The Vikings
BARBARIANS
The Huns
THE BARBARIANS
History on film
Materials
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The History Channel’s “Barbarians: The Vikings”
Viewing guide/discussion questions for “Barbarians: The Vikings”
Worksheet “Four Vikings”
“The Vikings”
Viewing guide for “The Vikings”
“Norse Mythology” Internet assignment
The History Channel’s “Barbarians: The Huns”
Viewing guide/discussion questions for “Barbarians: The Huns”
“Attila”
Viewing guide for “Attila”
Reading and questions “Stopping Attila: The Battle of Chalons”
Pennsylvania general academic standards
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1.1.12.H
1.2.12.B
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1.6.11.A
1.6.11.D
1.6.12.F
8.1.12.A
8.1.12.B
8.1.12.C
8.1.12.D
8.4.9.A
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8.4.9.C
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8.4.9.D
Demonstrate fluency and comprehension in reading
Use and understand a variety of media and evaluate the quality of material
produced
Listen to others
Contribute to discussions
Use media for learning purposes
Evaluate chronological thinking
Synthesize and evaluate historical thinking
Evaluate historical interpretation of events
Synthesize historical research
Evaluate the significance of individuals and groups who made major political
and cultural contributions to world history before 1500
Analyze how continuity and change throughout history has impacted belief
systems and religious, commerce and industry, innovations, settlement patterns, social
organization, transportation and roles of women before 1500
Analyze how conflict and cooperation among social groups and organizations
impacted world history through 1500
Specific objectives
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Discuss the emergence, development, and decline of the Vikings
Describe the careers and achievements of Erik the Red, Leif Eriksson, and Harald Hardrada
Explain the design and importance of Viking longboats
Describe the Vikings’ impact on international trade
Discuss the strategy and goals, both military and social, of the Huns
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“BARBARIANS: THE VIKINGS”
1. What was life like for the Vikings in the mid to late eighth century before they took to the seas? What kind of people
where they? How was their life organized? Was it important that they lived in a cold northern climate? Why?
2. How did expanding population contribute to the Vikings’ decision to set their sights abroad?
3. Describe the Viking longship. Was the longship and its design important to the Vikings’ expeditions and exploits?
Explain.
4. The Vikings were a highly decentralized people, subject to no unifying authority or government. How did this affect
their strategies, tactics, and goals?
5. How was the geography of Europe’s rivers important to the Viking conquests?
6. How did attempts to Christianize the Vikings relate to leaders’ attempts to exert more control? How successful were
the attempts to Christianize the Vikings?
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BARBARIANS
“THE VIKINGS”
Plot Summary
Einar and Eric are two Viking half-brothers. The former is a great warrior whilst the other is an ex-slave, but
neither knows the true identity of the other. When the throne of Northumbria in Britain becomes free for the
taking, the two brothers compete against one another for the prize, but they have very different motives—both
involving the princess Morgana, however.
Cast of Characters
Ragnar (Ernest Bornine)……………………………………………………………………………………………….Viking Chieftain
Enid (Maxine Audley)……………………………………………………………….Queen of England; widow of King Edwin
Father Godwin (Alexander Knox) …………………………………………..………….Advisor and friend to Queen Enid
King Aella (Frank Thring)………………………...………………………..……………………………………………King of England
Egbert (James Donald)……………..……English lord; cousin to Aella; accused of conspiring with the Vikings
Einar (Kirk Douglas)……………………………………………………………………..……………………………………son to Ragnar
Eric (Tony Curtis)………………………………………………………………………………..……..……………slave; son to Ragnar
Sandpiper (Edric Connor)………………………………………………………………………….deaf and dumb friend to Eric
Kitala (Eileen Way)………………………………………………………….……………………………………..haggish rune-reader
Pigtails (Almut Berg)…………………………………………………………………………………….……………the unfaithful wife
Morgana (Janet Leigh)…………………………………………………………Princess of Wales; betrothed to King Aella
Bridget (Dandy Nichols)…………………………………………..…………………………………..lady in waiting to Morgana
“The Vikings” Trivia
At the end of the film, a Viking ship is set afire by flaming arrows in a rendering of a traditional Viking funeral.
