Line+of+Inquiry+3

//**Societies Evolve and Adapt**//

//**What changed the culture/religion in Birka?**// The religion in Birka was originally the norse religion but in 829 Swedish ambassadors went to Emperor Louis the Pious (Leader of the Franks, a west West Germanic Tribal Confederation), and told him that many people in Sweden wanted the Christian faith to be the main religion in Sweden. They asked him because he had bishops and priests already. The Emperor approved and a missionary from Hamburg-Bremen (in Germany) named Ansgar set out to convert the Swedes to Christianity. On the journey his ship was attacked by pirates and the people on the ship faught back but were eventually defeated. Ansgar then completed the journey on foot and took boats over some small seas to eventually end up in a Swedish port named Birka. Ansgar's first mission was unsuccessful, but he continued with his missionary work and others joined him including Gautbert and Erimbert. Many of them were sent by Archbishop Unni. There missionary work successful and the first churches were built in Sweden. Ansgar converted a man named Hergeir and appointed him as as the leader of the first church in Sweden. Bishops were also introduced in Sweden.

Birka was an important trade route and therefore a huge target for attackers. This would have compelled the people of Birka to create defenses for their wikispaces account. On the western side of there is a hill fort named Borg. It is surrounded by a rampart and acted as a defensive position and place of refuge for the people of Birka. There was also a rampart around the settlement area.
 * //What causes the people of Birka to create defenses for their city?//**

When the exiled king Anund was among the Danes, he decided that he wanted to regain his former kingdom. He persuaded them to help him by enticing them with the riches that were in Birka. They attacked Birka with a fleet of ? ships. The occupants of Birka fled to a neighbouring city. The people of Birka promised to offer to the Danish gods, but Hergeir stopped them, saying: --"They will lead away your wives and sons as captives, they will burn our city and town and will destroy you with the sword--"
 * //What crises did Birka go through?//**