WHI.10d - The Vikings

The student will apply social science skills to understand Western Europe during the Middle Ages from about 500 to 1000 A.D. (C.E.) in terms of its impact on Western civilization by

d) describing the social, religious, and cultural patterns of the Vikings;

Invasions by Vikings disrupted the social, economic, and political order of Europe.

Social, religious, and cultural development

 The Viking attacks took place mostly in the 9th and 10th centuries.

 Tribal units were led by chieftains.

 Lack of arable land led to exploration and invasion.

 Invasions disrupted trade; towns declined.

 The Vikings observed a polytheistic religion, but gradually converted to Christianity.

 Viking attacks contributed to the collapse of the Frankish Empire founded by Charlemagne.

 Vikings settled in the areas known today as Russia, Iceland, and Greenland, and briefly in North America.

 Eastern European sea and river trade

Terms

Germanic tribes (9a)

Medieval society (9a)

Roman Catholic Church (9a)

Secular (9a)

Monasteries (9a)

Missionaries (9a)

Parish priests (9a)

Feudal society (9a)

Fief (9b)

Vassal (9b)

Serfs (9b)

Manor (9b)

Manorial system (9b)

Holy Roman Empire (9c)

Amber (9d)

People

Charlemagne (9a,c)

Franks (9c)

Angles (9d)

Saxons (9d)

Magyars (9d)

Vikings (9d)

Places

Scandinavia (9d)

Hungary (9d)

Baltic Sea (9d)

Charlemagne’s Empire (9a,c)