Medieval Europe and the Second Wave of Invasions

Europe Around the Year 1000

Around the year 1000 AD, Europe was a mosaic of small kingdoms and states. Life was hard. Life expectancy was around 40; wars and diseases made the mortality rate rise, and droughts and floods often caused terrible famines.

Christianity was practiced throughout the continent and Latin was the common written language, but most people did not read or write.

The Second Wave of Invaders

During the 9th and 10th centuries, a new population came to Europe to settle down. It was the second wave of invasions, after the Germanic invasions in the 5th century which ruined the Roman Empire. Vikings, Magyars, Saracens, and Slavs terrified the people of Europe.

• Vikings were excellent travelers and traders, but also fierce pirate raiders. They came from Scandinavia (nowadays Denmark, Norway, and Sweden). They conquered the British Isles, Northern France (Normandy), and Southern Italy. English words such as "bread" or "window" come from the Viking language. They even arrived at the Guadalquivir in 844 AD.
• Saracens were Muslim pirates who attacked the Mediterranean.
• Magyars (Hungarians) came from Central Asia, just as Attila and the Huns did, and they settled in Eastern Europe, founding the kingdom of Hungary.
• Slavs, from the plains of Russia, invaded and occupied the Balkans.

Fear and terror dominated Europe before the arrival of the year 1000 AD.

Summary of Medieval Invaders