Carolingian Empire


The Carolingian Empire was one of the few centralizing forces in early Medieval Europe. Under the control of the Frankish king Charlemagne, who reigned from 771 to 814, the empire grew enormously and encompassed much of modern day France, Germany, and Italy. When Charlemagne died, he divided his empire between his sons, which resulted in the fragmentation of the region into separate kingdoms. The area was also prey to several tides of invasions from the Vikings, Magyars, and Muslims. This interactive map shows Carolingian territory at the height of the empire, and its division after the death of Charlemagne.

1.			How was Charlemagne able to establish and maintain a large centralized state in Europe when no one else could? Why did the Carolingian empire collapse?
2.			Define feudalism.
3.			Why were monks and monasteries so important to European Christianity and European societies in general?