Aleric the Visigoth

The Goths came from Scandinavia into Eastern Europe, into modern day Ukraine. The tribe split into two groups, the eastern goths and the western goths. The eastern goths where called the Ostrogoths, and the western goths where called the Visigoths. The most famous Visigoth leader in all of history is Aleric the First, also known as Aleric the Visigoth. He ruled for 15 years, from 395 AD, to 410 AD.

The Visigoths settled in the territory south of the Danube river. Some Romans lived there, and the Visigoths demanded food from them. When a famine hit, the Visigoths plundered Rome for 46 years. As the Visigoths were traveling to get to Rome to plunder it, they passed through northern Greece. They met a tribe of Romans, and had a war, which is called the Battle of Adrianople.

The Visigoths then decided to stay in Italy. But the Franks wanted the land. So there began another war in the early 400’s. The Visigoths moved into Iberia. But the Muslims wanted the land. So in 718, the Muslims fought the Visigoths for the Iberia peninsula. The Muslims won, ending the strong Visigoth Empire.

The Visigoths where a pagan tribe, but turned to Christianity during the time that they ruled Europe. They had the Bible translated into their language. A bishop named Saint Ulthulus invented the gothic alphabet so that they could have the Bible translated.

The Visigoths were often traveling and fighting, and they had a very strong empire until the Muslims defeated them.

Cuteness

Aren’t fat birds so adorable?

Jokes

Ben’s dad was building a pine bookcase, and Ben was watching and occasionally helping.

“What are the holes for?” Ben asked.
“They’re knot holes”, said his dad.
“What are they, then, if they’re not holes?” said Ben.

 

Knock, knock.

Who’s there?

Wooden shoe.

Wooden shoe, who?

Wooden shoe like to know.

 

Why did the forgetful chicken cross the road?

To get to the other side — er, no — to go shopping — no, not that either — dang it.

 

A blind man walked into a bar… and a table… and a chair…

 

A turtle took two chocolates to Texas to teach Tomas how to tie his boots.  How many T’s in that?

There are 2 T’s in THAT!

 

A blind man walks into a store with his seeing eye dog. All of a sudden, he picks up the leash and begins swinging the dog over his head. The manager runs up to the man and asks, “What are you doing?!!” The blind man replies, “Just looking around.”

Muslims and Islam

Islam was established by a man named Muhammad, who was born in the city of Mecca near the Ka’ba shrine. He claimed that he had visions and that God told him to create a new religion.  Muhammad called this new religion ‘Islam’.  Islam’s god is Allah, which means ‘god’.  There are five pillars of Islam.  They are like guidelines and ways all Muslims should work on their salvation.

Muslims have two holy books. The first one is the Qur’an. It is the words of Allah.  The Qur’an has three major teachings.  They are doctrinal teachings, historical accounts, and mystical expressions.  The second holy book is the Hadith.  It is a report of all the deeds and sayings of Muhammad.

There were four main Caliphs.  ‘Caliph’ is the name given to the Muslim ruler.  The first Caliph was titled Abu Bakr.  Abu Bakr was Muhammad’s father-in-law.  He helped consolidate the Qur’an, which began as several small books, into one book.  The second Caliph was named Umar, one of the most powerful Caliphs in all of Islamic history.  He was known for his justice and success with his military campaigns. The third Caliph was Uthman, who is known for extending the Muslim Empire.  All was going well until around the end of his reign when revolts began inside of the empire.  The fourth Caliph was named Ali.  He was the first male after Muhammad to convert to Islam.  Ali was the son-in-law of Muhammad.

Muhammad died in 632 AD right after the first pilgrimage to Mecca.

The Blizzard in New Mexico

My family and I took a vacation to Arizona in 2011.  We drove through New Mexico on the trip back.  New Mexico is a dry, hot, desert-y place, sort of like Arizona. A police officer stood at a fork in the road, and he stopped us as we passed.  “This road is closed off due to snow and ice on the ground. You’re going to want to get a hotel very soon, because they’re filling up fast.”  We pulled in to a small hotel and got out. After renting a room, we sat by the window, watching the snow fall. The bushes looked like huge cotton balls!  There was about a foot and a half of snow on the ground.  Everything was white and fluffy.

