Name: ____________________________________________ Date: _________________ Block: _______
Nation States:
England and
France
The Development of Nation-States in Europe
During the Middle Ages invasions by the Angles, Saxons,
Magyars, Vikings, and Mongols disrupted social, economic and
political order of Europe. The Angles and Saxons moved to
England from continental Europe. The Magyars migrated from
Central Asia to Hungary and the Vikings migrated from Scandinavia
to Russia. The invaders caused havoc all over Europe, which will
lead to the decline of trade and travel because of safety, and the
decline of cities and towns.
Despite the negative impact of the invasions, they did
reinforce the feudal system. Manors and castles provided protection
from invaders which lead to the strengthening of European
monarchies. Monarchies in Europe grew in strength because they
consolidated power and formed nation-states.
Four nation states that were formed during this time are
now known as England, France, Spain, and Russia.
What is a nation-state?
Bienvenue en France!
While you are visiting France you will be meeting three people.
First, read about the people and then complete the following.
1. Charlemagne – choose 4 great accomplishments or
noteworthy facts about him and create a short cartoon
with captions to help you remember him!
2. Joan of Arc – give the pictures captions based on what is
happening in the picture. Your answers should come
from the story!
3. Hugh Capet – write a summary of what he did for
France!
4. Philip II – write a summary
of what he did for France!
F
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Joan of Arc
Hugh Capet
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Philip II
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Charlemagne
Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc, a patron saint of France and a national heroine, led the resistance to the
English invasion of France in the Hundred Years War. When Joan was about 12
years old, she began hearing voices of St. Michael, St. Catherine, and St. Margaret
believing them to have been sent by God. These voices told her that it was her
divine mission to free her country from the English and help the dauphin (King’s
eldest son) gain the French throne.
They told her to cut her hair, dress in man's uniform and to pick up the arms. Joan
went to fight in the Hundred Years War and was eventually captured by the
Burgundians and sold to the English in 1430. The English, in turn, handed her over
to the church’s court to be tried for witchcraft and heresy. Much was made of her
persistence on wearing male clothing. She was told that for a woman to wear men's
clothing was a crime against God. Her determination to continue wearing it was
seen as defiance and finally sealed her fate.
Joan was convicted after a fourteen-month
interrogation and on May 30, 1431 she was
burned at the stake in a marketplace. She was
nineteen years old. Charles VII made no attempt
to come to her rescue.
In 1456 a second trial was held and she was
pronounced innocent of the charges against her.
And in 1920, Joan was canonized by Pope
Benedict XV. To be canonized means that she
was declared a Saint by the Pope of the Roman
Catholic Church. Saint Joan of Arc is one of the
most popular saints of the Roman Catholic
Church.
Hugh Capet
The kings of France, like those of England, looked for ways to increase their
power. After the breakup of Charlemagne’s empire, French counts and dukes ruled
their lands independently under the feudal system. By the year 1000, France was
divided into about 30 feudal territories. In 987, the last member of the Carolingian
family—Louis the Sluggard—died, (remember, Charlemagne was the first member
of the Carolingian Dynasty).
Hugh Capet (kuh-PAY), an undistinguished duke from the middle of France,
succeeded Louis the Sluggard as King of France. The Capet family ruled only a
small territory, but at its heart stood
Paris.
Hugh Capet began the
Capetian dynasty of French kings
that ruled France from 987 to 1328.
The Capetian dynasty expanded
their control over most of France.
Hugh Capet, his son, and his
grandson all were weak rulers, but
time and geography favored the
Capetians. Their territory, though
small, sat astride important trade
routes in northern France. For 200
years, Capetian kings tightened
their grip on this strategic area.
The power of the king gradually
spread outward from Paris.
Eventually, the growth of royal
power would unite France.
