Level 8
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The Middle Ages

Carolingian Europe and Feudalism

Charlemagne's empire and the feudal system that structured medieval European society, from the rise of the Carolingian dynasty to the fragmentation of power into fiefs, vassals, and manors.

Wikimedia Commons · CEphoto, Uwe Aranas · CC BY-SA 3.0

60-Second Review

Express review

A condensed, point-by-point summary of the module, for reviewing right before a test or exam.

  1. From Mayors of the Palace to Anointed Kings: The Rise of the Carolingian Dynasty. Frankish mayors of the palace displaced the weak Merovingians, and Pippin the Short became king in 751.
  2. Charlemagne's Government: Counts, Capitularies, and the Carolingian Renaissance. Charlemagne ruled through counts, missi dominici, and capitularies, while sponsoring a revival of learning.
  3. War and Conquest: Lombards, Saxons, Avars, and the Frontier Marches. Charlemagne conquered the Lombards and Saxons and pushed frontier marches into Spain and the Danube basin.
  4. The Imperial Coronation of 800 and Carolingian Diplomacy. Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne emperor in 800, reviving a Western title that unsettled Byzantium.
  5. Louis the Pious, Succession Crises, and the Treaty of Verdun (843). Family rebellions under Louis the Pious ended with the empire split three ways at Verdun in 843.
  6. Invasions, Fragmentation, and the End of Carolingian Rule. Viking, Magyar, and Saracen raids hastened feudalization, and the dynasty ended in West Francia in 987.
  7. Vassalage, Homage, and the Fief: The Building Blocks of Feudalism. Feudal bonds rested on vassalage, sworn homage, and the fief, a grant of land made in exchange for service.
  8. Feudal Society: Lords, Castles, Knights, and Peasants. Banal lords, castellans, knights, and dependent peasants structured daily life across feudal Europe.

This module continues after "The Rise of the Islamic World" in the syllabus. If you haven't reviewed it yet, it may help set the context.

Key points

Visual module map

1From Mayors of the Palace to Anointed Kings: The Rise of the Carolingian Dynasty
2War and Conquest: Lombards, Saxons, Avars, and the Frontier Marches
3Louis the Pious, Succession Crises, and the Treaty of Verdun (843)
4Invasions, Fragmentation, and the End of Carolingian Rule
5Feudal Society: Lords, Castles, Knights, and Peasants

Alternative visual view: a simplified sequence of some of the module's key points, in their order within the syllabus.

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Final test

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Optional mini-games

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Review Flashcards

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Memory

Match each concept with its definition in as few attempts as possible.

Time Attack

Answer true or false statements before time runs out.

Chronological Order

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Further reading

Bibliography and cited sources used to create this module.

  • Marc Bloch, Feudal Society (La société féodale).
  • Einhard, The Life of Charlemagne (Vita Karoli Magni).
  • Pierre Riché, The Carolingians: A Family Who Forged Europe.
  • François Louis Ganshof, Feudalism.
  • Susan Reynolds, Fiefs and Vassals: The Medieval Evidence Reinterpreted.
  • Royal Frankish Annals (Annales regni Francorum).
  • Janet L. Nelson, King and Emperor: A New Life of Charlemagne.
  • UNESCO, Aachen Cathedral, World Heritage List, available at whc.unesco.org.