CLASS MATERIALS FOR STUDENTS IN HISTORY 2100: Middle Ages
Notes and Questions

THE MIDDLE AGES

Topic: The Fall of the Roman Empire

Who were the Germanic Tribes? Where did they settle?

What  effect did the western movement of the Huns have  upon  the Germanic tribes pushing against the borders of the Roman Empire?

Why were the Romans not able to put up a better resistance to the German tribes?

Did  a  part  (geographic region) of the  Roman  Empire  survive? Where would one find the city of Constantinople today?

What  role,  if  any, did disease play in  weakening  the  Roman Empire?

What role, if any, did the rise of Christianity play in weakening the Roman Empire?

What do historians mean when they speak of the "barbarization  of the  army?" What were the consequences of the  barbarization  of the Roman Army ?

The Dark Ages: From the fall of Rome until Charlemagne

Why have historians labeled the three centuries between the  fall of Rome and the Christmas Day Coronation of Charlemagne in  Rome, in 800 AD., "the Dark Ages"?

(Students   might  consider  -  art,  literature,   architecture, warfare, living conditions, political stability)

To what extent did society collapse during this period of time?

Describe the feudal structure which emerged during the Dark  Ages in Europe. How was this tied to the need for military security?

What was life like for the average person?

What accounts for the rise of Monasticism and what advantages did the monastic life offer?

Who were the Vikings? How did their raids affect life in Europe?

What  happened to the trade routes which had been established  by the Romans?

Describe  the  advances  in science achieved by  the  Arab  world

Charlemagne's  Accomplishments and Europe  in  the  Early Middle Ages

Where  was  Charlemagne's capital city?  Describe  Charlemagne's castle and church!!

What nations (on today's map) were part of Charlemagne's Empire?

Why does historians regard Charlemagne instrumental in restoring order in Europe?

Why did Charlemagne seek as his goal the restoration of the Roman Empire?

How  did  Charlemagne  promote learning  during  his  reign?  Was Charlemagne literate, himself?

What were the main skills of Charlemagne in managing his empire?

What was the Spanish March?

Topic: The Norman Invasion of England

Who were the Normans? Who were the Anglo-Saxons?

How  did  the Norman invasion of 1066  fundamentally  change  the course of English history?

What type of feudal structure did William the Conqueror impose on England?  (especially  be  concerned with  the  high  level  of centralization)

What was the relation between language and class in 11th,  12th, and 13th century England?

Describe  the impact of the Norman conquest upon the  development of the "English" language.

How did the Norman conquest affect the development of the English language?

The Crusades

How were the Crusades related to internal developments in Europe? Why  were  monarchs pleased to permit knights to go  off  on  the Crusades?

What motivated the Crusaders?

What  accounts  for  attacks against the  Jewish  communities  in Europe during this time?

How did the Crusaders "behave" once they got to the holy land?



Comments to: Stephen Ross Levitt
Updated: October 4, 2000
Copyright Stephen Ross Levitt and Liberal Arts Department