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The Sacking of Rome
In what year did the Roman Empire fall and why did it happen?
Who was at the head of the siege of Rome?
Why did the Visigoths attack and destroy Rome?
What strategic plan did the Visigoths implement to destroy Rome from the outside?
How long did the siege of Rome take place?
What type of devastating diseases spread throughout the republic?
The Waning Empire
Describe what happened is Western Europe through much of the 5th century BC.
Why were the next 7 centuries following the collapse of Rome referred to as the Dark Ages?
What happened to the Roman Colosseum?
While much of Europe was being destroyed during the Dark Ages what institution was growing
and prospering?
5. Who invented the name “The Dark Ages” and what was his reasoning?
6. What was life like for the average citizen during the Dark Ages and why were they so in favour of
Christianity?
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Episode 3
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Who was Clovis and what was his role during the Middle Ages?
How did Clovis treat his captives?
Who were the Franks?
While the Dark Ages was occurring in Western Europe around 500A.D. what was happening in
Eastern Europe?
5. Why were Greece, Egypt and Turkey not affected as much by the early Dark Ages?
6. Who was Justinian and what were his plans in 527 A.D.?
7. What happened at a chariot race in the Byzantine Empire in 532A.D.?
Episode 4
1. How did Theodora react to the Nica riots?
2. Just as Justinian is about to re-establish the Roman Empire a devastating disease destroyed
Europe. What was it and how did it kill the population of Europe (what were the symptoms)?
3. How did the disease make its way to Europe?
4. How did the Bubonic Plague affect Justinian?
5. How did the Bubonic Plague lead to the Dark Ages in the Eastern Empire?
6. How much of the population of Europe died from the Bubonic Plague?
Episode 5
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What brought and end to the Bubonic plague in Constantinople?
If you went to Europe during the 5th century AD what would you have seen?
Who ruled Europe during the 6th century A.D.
What was the European economy dependent on during this time period?
Described the difference between working life during the Dark Ages and work life today.
Describe what a Monestary is and why they were so important during this period.
Why were monks so important to the maintenance of European history?
Episode 6
1. What was the rule of St. Benedict?
2. While Christianity was prospering in Europe what religion was beginning to emerge in Northern
Africa?
3. Who were the Franks and who were the Moors that fought each other in 732 A.D.?
4. Who was Mohammed?
5. Who was Charles the Hammer Martel and how did he plan to defeat the Moors?
6. What exactly were the Moors and Franks fighting over?
Episode 7
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Who won the battle and what strategies were implemented to be victorious?
Who was Charlemagne and how was he related to Charles the Hammer Martel?
What positive changes did Charlemagne implement throughout Europe?
What choice was given to the people of the lands that Charlemagne conquered?
Episode 8
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What happened to Charlemagne on December 25th, 800A.D.
Who were the Vikings and how to they contribute to the darkness of the Middle Ages?
What were the Vikings looking for and where did they come from?
How did the Viking ships allow them to raid much of Europe in the 9th century A.D.
Who suffered the most from the raids of the Vikings?
Describe the types of tortures that the Vikings implemented when killing their prisoners.
Episode 9
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Who was Alfred the Great and how did he defeat the Vikings?
Describe the misconception about Knights during the Dark Ages and explain their social role.
How did the Viking raids contribute to the rise of Knights during the Dark Ages?
Describe the difference between being a land owner/ noble and a peasant.
What was the Churches position of violence and attacks?
Episode 10
1. What were the Crusades and why did they take place?
2. How do the Crusades brings Europe out of the Dark Ages and into the Middle Ages?
3. What other factors contributed to Europe’s movement out of the Dark Ages?
On the lines below attempt to summarize both the Roman Empire and the Dark Ages in two or three
sentences each. (Try to include social, political, economic and military aspects in your summaries).
Rome:
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The Dark Ages:
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