THE WEEK IN REVIEW

MONDAY

The Early Middle Ages begin with the collapse of the Roman Empire , starting about 400 AD. Germanic people invaded the Roman Empire.

The Early Middle Ages begin with the collapse of the Roman Empire , starting about 400 AD. Germanic people invaded the Roman Empire.

By 700 AD, new empires were beginning to form.

The High Middle Ages started about 1000 AD, when the modern countries of Europe began to take form, we can see the beginnings of England, France, and Germany.

In the Eastern Mediterranean, the Roman Empire (or the Byzantine Empire) lost a lot of ground and became much less powerful.

TUESDAY10 facts about the Vikings

1. The Vikings were famous for sailing huge distances from their home in Scandinavia between AD 800 and 1066 to raid and plunder, but they also traded with people from other countries.

TUESDAY10 facts about the Vikings

2. The name ‘Viking means ‘a pirate raid’ in the Old Norse language. The Vikings were famous for sailing huge distances from their home in Scandinavia between AD 800 and 1066 to raid and plunder, but they also traded with people from other countries.

TUESDAY10 facts about the Vikings

3. Around 500 years before Christopher Columbus ‘discovered’ the American continent, Vikings had visited its shores, landing in what is now Canada in around AD 1000.

4. Among the many gods Vikings believed in were Thor, the god of thunder, and Loki, a cheeky mischief-maker who could shape-shift to become all different kinds of animals. What a beast!

TUESDAY

10 facts about the Vikings

TUESDAY

10 facts about the Vikings

6. The Vikings were expert boat builders and sailors. Keels – central spines along boats’ bottoms – made their 16 to 37m ‘longboats’ easy to steer, and because these were designed to float high in the water, landing on beaches was easy.

TUESDAY

10 facts about the Vikings

7. Fenrir Grayback, the werewolf in the Harry Potter books, was named after a ferocious giant wolf from ancient Viking mythology.

TUESDAY

10 facts about the Vikings

8. When important Vikings died, they would be placed with all their clothes, jewelry, even their animals, in a burial ship. This would either be covered with a huge mound of earth or set alight and pushed out to sea.

TUESDAY

10 facts about the Vikings

8. When important Vikings died, they would be placed with all their clothes, jewelry, even their animals, in a burial ship. This would either be covered with a huge mound of earth or set alight and pushed out to sea.

TUESDAY

10 facts about the Vikings

9. Bitter Scandinavian winters and frozen fjords didn’t stop the Vikings from tucking into their favurite food – fish! During warmer months they would hang up and dry fish to eat later.

TUESDAY

10 facts about the Vikings

10. Ever wondered where the word ‘berserk’ comes from? ‘Berserkers’ was the name of some terrifying Viking warriors who wore bear or wolf skins and howled in battle like wild animals!

WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY

Imagine you live in a place that is really pretty. 

There are hills all around you and lots of open space. There is a beautiful river and ample rainfall.

You have good neighbors and a home of your own. It's just a little home with a dirt floor and a thatched roof, but you like it. It's what you know.

You also know that there are other people, mean people, who live on the hill right next to yours. 

You have never actually seen these people, but you have heard about them. You have heard that the people who live on the other hill burn down houses just for the fun of it. They would burn down yours if they knew where you lived.

You are really afraid of the people who live on the other side of the hill. You do not want to travel past them.

Instead, you stay home where things are pleasant. You make your own shoes.

You bake your own bread. You live among people you have known all your life.

You never travel anywhere because to do so you would have to pass the mean people who live on the other side of the hill, and that would be too scary.