Unit 2 Medieval History Study Guide

Began when Clovis united the Franks and converted to Christianity.

1) Clovis united Frankish tribes and established the Merovingian Dynasty
2) Over time, the Merovingian kings became “do-nothing kings”
3) Mayors of the Palace gained actual power
4) Charles Martel (Mayor of the Palace) stopped Muslim expansion at the Battle of Tours
5) Pepin the Short (Charles Martel’s son) became the first Carolingian king with the Pope’s approval after defeating the Lombards

1) Muhammad received revelations in Mecca
2) Muhammad moved to Medina after facing opposition
3) The Qur’an was compiled with his teachings
4) Five Pillars became the core beliefs of Islam
5) After Muhammad’s death, Caliphs led the expansion across the Middle East and beyond

1) Pepin the Short became king and founded the Carolingian Dynasty
2) Charlemagne (Pepin’s son) expanded the Frankish empire
3) Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas Day 800 AD
4) Louis the Pious (Charlemagne’s son) ruled weakly
5) The Treaty of Verdun (843) divided Charlemagne’s empire among his three grandsons

First king of the Franks to unite the tribes and convert to Christianity; founded the Merovingian Dynasty.

Missionary sent to England to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity; brought Christianity (specifically Roman practice) to England.

One of the first Christian monks; lived in the Egyptian desert as a hermit.

Founded Western monasticism and wrote the Rule of St. Benedict, which guided monastic life.

Emperor of the Byzantine Empire who created a famous law code and tried to restore the Roman Empire.

Wife of Emperor Justinian; powerful empress who helped stop the Nika Revolt.

General under Justinian who led the reconquest of Italy and North Africa, helping expand the Byzantine Empire.

Founder of Islam who received the Qur’an; teachings spread rapidly across the Middle East and beyond.

Frankish military leader who stopped Muslim expansion at the Battle of Tours; helped start the Carolingian Dynasty.

First Carolingian king who received the Pope’s approval after defeating the Lombards.

Expanded the Frankish empire and was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 800 AD; known for military conquests, becoming a patron of education, and expanding the Frankish Empire.

Charlemagne’s son whose weak rule led to the empire being divided; empire weakened during his reign.

Frankish knight and hero of the Song of Roland, based on battles against Muslims; died in an ambush while Charlemagne got revenge for his nephew’s death.

Began when Pepin the Short became king with the Pope’s approval after defending the Pope by defeating the Lombards.

When Clovis united the Frankish tribes and converted to Christianity, creating a unified nation that continued.

A gathering in England (664) that decided to follow Roman Christian traditions instead of Celtic ones; settled issues between Irish and Roman Churches.

Communities where monks lived together with the purpose of prayer, work, and study; preserved knowledge and manuscripts.

A violent rebellion in Constantinople that Justinian and Theodora crushed; began with chariot racing factions but developed into political reactions against taxation and rebellion.

Military campaigns to reclaim parts of the old Roman Empire, led by the famous general Belisarius; reclaimed parts of the former empire.

Began in Arabia with Prophet Muhammad and spread rapidly across the Middle East and beyond after his death in 632 CE.

The 843 agreement that divided Charlemagne’s empire among his three grandsons; split the Frankish Empire.

Charles Martel stopped Muslim expansion into Western Europe at this battle (732 CE).

Epic poem based on a Frankish knight who died in an ambush; Charlemagne gets revenge for his nephew’s death.

Written guide for monastic life created by St. Benedict; outlined how monks should live, pray, work, and study.

France, Germany, Italy, Spain, England, and parts of North Africa and the Middle East.

• Rome: Center of Western Christianity
• Constantinople: Capital of Byzantine Empire
• Mecca and Medina: Holy cities of Islam
• Tours: Site of Charles Martel’s victory over Muslim forces
• Verdun: Location where Charlemagne’s empire was divided

Byzantines

Mayor of the palace

To simplify Roman law

Hijra

Clovis

Christianity

Carolingian Renaissance

Sunni

Shi’a

The Five Pillars of Islam