Weekly Module overview

Europe looked dramatically different in 6th century compared to the end of the Roman Empire. Society changed in numerous ways, for the most part becoming more fragmented, less urban, less literate, and with loosely organized states that lacked the bureaucratic. This week our course content focuses on the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire), the rise and fall of the Carolingian Empire (think Charlemagne), and the expansion of the Norse through Viking conquests (plus a few bonus videos taking Europe through the Middle Ages and to the brink of the Renaissance).

This week our course documents look at gender and familial relationships among the Norse (Vikings). The Norse were outsiders to Christendom during the early Middle Ages they explored, raided, and settled vast areas of western Europe. While much of Europe was converted to Christianity by the early 9th century, the Norse continued to practice a polytheistic pagan spiritual tradition.

Weekly To Do List

Complete before class on Tuesday.

Read these Course Documents:
- Primary Source: Unn the Deep_Norse Saga.pdf
- Secondary Source: "Women in the Viking Age," exhibit from the Nationalmuseet i København
(Links to an external site.)Watch the required lecture videos below
Click NEXT to read the assigned textbook pages.

Come to class on Tuesday

Take quiz by Friday.
Optional: begin next week's reading/watching when new module opens on Saturday.

Watch These Required Lecture Videos

Bonus European History Videos -- 1000+ CE