Carta.

During the Middle Ages, European life was hard!  Agriculture was poor, disease and war were common, and most people did not live past 40.

After A.D. 1000 life improved.  Trade revived, travel increased, towns expanded, and more food was produced.

Page song-Street Music from the 13th to 16th Century