w. 48

As we start this new unit, we're looking at a lot of European developments rather quickly. Here are some images connected to what we've discussed.

P. 175

EARLY MIDDLE AGES

  

Here's the opening battle scene from the movie Gladiator that I was talking about. I think it offers (in a dramatic fashion) some insights into the advances of Roman society -- technology, resources, style -- versus the very unsophisticated technologies and limited resources of the invaders. In this scene, the Romans are victorious. But in a few hundred years, the tenacity of the invaders will pay off, and they will find the weaknesses in the Romans' defenses and manage to penetrate the barriers.