Vandals

Ostrogothic Kingdom

Visigothic Kingdom

Lombards

Franks

Anglo-Saxon Emigration

"Heptarchy": Seven English kingdoms

Effective English Kingdoms:

1. Capably led
2. Room for expansion

Bretwaldas: "Broad-wielders" or "Britain-wielders"

Offa of Mercia (r. 757-796) "King of the English"

Sutton Hoo Ship Burial, discovered in 1939

Franks expansion

Advantages of the Franks

1. Blended with the Gallo-Romans
2. Converted directly from paganism to Catholicism
3. From the late 5th century, the Frankish leaders began allying with leading churchmen.

Clovis (r. 486-511)

Merovingian King

Elaboration of the Catholic Church:

• The Popes turned away from the Mediterranean world and entered into relationships with the emerging political leaders of the Western realms.
• The Popes continued to build their institutional leadership in central Italy: Emergence of the Papal State.
• Popes became very important patrons of art and learning.
• Bishops remained very important local leaders.
• Bishops were beginning to come together in church councils to legislate for the church.
• Bishops became key advisors to kings.
• Monasteries began to spread all over Europe.
• Schools, generally located in monasteries, but sometimes in cathedrals