HIST 1001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Vikings, Merovingian Dynasty, Germanic Languages
Formation of Medieval Europe
I. Origins of France
A. Merovingians Clovis
1. Speak a Germanic language
2. Germans divided up property
• King has to split kingdom to sons
• Generation after generation many subdivisions
• Causes loss of power and control
B. Carolingians
1.
II. Origins of England
A. Conversion of England
1. Angles and Saxons move to England
• They were not Christians (polytheistic) paganism
2. Attack roman culture
3. Attack Celtic culture
4. Anglo-Saxon language
• Some Roman and Celtic influence remains
B. Viking Raids and Danish Conquest
1. No Christianized yet
C. Norman Conquest
1. King Harold is killed during the battle
2. William the conqueror becomes king
• Crowned at Westminster: December 25, 1066
• King William I of England and duke of Normandy (French)
• Ends Anglo-Saxon kingship
• Era of Anglo-Norman kingship
o Starts building castles made of stone, no windows – a
fortress
▪ Used to be made of wood
▪ Brings military architecture
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Formation of medieval europe: origins of france, merovingians clovis, speak a germanic language, germans divided up property, king has to split kingdom to sons, generation after generation many subdivisions, causes loss of power and control, carolingians. Lived by different places; blood kinship was your connection to each other lived in tribes: clovis: 485-511 first to successfully unify all the franks under his leadership. He was not a christian but his wife was; son dies right after baptism. Is losing a battle and decides to calls upon the god of his wife to help him and he wins the battle. Gets baptized and orders all his men to do the same: clotilda: clovis" wife, a peace weaver. After clovis takes over her tribe: merovingian: not about beauty, their wealth was in portable things. Long-haired kings : blood feuds: idea that if someone from your tribe is killed then the blood must be answered with blood.
