Genghis Khan: Creator of the Mongol Empire

Genghis Khan who was born in 1162, to a Mongol chieftain, Yesugei, and his wife. His birth name is really Temujin, which means “iron worker.” When Temujin was born he was clinching his fist  around a blood clot which was declared an omen that he was destined to become a heroic warrior. Temujin ended up the founder and Great Khan (emperor) of, the Great Mongol Empire which became the largest empire ever.

Temüjin began his aim at power by offering himself as an ally to his father's "Blood brother," Toghrul, who was Khan of the Khereids, and is better known by the Chinese title "Wang Khan”. This was first reinforced when Temujin’s wife, Borte, was captured by the Merkits. Temüjin turned to Toghrul for support. He finally came to power when he united the nomadic tribes of Northeast Asia. After this he founded the Mongol Empire and was proclaimed "Genghis Khan," Emperor of Mongolia! Genghis Khan means “Universal Ruler.” The reason the people gave him this name is because they thought he was supposed to be the ruler of the universe.  After being named Khan of Mongolia, he conquered huge chunks of central Asia and China.

By the end of his life, in 1227, the Mongol Empire occupied a substantial portion of Central Asia and China. His descendants expanded the empire even further, advancing to such far-off places as Poland, Vietnam, Syria and Korea. At their peak, the Mongols controlled between 11 and 12 million square miles! An area about the size of Africa! Kublai Khan, Genghis’s grandson, even defeated all of China and united China with the Mongol empire. 

Alaric the Visigoth

Alaric was king of the Visigoths from 395-410 A.D. Although his reign was fairly short he made those 15 years count. 

He started off his reign by having a dream that he was driving through the Roman streets in a golden chariot. Alaric thought and thought about this dream and came to the conclusion of wanting to capture Rome and become Emperor. He gathered all his chiefs and told them what he was going to do. They were delighted at what he said. 

First he sieged Constantinople but decided to pull out and captured the city of Athens instead.  Not only did he capture Athens he also annihilated, Sparta, Corinth, Megara, and Argos. Then in 401 Alaric raided Italy but he was defeated by Stilicho. He raided Italy one more time but he was defeated again at the Battle of Verona. Although Alaric did force the Roman Senate to pay a large payment to the Visigoths. In 408 Alaric sieged Rome and he sacked the city and caused the Rome to, eventually, grant him a substantial payment. In addition, Alaric forced the Senate to liberate all 40,000 Gothic slaves in Rome, but the Senate did not grant him Emperor. As an answer he sacked the city for three whole days. After the Visigoths were done with Rome they started marching home in 410, and during that march Alaric died. No one really knows for sure how he died, but most people think it was a fever. 

So Alaric’s reign might not have been the longest but he did do a lot of great things for the Visigoths. He set free 40,000 slaves, and he defeated Rome.  Although he never really captured Rome, or became Emperor, he did defeat one of the greatest armies ever. 

Leif Erikson: The Second European to Set Foot on North America?

When you hear the word Viking you think of two things, the Minnesota Vikings and Leif Erikson.  Who is Leif Erikson, and why do we think of Him when we hear the word Viking?  Well two reasons; 

One: He's said to have been the first European to set foot on North America,  

Two: The U.S passed a bill for "Leif Erikson day" (happens every October 9th). But is he really the first one to set foot on North America?

Erikson was most likely born in Iceland around 970 A.D.  His father was Erik the Red also a well known Viking.  After Erikson was converted to Christianity in Norway, he was ordained to bring the good news to Greenland.  But when his ship was blown off course he encountered a new land.  He had landed in North America.  He explored the area and found a lot of grape vines and called the newly discovered place, Vinland.  After he had finished exploring he stumbled upon two shipwrecked Icelandic people.
So the people who Erikson saved were the first Europeans to set foot on North America.  But Erikson was the first to explore and settle in North America. In 1960 Helge and Anne Ingstad were searching for archaeological evidence of Vikings in Newfoundland. In the small village of L'Anse aux Meadows on the northern tip of Newfoundland they met a fisherman who showed them sod foundations that had the shape of Viking longhouses. More than a decade of archaeological investigation at this site has proved conclusively that Vikings had built a settlement in North America 500 years before Columbus.  After excavations they uncovered Viking artifacts including a ringed pin, a soapstone spindle whorl, a bone pin, a whetstone, iron boat rivets, worked wood and other objects. There was evidence of iron-smelting and forging, and hearth charcoal is dated to A.D. 1000.

Erikson did make his way back to Greenland and spread Christianity.  He even built a church in Vinland.  His father was a pagan and did not support Leif at all.  And when Erik's wife converted, I can only imagine how angry he was.

So Leif Erikson might not have been the first, but he did have an influence on modern day North America.  He has statues all over North America.  And he has a holiday named after him!       

Medieval Castles

If you’re like me you might think that medieval castles were big and elaborate, but that's not really the case. They did have motes and draw bridges, but they weren't huge stone structures with four towers. It's kind of obvious that there weren't dragons, but knights wouldn't have been roaming around either. They would have been at battle or in a hunting tournament, or something of that sort.

No, castles were not as elaborate as we think. Yes they were big, but they basically were a big stone wall surrounding a main building called a keep. The wall was thick enough to make rooms inside, so there were indoor facilities other than the keep, which is where the king lived.

The most famous medieval castle has to be the Tower of London, built by William the Conqueror after defeating London in battle. Because of this it was seen by the people of England as a symbol of oppression. But now it is a landmark, their pride and joy.