We spent the night, and in the morning, we left.  Except that our car door was froze shut.  So we had to pour hot water on the door to melt the ice.  Then we left. 

A Conneticut Yankee In King Arthur’s Court

A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain is a historical fiction book about a boy named Hank from the late 1800s who time-traveled to the medieval times. 

Mark Twain has an excellent example of juxtaposition in his book.  He combines a modern boy who is used to cell-phones, bicycles, with knights, princesses, and castles.

Hank’s milew was one of honor.  He lived in the castle, had nice clothes, had a huge amount of money, and was looked up to by just about everyone. 

The tone of the people when The Boss, or Hank, blew up Merlin’s tower, was one of shock, awe, and excitement.

In one scene, Hank uses a large amount of money to impress some of the lower class people.  He had rich foods, beautifully carved wooden table and stools, and lovely plates and utensils.  Mark Twain allows the reader a chance to visualize the setting.

The mood of the people when The Boss fixed the water well with ‘magic’ was one of joy and celebration.

The customs of the people where quite unusual to Hank.  He was used to very different things.

Mark Twain did a wonderful job on his book.  It is entertaining and intriguing.  It is a very enjoyable adventure.

Clovis the 1st

Clovis the 1st was a ruler of the tribe of the Merovingians.  He inherited the right to be ruler from his grandfather, Merovich.  King Merovich was not very well liked and is not one of the popular past rulers today.  But Clovis the 1st is.

Clovis the 1st lived in Gaul, now known as France.  He became ruler in 481 A.D. at age 15.  He was a very good ruler and was well liked by his people.

Clovis the 1st battled with the romans than inhabited parts of Gaul.  Since the roman general, Syagrius, underestimated Clovis’s power, Syagrius  lost the battle, as well as most of his control over Gaul.

Clovis the 1st became a Christian in 496 A.D. when he prayed to God for victory before a huge war.  After he won the battle, he and part of his army became Christians.

Awesomeness

Hello, World!

I was walking down the street, then I saw a bird.  A BIRD!  They are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO rare!  I got a picture of it and sold it to this guy for ONE MILLION DOLLARS!  I think I should have charged more…

World Travel

“Ouch!”  I said.  I had tripped over a root while playing in the woods with my dog and fell into a large hole.  It was deep!  I sat in the bottom of that hole looking up at the far away dot of light.  I couldn’t climb the slippery sides of the opening, so I decided to explore the separate tunnels that where connected to the spot that I was in.  I took one of the paths. Many different paths broke off of the main one, and was I stupid and went down one of them.

 

I was soon lost, because I took a couple more random turns.  I stopped moving and slumped down on the ground.  After about a half an hour, I heard voices.  I stood up. The sound was coming from farther down the tunnel.  I sprinted down it, looking for the source.  I saw two woman disappear down the hall across me.  I quietly followed them, hoping they would lead me out of this place.  I watched as the taller girl bulled a key out of her pocket and slid it into a wooden door.  It creaked open. I managed slipped out just before the door closed.   Yes!  I’m free of this wretched place!  I said to myself.

 

I stepped onto lush, beautiful yellow grass.  Yellow grass? Where am I?  I thought.  I looked around me.  I noticed that the trees where not like the ones where I lived.  The leaves where blue triangles, and the trunk was a square.  The bark was silver!  The sky was not blue, but white.  And the clouds where not white, but blue.  Bright colored turtles soared way above me.  I looked back down at the yellow grass.  “I must be going insane!”  I said aloud.

 

Then I noticed the people.  Both men and woman had long silver, sparkling hair.  The men were dressed in black and the color of the grass. They wore black pants and yellow shirts.  The woman were dressed in the colors of the trees.  They wore dressed of silver and blue.  The children where dressed the same as their parents.  Then I saw that everyone had long pointy ears.  Elves, I guessed.

 

I saw some very peculiar animals. Green deer, purple foxes, and pink turkeys.  The herd of unicorns really stood out to me.  Their coats where all different colors.  Their horns where silver, the same with their hooves.  “I am totally going insane!” I said.  Then I fainted.