1. Copy of outline on the web at:
HIST The Franks: From Barbarian Tribe to Imperial Mission - the Destiny of the Merovingians and Carolingians
Dr Niall Christie
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, ; Wednesday, ; or by appointment
Copy of outline on the web at:
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2. Why study this?
Understanding origins
Islam and the West
More widely-applicable skills

3. Words of caution…
“Middle Ages” “Dark Ages”
medium aevum (1688) “mediaeval/
medieval”
Modern, blurry labels
Merovingians, Carolingians, ‘Abbasids
Limitation of modern lens

4. Primary Sources: written by people living at
time or soon after
Secondary Sources: Works of interpretation
or analysis written long after the fact
Important to read critically, with eyes open
for agendas, biases, etc. Applies to both
primary and secondary sources, as well
as newspapers, TV, web sites, etc

5. Reading (Primary) Sources
Context
Who wrote this?
Where and when? Was the author an
eyewitness?
Why was it written?
To whom is it addressed? Who are they?

6. Reading (Primary) Sources
Classify Source
What sort of work is it?
What is its purpose (stated or not)?
Is it following a traditional structure or
mould?

7. Reading (Primary) Sources
Understand Source
What are the key words? Meaning?
What is the author’s point?
What evidence is provided?
What assumptions are made?
What values are expressed?
What problems are addressed? Context?
What reaction is expected/hoped for?

8. Reading (Primary) Sources
Evaluate Source
How typical is the source?
How widely did it circulate?
Does it share views/values/ideas/arguments
with others from period?
Can you find other evidence to corroborate
your conclusions?

9. Einhard on Charlemagne
Servant of Charlemagne
Born c Noble from Main valley
Educated at monastery of Fulda
Sent to court soon after 791. Became advisor
and friend to Charlemagne until latter died
in 814
Advisor to Louis the Pious (r )

10. Einhard on Charlemagne
In 815 received grant of lands in Seligenstadt
After death of wife, became abbot of various
monasteries
Wrote Vita Caroli Magni c One of few
sources for life of Charlemagne. Another is
biography by Monk of St Gall/Notker the
Stammerer (c )
Died in 840