Today we began reviewing the chapter by using the powerpoint above. It might be beneficial if you print this out for tomorrow, and see how easy it can be to do a little preparation ahead of time when it comes to taking down notes.
Don't forget about the map check. CCA is also posted. Knights: a lot of gear Whether you realize it or not, we have had a few examples of medieval warfare recently despite not going outside today for the archery demonstration. 1. Higgins Armory presentation: The focus was on the evolution of armor and weaponry during the Middle Ages. Typically, only a noble/knight could afford the entire package, which would include customized armor and a mount. Most feudal armies had few knights/cavalry, and were made up primarily of cheap, poorly trained, poorly equipped peasant infantry (foot soldiers). Chainmail was flexible, but knights eventually began to rely on plate armor to completely protect them while riding their horse into a battle. 2. Ulfbehrt video: The Ulfbehrt was made of technologically superior material that must have been expensive, and therefore used by only the upper class Viking warriors who could afford it. It could pierce chainmail, and was flexible enough to withstand the violence of hand-to-hand combat. 3. Today in class: Medieval armies, like other parts of feudal society, showed the hierarchy of the system. Peasant infantry would be called upon to protect the fiefdom or kingdom, and were expected to be led/protected by the upper class knights/lords. For the next few days, we will be running a simulation in class that will help us represent the evolution of the feudal system in medieval Europe. Today, you "earned" the right to be a royal or lord, or became a peasant serf. But, things will certainly change over the next few days as kings are challenged, lords banished, and new levels of society emerge as we discuss how the basic feudal system evolved into a more complex system as Europe moved toward the year 1500. Be ready to participate, follow the "rules of society", have some fun, and maybe even learn a little bit along the way. DON'T FORGET, PROJECT DUE MONDAY! Germanic invaders attack Rome Over the past two nights, I hope you have been able to compare your summaries with mine. A few things to remember about this process: 1. Try to read thoroughly, and gain a sense of what the author is trying to focus on. 2. Don't get bogged down with too many names and dates. 3. Check the first sentence, and see if what it says is repeated or confirmed in other sentences within the paragraph. Remember, I think this is an important skill to learn. In many careers and future classes, you will be asked to be able to condense a larger amount of material into a smaller, easier to digest amount. On to the assignment from today: 8. The Franks were different than other Germanic tribes due to the fact that they didn't abandon their homeland, and this allowed them to grow strong enough to first conquer Gaul and eventually form a united empire. 9. By the end of the 400s, the Western Roman Empire was overrun and replaced by Germanic kingdoms, which ruled Italy, Spain, and especially France (Franks). 10. The Romans weren't necessarily overrun by large numbers of Germanic barbarians, but instead were their own worst enemy. 11. The Western Roman Empire fell, but it was survived by the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantines) which conquered parts of Western Europe in a short-lived revival during the 6th century under Emperor Justinian. Nice job on the map check today, be sure not to forget to get in the routine of doing your CCA's, and also make sure you investigate your choice of medieval hero this week. It is ok to bring in a few ideas, but spend some time this weekend doing some basic research so you can get a quality choice you will enjoy. Here is the Franks video in its entirety, if you want to get ahead (on the worksheet also) Today we discussed the geographic division between Western Europe and Eastern Europe, as it relates to our study of medieval history this year. We will be spending a few months studying Western Europe, so students should be mindful of the impact that these countries have made on our culture today. Tonight, start thinking about what nation you would like to explore for your chess attack project, and whether or not you want to use this project to explore your own ancestry/ethnicity. Take a look at the project directions for our upcoming "Chess Attack" project on the projects page. If you don't know how to play chess, ask someone in your family if they can show you. |
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June 2013
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