Answer Keys for

Two Column Notes

Middle

AgesUnit

The FranksWhat happened in W. Europe after Romans left?

• Germanic tribes moved in and established settlements

Who were the Franks?

• Took over Gaul (France) in late 4th/early 5th century

• Farmers/warriors• Special weapon: francisca (throwing axe)• Both men & women wore long hair and jewelry

What were the achievements of Clovis I & Merovingians?

• Merovingians ruled for 300 years• Clovis: founded France with capital at Paris

What happened to France after Clovis died?

• Kingdom divided between children• Infighting & chaos weakened France

The Franks

What was the Salic Code?

• Frankish law• All people & property had monetary value• Fines (wergilds) charged for all losses of property,

injuries & deaths• Murderers put to death if victim’s family chose

execution over collecting a fine

What are serfs and why were their lives so difficult?

• 60% serfs (farmers tied to the manors where they lived)

• Lords could take their crops at any time & merchants could raise prices during shortages

Who was Charlemagne?

• Son of Pepin the Short who defeated the Merovingians

• Came to throne in 768 CE• By 800 CE, had founded the Carolingian Empire

that covered most of W. Europe

The Franks

How did Charlemagne govern his empire?

• Allowed local governments some freedom• Used missi dominici (agents/messengers) to

ensure his people were treated properly• Single code of laws• Tried to improve lives of serfs and tradespeople,

but ruthless to enemies

What did Charlemagne do to encourage a “Carolingian Renaissance”?

• Established new schools at monasteries• Educated his sons and daughters• Revived architecture by constructing churches &

palaces• Took interest in science and literature

What happened after Charlemagne died?

• Empire fell apart due to weakness of his heirs and attacks by Vikings

The Anglo-SaxonsWhat happened after Romans left Britain?

• Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, Jutes) drove out the Celts.

• Celts went to Wales, Cornwall, Scotland & Ireland

What was daily life like for Anglo-Saxons?

• Most were farmers in small villages• Some trade• Skilled metal workers• Created epic stories like Beowulf• Regular attacks by Vikings

Who was Alfred the Great?

• Anglo-Saxon king• Learned to defeat Vikings & united most of

southwestern England

The CeltsWhat was Celtic society like before the 5th century?

• Practiced Druidism (nature worship)• Bloody battles, slavery, human sacrifices

How did St. Patrick change Ireland?

• Converted Celts to Christianity• Made Ireland a centre for learning by establishing

monasteriesHow did Irish monks help spread Christianity & preserve knowledge?

• Trained missionaries who went to Scotland, England & Europe

• Copied Bibles & Latin, Greek & Celtic texts

The VikingsWhat were the advantages of long ships?

• Speed: could attack without warning & escape quickly

• Sail in shallow water Why were Vikings so feared?

• Attacked a vast area• Burned buildings and killed or enslaved people

How did rulers deal with Viking attacks?

• Paid them to leave (e.g. Danegeld)• Fought them

What was daily life like among the Vikings?

• Farmed & fished in small seaside Scandinavian villages

• Very small farms

Why did Vikings raid Europe?

• Not enough farmland to support their people

The VikingsWhat were women’s lives like?

• Shared work with men except for some tasks like weaving

• Many rights (e.g. own property, divorce)

Who or what was a thrall?

• Slaves who did the hardest work on farms• Captured in raids/forced into slavery by failing to

pay a debt• Children became thralls• Could be killed at any time

Describe Viking cultural achievements.

• Wood & metal work• Art featured scenes of gods (e.g. Thor) & daily life

How was Viking history preserved?

• Skalds (poets) recited history from memory at large gatherings

The Vikings

Describe Viking law & how it was administered.

• Laws to protect people and property• Mostly unwritten• Law Speakers memorized & recited laws when

needed• Worst punishment: declared outlaw with no

protection under law; could be killed at any time & property taken

What are runes?

• Alphabet used by Vikings & other German tribes• Thought to be magical

What brought an end to the “Viking Age”?

• Increased power of European monarchs• Arrangements (e.g. Danelaw in England &

Normandy in France) where some lands given to Vikings in exchange for keeping other Vikings out

• Some settlements (e.g. Greenland & N.A.) disappear

• Vikings converted to Christianity