Lesson 1:
Geography of Europe
Geography of Europe
What does the word 'navigable' mean?
A river that is deep and wide enough so that large ships and boats can travel on it, serve as highways for transporting goods and people.
Who was Charlemagne aka Charles the Great? List 1-2 facts about who he was.
One of the Frank’s greatest rulers
-ruled from 768-814 (46 years)
-led more than 50 major military campaigns and nearly doubled the size of his kingdom
-united a great variety of European people under the same government
What are the names of the special religious communities where men and women could live simple religious lives? Who lived in them? Be specific!
Religious men called 'monks' lived in 'monasteries' and 'nuns' lived in 'convents.'
During the Middle Ages, what was the main religion in Europe at the time? What was the name of the other religion also growing there at this time?
During the Middle Ages in Europe, Christianity was the main religion, the other religion that was growing in the Middle East was Islam.
What were 2 of the first civilizations in Europe? What happened to them both by the third and fourth centuries A.D.?
Two of the first civilizations in Europe were Ancient Greece and Rome. By the 3rd and 4th centuries A.D., both began to lose their importance
What do we call 'large, elaborate churches' and what makes them 'elaborate?' *This is a 2-part question needing 2 answers!!!!
Large, elaborate churches are known as 'cathedrals.' They are elaborate not only because of their size; but also because of their large stained glass windows that show scenes from the bible.
Why was Charlemagne becoming emperor such a big turning point in European history?
This marked an important turning point in European history because for the first time since the end of the Roman Empire, Europe had an all-powerful emperor.
How was a monastery and convent similar to a manor? What made it this way? List some examples.
They were all self-sufficient economic units that had everything people needed because it was all created there. For example, there were houses, workshops, barns, and fields for raising crops.
Why was Palestine considered the Holy Land?
Palestine was considered the Holy Land because it was the birthplace of Christianity.
Why were the Crusades considered a failure for the Church?
The Crusades were a failure for the Church because they did not recapture the Holy Land, and many innocent Chrisitans and Muslims died as a result of these ‘holy wars.’
What are Europe’s 2 longest rivers? What is interesting about the rivers in Europe?
The Volga (1) and (2) the Danube. Each river flows in a different direction to different seas.
Who was attacking the Franks the year Charlemagne died? What was their method for attack?
Bonus *100 points*: How many years did the terrorizing raids go on for?
Northern invaders / Northmen / Vikings who were skillful sailors and fierce warriors from Scandinavia. They were daring raiders whose methods were speed and surprise because they slipped into villages when it was dark and people were sleeping.
*Bonus: For 250 years
What was life like in many of the monasteries?
Many of the monasteries followed strict rules that had been set by a monk named Benedict.
What happened when the Seljuk Turks came to power in the Muslim lands around the year 1000?
Around the year 1000, the Seljuk Turks came to power and killed thousands of Christians who made pilgrimages to the Holy Land.
What were the effects of the Crusades on Europe’s economy?
Europe’s trade with other parts of the world grew as well as trade within Europe.
What is the physical geography of Europe? (3-4 things should be included in your answer)
Europe has low-lying plains, high plateaus, and towering mountains. Many countries have at least one border on a sea or ocean, or are located within a few hundred miles of the sea.
What is feudalism? What did kings do to help restore order?
Feudalism is a way of organizing and governing society. Kings granted large pieces of land to important nobles, or lords in exchange for their loyalty.
Since monasteries were the most important centers for learning, what did every monastery need to have?
What was the important room beneath (under) the library called?
They needed to have a library that included Bibles and other religious books, records, and documents.
Underneath the library was the scriptorium, which meant the “copying workroom.” The only way to reproduce books was to copy them by hand and this was the special place where they could do it carefully.
In response to the mass murder of Christians, who addressed a huge gathering of Christians in Clermont, France? What did he say in his speech?
An angered Chrisitian leader named Pope Urban II spoke out to a large group of Chrisitian people advising them to fight back. I know this because of the line: “...go forth against the Turks in a battle…”
What is ‘commerce?’
Commerce is the buying and selling of goods.
What 3 factors encouraged the growth of European civilization?
There are 3 main factors that encouraged the growth of European civilization.
Navigable rivers
Attractive mild climate
Rich geographic features
Why was feudalism a common way of life in the Middle Ages?
Feudalism was popular because there was always a constant threat of attack by the northern invaders known as the Vikings or the barbarians.
What is another name for the Middle Ages and why was it referred to as such?
Another name for the Middle Ages was the Age of Faith and it was called this because religion was very important at that time.
As a result of Pope Urban II’s words, 200 years of what began?
After Pope Urban II told the crowd it is time to fight back against the Turks, there were 200 years of crusades, or holy wars.