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Odoacer attacked Rome in 476 and killed the emperor. No new emperor was named, and many consider this the fall of the Roman Empire.
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The Middle Ages lasted from the fall of the Western Roman Empire and merged into the Renaissance and the Age of Discovery.
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After the fall of the Roman Empire, there was a lack of cultural and scientific advancement. That, combined with an absence of government record-keeping gave rise to the name, the "Dark Ages."
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Charlemagne (which means "Charles the Great") was the first Roman emperor since since 476. He was crowned emperor by the pope.
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The most important people in society were land owners and those that protected the land. Feudalism began around the time of Charlemagne and flourished through the 15th century in Europe.
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The Vikings came from countries we now call Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. They would board their longships and raid villages on the coast of Europe, including Great Britain. Because the Vikings were not Christians, monasteries were favorite targets for their attacks.
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In 1066, the king of England died without any children. William, duke of Normandy, defeated the self-proclaimed king Harold in the Battle of Hastings. William became King William I of England.
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After's William's conquest of England, the spoken language in England changed from Old English to a blend of Old English and French, which became the modern English language.
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The First Crusade was the first of a number of crusades that attempted to recapture Christian holy land from Muslims. The first crusade was called for by Pope Urban II at the Council of Clermont in 1095.
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Hildegard of Bingen, also known as Saint Hildegard, was a German writer, composter, philosopher, and Christian visionary. She rose to great influence in a time when positions of power were almost exclusively held by men.
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Richard I was King of England from 1189 until his death in 1199. He was a great military leader and warrior.
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The Magna Carta, or "Great Charter", is a document that limited the power of kings, and required the king to rule according to law. It was signed by King John in 1215, it became part of English law in 1297.
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The Model Parliament was based on Simon de Montfort's idea of having representatives from all classes make decisions about laws and taxes. Every Parliament in England has been modeled after this one organized by Edward I.
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The start of the Renaissance contributed to the end of the Middle Ages. During the Middle Ages, there was not much advancement of knowledge in Europe. The invention of the printing press made books affordable and spread literature and knowledge throughout Europe. People became interested in classical art and literature.
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The Hundred Years' War actually lasted 116 years (1337-1453). The Hundred Years' War was a series of serval smaller wars between France and England, which are credited with weakening feudalism.
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A plague is a highly contagious illness that is fatal to large numbers of people. The Black Death was a plague that spread throughout Europe, all the way to Iceland and Greenland. it is estimated that about 25 million people, or one- third of the population, died from the Black Death in Europe.
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Around 1400, the French introduced a new weapon to the Hundred Years' War. The introduction of the cannon gave the French a huge advantage that helped them win the war.
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Joan of Arc was one of the greatest heroes of the Middle Ages. Her leadership inspired the French army, and helped France win the battle of Orleans.
