INVASION PROBLEMS IN THE MIDDLE AGESBackground: Invasions by the Angles, Saxons, Magyars, and Vikings disrupted the social, economic, and political order of Europe. They also destroyed the empire set up by Charlemagne.

Areas of Settlement: Angles and Saxons – moved from

Continental Europe to England Magyars – moved from Central Asia to

Hungary Vikings – moved from Scandinavia to

Russia

Angles & Saxons

Mag

yars

Cultural Characteristics of the Vikings:

1. They worshipped warlike gods

2. Seafaring people – always on the water to find new sources for food

Cultural Characteristics of the Vikings:

3. Leif Ericson – actually landed on North America around 1000

4. Eventually adopted Christianity stopped looting monasteries

Cultural Characteristics of the Magyars:1. Nomadic people from the East

2. They were excellent horseback riders

Cultural Characteristics of the Magyars:3. Their goal was to capture people to

be sold as slaves, NOT land

4. Attacked isolated villages and monasteries

Influence and Impact of Invasions of Western Europe1. Immediate Impact – disruption of trade

and decline of towns

2. Long-term Impact – fear of invasion let to people seeking protections from local lords in and around their castles/manors, which ultimately strengthened feudalism

Effects of the Mongol invasions:1. Invaded Russia, Southwest Asia

and China2. Destroyed cities and countryside3. Created an Empire

Effects of the Ottoman invasions of Europe:

1. Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453, ending the Byzantine Empire

2. Constantinople became capital of Ottoman Empire

3. Ottoman Turks were Muslim – represented the spreading of Islam