DTW GED PREP

From the 6th millennium BCE, the steppes of Central Asia were home to nomadic tribes who lived in harsh conditions. These grasslands, bordered by the Ural Mountains and the Gobi Desert, were not fertile lands, but the people of the region adapted by relying on herds for their milk and meat. The Central Asian tribes, who mastered horsemanship and ironworking, became powerful and skilled warriors. They are credited with being the first to create wheels with spokes, which enhanced their mobility and military effectiveness. This technological advancement, combined with their mastery of horses, enabled these tribes to embark on a significant westward migration, which eventually led to the settlement of Europe.

The migration of these peoples into Europe occurred in waves. The Goths, one of the earliest groups to settle in Europe, established a stronghold in what is now Poland and Hungary. However, between AD 100 and 300, the Huns pushed the Goths out of their territories. The Goths then moved southward, defeating the Roman army at Adrianople and securing recognition of their own state within the Roman Empire by AD 382. By the time of 550–600 AD, the Slavs had become the dominant culture in southeastern Europe. Meanwhile, in the West, the Germanic Franks split into two groups—the West Franks, who would eventually become the French, and the East Franks, who would evolve into the Germans. The West Franks developed a mixed culture that combined Roman Gauls, Bretons, Belgians, Vikings, and others, while the East Franks incorporated Slavic elements into their culture. During this period, other groups like the Sueves, Burgundians, and Anglo-Saxons established themselves in Spain, France, and Britain.

These nomadic groups were often seen as “barbarians” by the Romans, who valued intellectual, artistic, and political achievements. The northern tribes, by contrast, focused on survival through warfare, raiding, and pillaging. The cultural gap between the “barbarians” and the Greco-Roman civilization was significant, and the early Middle Ages, often referred to as the medieval period, was marked by continual conflict as various migrating peoples fought for dominance.

From around 750 to 1054, the early medieval period saw numerous Viking raids on France, Britain, and Eastern Europe. The Vikings, who came from Scandinavia, not only plundered but also established settlements and founded cities, such as Kiev and Novgorod, in what is now Russia. These cities were important in the development of Russian civilization. As the local Slavs came into contact with the Vikings, they began to reorganize their political structures, influenced by Viking governance, leading to greater social cohesion. This marked the beginning of a shift from a tribal society to a more organized civilization, with the city of Kiev playing a central role in this transformation. Following the Christian conversion of Vladimir I in 988, Kiev became more aligned with Slavic and Byzantine culture, further integrating into the broader European civilization.

THE GREAT MIGRATION AND THE MIDDLE AGES

Directions: Choose the best answer to each of the following questions.

1. Which of the following nomadic tribes became part of West Frank culture?
   A. Sueves
   B. Burgundians
   C. Bretons
   D. Slavs
2. Viking tribes traveled through many parts of Europe, including areas in which of the following present-day countries?
   A. Spain
   B. Portugal
   C. Greece
   D. Russia

1. Which of the following nomadic tribes became part of West Frank culture?

✅ B. Burgundians
🟩 Explanation: The Burgundians were a Germanic tribe that settled in the region of modern-day France and were integrated into Frankish society during the early Middle Ages.

2. Viking tribes traveled through many parts of Europe, including areas in which of the following present-day countries?

✅ D. Russia
🟩 Explanation: Vikings, especially those known as Varangians, traveled east through river systems in Eastern Europe, eventually influencing and settling in areas that are part of present-day Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.