Director Richard Fleisher took great care to have the archers practice the moment, training them to release the
arrows on the count of “three,” and hoping at least some of the arrows would arc properly to hit the sail of the
ship and set it on fire. When the time came for the live shot, the director only reached the count of “two”, when
one over-eager archer loosed his arrow. As luck would have it, the arrow arced perfectly and hit the sail. Then,
Fleischer called, “Three!” and the other archers loosed their arrows. Fleischer decided that he liked the one,
single arrow being launched first, and kept the shot in the film because it looked like part of the ceremony.
The three Viking ships in the film were designed using blueprints for an actual Viking ship salvaged from the
water and restored by a Viking museum in Norway. It turned out that the boats built for the film were too
accurate, because the modern actors were taller than their historical counterparts. Every other oar hole had to
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be plugged so the modern men would have room to row with a full oar stroke. Otherwise they would hit the
backs of the oarsmen seated in front of them when pushing the oar handles forward to start each new stroke.
“THE VIKINGS”
Viewing Guide
1. What bad omen happens during the coronation of King Aella?
2. How did Egbert manage to survive the king’s accusations?
3. What fowl incident spoils Einar’s “pretty face”?
4. Kitala warns Ragnar against killing Eric. How does condemn Eric to death without anyone actually killing
him?
5. What is Odin’s test for unfaithful wives?
6. What makes Egbert so interested in Eric?
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7. “ ___________________ and ____________________ are horns on the same goat.” – Kitala.
Explain.
8. Rather than run from the fog during his escape, why is Eric fleeing into the fog?
9. According to Viking custom, what right did a Viking have in death?
10. Though sparing his life, what message does Aella give Eric?
11. “Why did he hesitate?”
12. Describe a Viking funeral.
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HISTORY ON FILM
Internet Assignment “Vikings and Norse Mythology”
Name ______________________
1. Identify the Norse gods/goddesses for whom these days of the week are named:
Tuesday ____________________
Wednesday ____________________
Thursday ____________________
Friday _________________________
2. Go to the following website and take the “Viking Quest”.
www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/vikings
Record some information from the Quest
a. what gods were mentioned when you “cast the runes”
___________________ and ___________________ and ___________________
b. what was your final score? ____________________
3. Now that you have finished the quest, research some information about the gods mentioned in the
runes. What were their “powers”? What benefits/protections did they offer? Etc.
4. Paste this web site into the address bar:
http://www.regjeringen.no/nb.html?id=4
a. In Norse mythology what two elements of nature joined to create the world?
b. How did the Norse gods make humans? (use the back of this paper)
c. ____________________What beings were the greatest enemies of gods and humans?
d. Describe Valhalla.
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e. Complete this chart matching the elements of nature to the roles of these elements in
Norse mythology. “Thunder” is the example.
Nature
Norse Story
Thunder
the sound of Thor’s chariot racing
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VIKINGS
Describe the life and times of the four Vikings listed below. Use information from the video as well as
independent research. List your sources on the back of this page
ERIC THE RED
LEIF ERICSSON
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HARALD HARDRADA
“BARBARIANS: THE HUNS”
1.
Why have historians and archeologists been unable to determine where in Asia the Huns came from?
2.
In what ways were horses important the Huns?
3.
What is a reflex bow, and why was it important to the Huns’ military success?
4.
Why does Pope Leo I call Atilla the “scourge of God”? What are some theories people have put forth to explain why
Atilla did not complete his attack on Rome?
5.
What happened to the Huns in the wake of Atilla’s death?
6.
More than just raw and unbridled violence, the Huns’ military strategy relied on cultivating chaos and panic among the
people they were attacking. Why was this so effective?
7.
In what ways did growth lead to increasing tensions within the Hunnic empire? How did this contribute to the decline in
the Huns’ power?
8.
How was the Roman Catholic Church affected by the Huns’ attempts to conquer the Roman empire? How did the church
distort the complexity of Atilla’s career and leadership?
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HISTORY ON FILM
Reading “Stopping Attila: The Battle of Chalons”
Name _____________________________
1. Why were the Goths and Visigoths pressing against the Roman Empire?
2. Why did the Hunnic armies seem to appear form everywhere at once?
3. How did the key military army of the Roman army change in the 5th century?
4. Who had the advantage in a ROME v. HUN battle? Why?
5. _____________________________ What motivated the Hunnic warrior?
6. How did nature seem to help the Huns? There is a specific case/instance.
7. What made Theodoric side with Aetius rather than with Attila?
8. Define LAAGER. You may need a dictionary.
9. How did Theodoric die?
10. Why did Aetius allow Attila to withdraw rather than kill him?
11. How did Attila die?
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