Geography
Warfare
Religion
Language & Literature
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100

From the late 9th to the early 11th century, the area of eastern England that was ruled by the law of the Danes. 

Danelaw

100

Vikings in the Middle Ages were skilled against their opposition on the water (especially shallow water) with the help of this man-powered, oar-propelled vessel.

longship

100

First Roman emperor to convert to and legalize Christianity; ordered building of Hagia Sophia.

Constantine

100

Showing evidence for the control the Danes had over the Anglo-Saxons for a time in the Middle Ages, Wednesday is named for this Norse god. 

Odin/Woden

100

"not being launched from my horse thanks to this handy piece of equipment"

stirrup

200

Although he failed to capture Paris, Rollo "the Walker" was able to take this city on his way up the Seine. 

Rouen

200

Being the lowest in the hierarchy that was feudalism, these people made up the troops called upon to fight in battles in exchange for the land they were granted by the knight or lord to whom they pledged fealty. 

vassals

200

Charles Martel stopped the spread of this religion deeper into Europe when he and his army met and defeated the Saracens at the Battle of Tours.

Islam

200

These holy men and their followers developed what became the Cyrillic alphabet in order to share the gospel and celebrate the Divine Liturgy with the Slavs in their own language. 

Sts. Cyril & Methodius

200

"raiding, plundering, ravaging, particularly by sea"

viking

300

The name given to the realm of the legendary King Arthur.

Logres

300

This military tactic involves surrounding a place and cutting off supplies to force surrender.

siege

300

The Irish missionary and abbot responsible for spreading Christianity in Scotland. (First reported encounter with the Loch Ness monster)

St. Columba

300

Written in Middle English alliterative verse by an unknown author, this chivalric romance depicts a quest undertaken by one of Arthur's knights of the Round Table. 

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

300

"ruling the Franks, conquering and converting the Saxons in Germany, defeating the Lombards and granting land to the Pope, receiving the title 'Emperor,' establishing schools and promoting education...being this 'great' leader"

Charlemagne

400

Capital of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Constantinople

400

Military strategy used by Alfred the Great's smaller forces against Guthrum, including ambushes, raids, and hit-&-run operations. 

guerilla tactics

400

Empress Irene convened the 7th Ecumenical Council in order to address and declare this practice a heresy. 

iconoclasm

400

The oldest surviving major work of French literature, this epic poem is based on the deeds of a real Frankish warrior and his death at the Battle of Ronceveaux Pass. 

Song of Roland

400

"participating in this 3-step knight-making process which includes a purifying bath and tonsuring, an all-night vigil, and a ceremonial dubbing"

initiation

500

Location of the first settlement of Norsemen in North America (~500 years BEFORE Columbus).

Newfoundland

500

Thinking it right to spread his religion by force, this man made war on all "unbelievers."

Mohammed

500

Egyptian saint known as the Father of monasticism who spent much time struggling against demons in the desert and reminded the Emperor Constantine in a letter that "Christ is the true King."

Saint Anthony the Great

500

Before the invention of the printing press, scribes and clerics were able to produce and disseminate literature that upheld the virtues of this code in order to encourage courtesy, piety, and valor among knights. 

chivalry

500

"skilled in this, determining the authenticity of a competing knight's coat of arms presented as proof of his identity and noble lineage"

heraldry