Medieval and modern times : an introduction to the history of western Europe form the dissolution of the Roman empire to the present time . ho were gradually becoming independent princesearned the loyalty of the people about them by taking the leadin defending the country against its invaders and by estab-lishing fortresses as places of refuge when the community washard pressed. These conditions serve to explain why suchgovernment as continued to exist during the centuries followingthe death of Charlemagne was necessarily carried on mainly,not by. the king and his officers, but by the great la
Medieval and modern times : an introduction to the history of western Europe form the dissolution of the Roman empire to the present time . ho were gradually becoming independent princesearned the loyalty of the people about them by taking the leadin defending the country against its invaders and by estab-lishing fortresses as places of refuge when the community washard pressed. These conditions serve to explain why suchgovernment as continued to exist during the centuries followingthe death of Charlemagne was necessarily carried on mainly,not by. the king and his officers, but by the great landholders. 1 These Scandinavian pirates are often called vikings, from thek habit of leav-ing their long boats in the Iik, which meant, in their language, bay or inlet. The Age of Disorder; Feudalism 93 The Medieval Castle 19. As one travels thro ugh England, France, or Germany The medie-to-day he often comes upon the picturesque ruins of a medieval ^ ^^^castle perched upon some rocky cliff and overlooking the sur-rounding country for miles. As he looks at the thick wallsoften surrounded by a deep, wide trench once filled with water,. Fig. 27. A Medieval Castle near Klagenfurt, Austria It was not uncommon in mountainous regions to have fortresses perched so high on rocky eminences that itwas practically impossible to capture them and observes the great towers with their tiny windows, he can-not but wonder why so many of these forts were built, and whypeople lived in them. It is clear that they were never intendedto be dwelling places for the peaceful households of privatecitizens; they look rather like the fortified palace of a , whoever lived there was in constant expectation ofbeing attacked by an army, for otherwise he would never have 94 Medieval and Modem Times gone to the trouble and expense of shutting himself up in thosedreary, cold, stone rooms, behind walls from ten to twenty feetthick. We can picture the great hall of the castle crowdedwith the armed f
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Keywords: ., bookauthorrobinson, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookyear1919
