Figure 1.-- |
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Medieval Christian Europe faced several major military threats. The Huns were a major threat at the very outset pf Medieval Europe. The next principal threat was the Moors and Saracens. The Byzantines blocked the Islasmic advnce in the East, but Moorish armies invased Spain in the west and crossed the Pyranees into France. They were stopped by Frankish commander Charles Martel at Tours (732). The Moors retired back across the Pyranees, but Saraceen raiders attacked into Europe penetrating into the Alps and even sacking Rome. Eventually the Ottoman Turls would renew the threat in the East. Another Turkish people, the Hungarians. raided throughout centrall Europe. They were a major threat until defeated and Chritianized. The northern Germanic an unChritianized Germamic people began raiding Christin Europe in the 8th century, first stiking the rich monastery at Lindesfarne, an island off northern England. The Morsemen or Vikings became a major threat to Christin Europe after the death of Charlrmagne and the splintering of his domaine. The Vikings established Normany, a dukedom that rivaled the power of the French monarchy and Duke William of Normandy would conquer England (1066). While Danish and Norwegian Vikings struck west and south, Swedish Vikings moved east and played a major role in the development of Russia. The Vikings while devestating large areas also played a role in the spread of commerce and the evolution of democracy in England. Late medieval Europe would face assaults from the Mongols ad than the Ottoman Empire.
The Huns were a major threat at the very outset 0f Medieval Europe. Very little is known about the origins of the Huns until they come in contact with Rome in the late 4th century. The Huns were the first mounted Asian warriors to move east and threaten Europe. They appeared on war horses out of the trackless Asian steppes. Their first European victim were the Alans (a people living between the Volga and the Don) and then moved further West. The Huns were a major force in driving the Germanic tribes west into the saftey of the Roman Empire, butv in the process destroying the Western Empire. The Huns moved east north of the Black Sea and conquered the Ostrogoths. Then they also drove the Visigoths across the Danube into the Roman Empire. This led defeat of the Roman army under the Emperor Valens at Adrianople (378 AD). The Huns settled along the Danube, particularly in the Hungarian Plain. For nearly 50 years they both served the Romans as allies as well as wared with them. The Eastern Emperor, beginning in the 420s, paid an annual tribute to them. When the more ambitious Attila succeded as as King of the Huns he adopted a more aggressive policy.
The next principal threat was the Moors and Saracens. The Byzantines blocked the Islasmic advnce in the East, but Moorish armies invased Spain in the west and crossed the Pyranees into France. They were stopped by Frankish commander Charles Martel at Tours (732). The Moors retired back across the Pyranees, but Saraceen raiders attacked into Europe penetrating into the Alps and even sacking Rome. Eventually the Ottoman Turks would renew the Islamic threat, this time in tbe East.
Another Turkish people, the Hungarians. raided throughout central Europe. They were a major threat until defeated and Chritianized.
The northern Germanic an un-Chritianized Germamic people began raiding Christin Europe in the 8th century, first stiking the rich monastery at Lindesfarne, an island off northern England.
Voyages further into the Atlantic follwed, to Iceland, Greeland, and North America. A permanent settlement was established in Iceland. The most important Viking explorers was Erick the Red and his son Leiv Eriksson. Norwegian-born Eirik Thorvaldsson, known as Eirik the Red, sailing from Iceland explored and colonized southwestern Greenland (986). He name this largely ice covered island Greeland to attract settlers, His son, Leiv Eiriksson, became probably the first European to reach North America. Little accurate data from the extensive Viking voyages, however, ever appeared on European maps. The Norsemen or Vikings became a major threat to Christin Europe after the death of Charlrmagne and the splintering of his domaine. The Vikings established Normany, a dukedom that rivaled the power of the French monarchy and Duke Willian of Normandy would conquer England (1066). While Danish and Norwegian Vikings struck west and south, Swedish Vikings moved east and played a major role in the development of Russia. The Vikings while devestating large areas also played a role in the spread of commerce and the evolution of democracy in England.
Late medieval Europe would face assaults from the Mongols. The Mongols played an enormously important role in world history. Although a relatively small population, the Mongols established the most extensive empire in histoiry, streaching from Korea to Eastern Europe. Only the Japanese suceessfully defied the Mongols. The Mongols also conquered and influenced many of the major world powers, China, Russia, Persia, amd India. The Mongols defeated the Poles and were set to move into Western Europe. Only the death of thir great leader, Geghis Khan prevented this.
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