Medieval Europe“The Middle Ages”

Why was this period referred to as “The Middle Ages”?

It was the period between two very important times…the Fall of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance.

In the middle – The Middle Ages

Many people thought that nothing important happened during this period. They were wrong!

The Early Middle Ages

• The Geography of Europe

• Europe After the Fall of Rome

• Feudalism and Manor Life

• Feudal Societies

We will begin today with the Geography of Europe.

PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 230 IN YOUR TEXT

GEOGRAPHY OF EUROPE

• CHAPTER 9

• LESSON 1

• Students will identify the physical features and compare and contrast the regions of Europe on a graphic organizer.

TODAY’S FOCUS QUESTION:

• How did the topography of Europe shape life in each region?

Let’s begin with the wordGEOGRAPHY.

What does it mean?

The Geography of Europe

• Geo means EARTH

• “Ography” or “graphy” refers to the study of something.

RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU KNOW WHAT THE TERM KNOW WHAT THE TERM TOPOGRAPHYTOPOGRAPHY MEANS? MEANS? Hint: I see Hint: I see toptop.. Another hint: Where have you Another hint: Where have you

heard the part of the word heard the part of the word “ography”“ography” before? before?

Topography refers to the Topography refers to the shape and elevation of shape and elevation of land in a region.land in a region.

CLIMATE VS. WEATHER CLIMATE VS. WEATHER

CLIMATECLIMATE

The prevailing or AVERAGE The prevailing or AVERAGE weather conditions of a place.weather conditions of a place.

It is determined by the It is determined by the temperature and precipitation temperature and precipitation changes over a period of years.changes over a period of years.

It is often described by words It is often described by words like “mild” or “harsh”.like “mild” or “harsh”.

How would you How would you describe Fresno’s describe Fresno’s climate?climate?

Remember to think of our Remember to think of our AVERAGE.AVERAGE.

Would we be mild or harsh?Would we be mild or harsh? There is actually a name for our There is actually a name for our

type of climate. It is called a type of climate. It is called a MEDITERRANEN CLIMATE. MEDITERRANEN CLIMATE.

WHERE HAVE WE HEARD THAT WHERE HAVE WE HEARD THAT NAME BEFORE?NAME BEFORE?

Mediterranean ClimateMediterranean Climate

Climate determines Climate determines what can be grown in what can be grown in a region.a region. In Fresno, we can grow grapes In Fresno, we can grow grapes

and oranges because we have and oranges because we have a long, warm growing season. a long, warm growing season. We don’t have many days with We don’t have many days with freezing temperatures.freezing temperatures.

We also grow olives, which We also grow olives, which grow well in warm, dry grow well in warm, dry climates.climates.

Where else in the U.S. Where else in the U.S. are oranges grown?are oranges grown?

Do you know why?Do you know why?

What does weather What does weather mean?mean? What is the weather in Fresno What is the weather in Fresno

today?today? Is the weather the same every Is the weather the same every

day?day?

How did the geography of How did the geography of Europe shape different ways of Europe shape different ways of

life?life?

It influenced what It influenced what crops crops people have people have grown and grown and where cities where cities developed.developed.

Mediterranean farmers grew hardy crops such as olives in the dry, warm areas of southern Europe.

Cities grew along rivers such as the Rhine, so people and goods could be moved easily.

Many people settled along the coasts, using the sea for the resources they needed.

Southern Europe Many mountains served as protection

from invasion. How would mountains provide protection?

Southern Europe Because it had so many peninsulas, people

didn’t live far from the sea. As a result, many became traders and seafarers.

Northern Europe

Many people settled in towns along the rivers. In the open fields around the cities, a variety of crops were grown on the fertile soils. The flat land made farming and transportation easier, but it also had a major drawback. What happened because there were no mountains?

INVASIONS!

There were no mountains in Northern Europe for protection against invaders. The most frightening invaders of all were the Vikings from Scandinavia. The Vikings could sail their ships up rivers, so the raids weren’t limited to the coastal areas. The attacks were swift and savage, and Europeans lived in terror of Viking raids. Where have we seen a Viking before?

SCANDINAVIAN WARRIORS!

SCANDINAVIA The highest mountains in Europe called

Alps. Europe’s largest peninsula.

FOCUS QUESTION: How did the topography of Europe

shape life in each region?

The shape and elevation of land in a region is called

Elevation Geography Topography Biology

The large land mass that includes both Europe and Asia is called

Asrope Eurasia Middle East Far East

The highest mountains in Europe are called

Foothills Alps Euro Range Scandinavian Mountains

The Ural Mountains are what geographers consider to be

The tallest mountains of Europe. The tallest mountains of Asia. The northern most mountains in the world. The boundary between Europe and Asia.

The land known as the peninsula of peninsulas is

Europe Asia Eurasia Scandinavian