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Essential Question: How did the rule of the Frankish monarchs promote the foundation of 

Western civilization? WH1.9

Chapter 8.1 Notes – Frankish Rulers

I. The Franks

A. The Franks were the strongest Germanic group of people, they settled in today’s France.

B. Clovis was the first king of the Franks in 481 AD. He accepted Catholicism, which gavehis rule the stability it needed to be strong. He accepted the Nicene Creed. He died in

511 and was following by weak immoral rulers, known as the “Do-Nothing Kings.”

C. The Frankish kings developed a custom of dividing their kingdom among their sons,

which led to the heirs fighting for land.

D. 700 AD political power passed from kings to government officials known as mayors of 

the palace, because the kings were not doing their jobs.

E. Charles Martel (Charles the Hammer) responsible for the victory in Tours, France – defeat

on Muslim invaders in 732 AD making him a Christian hero. Mayor of the palace in 714

AD. He took control and became sole ruler, but never took the title king.

F. Pepin the Short, son of Charles the Martel. Drove the Lombards out of Rome, which

resulted in closer ties with the Franks and severed political ties with the ByzantineEmpire. Pope declared him king of the Franks in 751. These began the Carolingian line

of kings, named after Charles Martel.

G. 771, Charlemagne – Son of Pepin also known as Charles the Great, inherited the throne.

He enlarged the empire and united most of the Western Europeans under one government.

The increase of churches and monasteries fostered education. Priests traveled with his

army.

1. Modeled his capital after Roman cities.

2. Carolingian Renaissance

3. The Pope helped unite Western Europe by crowning Charlemagne the new emperor of 

Rome, on Christmas Day 800 AD.

4. Start a Christendom civilization – blending of political unity (Roman Empire) and

religious unity (Christian Church).

5. Christianity was the single most powerful force in a person’s life. This unity lasted

for more than 700 years.

H. Decline of Charlemagne’s empire

1. Lack of effective tax system

2. Poor means of communication making it difficult to enforce laws & unify the

kingdom

3. Practice of dividing landholding among all surviving sons led to quarrels and constant

small wars

I. Charlemagne’s 3 grandsons fighting for control of the empire brought about the Treaty of Verdun. They divided the empires, but no unity.

1. Charles the Bald – lands west of Rhone River (France)

2. Louis the German – lands east of Rhine (Germany)

3. Lothair – area between the two

J. Collapse of Charlemagne’s Empire

1. Muslims from North Africa seized parts of Southern Italy and gained control of the

Mediterranean Sea.

2. Magyar nomads galloped west leaving a trail of destruction (from Asia-Hungary)

3. Vikings invaded from Scandinavia due to overpopulation and land pressure

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II. Vikings were known for their open ships that were shallow and easy to maneuver and light

enough to be carried across land.

Came from Scandinavia

1. Explored due to land pressure, too many people, not enough farmable land

Known for surprise attacks & speedy retreats

A. What they could not steal they burned

B. They were explorers and settlersC. The Vikings eventually settled down in many of the countries they had invaded.

D. They were polytheistic, made up sagas

• Some of their words entered the language spoken by the locals. One Viking word that entered our 

language was berserk . It was used to name a type of Vikings fighter. When a Viking longship

neared a coastline, ten to fifteen warriors often dressed in bears skins, would move to the front of 

the ship and work themselves into a frenzy. Sometimes this was done by shouting battle whoops,

 sometimes it was done with the aid of hallucinogenic mushrooms. As the longship neared a

beach, these warriors, called "berserkers" would go over the side, shouting and waving their 

 swords in anticipation of a battle. This too created fear in their enemies. Some berserkers were so

worked up, they jumped too soon and downed in water over their heads. In our language, going 

"berserk" is taken from these fierce Viking warriors. It means "going crazy".

• With their blood red sails, snarling prowed ships and hundreds of sword wielding warriors, the

Vikings created a sight that brought terror into the hearts of people across Europe, North Africa

and a small area of western Asia until the end of the Viking Age.

These are the steps you must take while making a long boat.

1. Find a suitable spot near the sea.

2. Make sure your spot has trees near it.

3. Choose a tall oak tree to make your keel (the back-bone of a ship).

4. Make some 'ribs' on your keel. These will hold the main frame of your ship

together.

5. Cut down pine wood to make planks for the main frame.

6. Nail the planks to the ribs of your ship overlapping them as you go.7. Murder a cow or a sheep to make rope out of their hair. Then dip the rope in tar to

make a sealant. Place the rope on the joins of your ship.

8. Carve a really ugly face into the front of your ship.

9. Get ready to invade someone.

III. People of Western Europe

A. Suffered at the hands of the Vikings

B. Isolated communities weakened central authority of monarchs

C. Trade declined

D. Many areas faced economic collapse

E.  Nobles took over local defenses and brought about a new and more stable politicalsystem— feudalism