Charlemagne
Charlemagne, also known as Charles
the Great, was a medieval emperor who
ruled much of Western Europe from 768 to
814. In 771, Charlemagne became king of
the Franks (a Germanic tribe in present-day
Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the
Netherlands and western Germany). He
embarked on a mission to unite all Germanic
peoples into one kingdom, and convert his
subjects to Christianity. A skilled military
strategist, he spent much of his reign
engaged in warfare in order to accomplish
his goals. In 800, Pope Leo III crowned
Charlemagne emperor of the Romans, or
“Holy Roman Emperor.” In this role, he
encouraged the Carolingian Renaissance, a
cultural and intellectual revival in Europe.
When he died in 814, Charlemagne’s empire encompassed much of Western
Europe, and he had also ensured the survival of Christianity in the West. Today,
Charlemagne is referred to by some as the father of Europe.
Charlemagne was born around 742, the son of Bertrada of Laon and Pepin the
Short, who became king of the Franks in 751. Charlemagne’s grandfather was
Charles Martel, or Charles the Hammer (known for the victory against the Moors at
the Battle of Tours).
Once in power, Charlemagne sought to unite all the Germanic peoples into
one kingdom, and convert his subjects to Christianity. In order to carry out this
mission, he spent the majority of his reign engaged in military campaigns. Soon
after becoming king, he conquered present-day northern Italy, modern-day Austria
and Hungary, and Bavaria, among others. Charlemagne also waged a bloody,
three-decades-long series of battles against the Saxons, a Germanic tribe of pagan
worshippers, and earned a reputation for ruthlessness. In 782 at the Massacre of
Verden, Charlemagne reportedly ordered the slaughter of some 4,500 Saxons. He
eventually forced the Saxons to convert to Christianity, and declared that anyone
who didn’t get baptized or follow other Christian traditions be put to death.
In his personal life, Charlemagne had multiple wives and mistresses and
perhaps as many as 18 children. He was reportedly a devoted father, who
encouraged his children’s education. He allegedly loved his daughters so much that
he prohibited them from marrying while he was alive.
Einhard, a Frankish scholar and contemporary of Charlemagne, wrote a
biography of the emperor after his death. In the work, titled “Vita Karoli Magni
(Life of Charles the Great),” he described Charlemagne as “broad and strong in the
form of his body and exceptionally tall without, however, exceeding an appropriate
measure…His appearance was impressive whether he was sitting or standing
despite having a neck that was fat and too short, and a large belly.”
In his role as a zealous defender of Christianity, Charlemagne gave money
and land to the Christian church and protected the popes. As a way to acknowledge
Charlemagne’s power and reinforce his relationship with the church, Pope Leo III
crowned Charlemagne emperor of the Romans on December 25, 800, at St. Peter’s
Basilica in Rome.
As emperor, Charlemagne proved to be a talented diplomat and able
administrator of the vast area he controlled. He promoted education and encouraged
the Carolingian Renaissance, a period of renewed emphasis on scholarship and
culture. He instituted economic and religious reforms, and was a driving force
behind the standardized form of writing that later became a basis for modern
European printed alphabets. Charlemagne ruled from a number of cities and
palaces, but spent significant time in Aachen (a city in modern-day Germany). His
palace there included a school, for which he recruited the best teachers in the land.
In addition to learning, Charlemagne was interested in athletic pursuits. Known to
be highly energetic, he enjoyed hunting, horseback riding and swimming. Aachen
held particular appeal for him due to its therapeutic warm springs.
According to Einhard, Charlemagne was in good health until the final four
years of his life, when he often suffered from fevers and acquired a limp. However,
as the biographer notes, “Even at this time…he followed his own counsel rather
than the advice of the doctors, whom he very nearly hated, because they advised
him to give up roasted meat, which he loved, and to restrict himself to boiled meat
instead.”
In 813, Charlemagne crowned his son Louis the Pious (778-840), king of
Aquitaine, as co-emperor. Louis became sole emperor when Charlemagne died in
January 814, ending his reign of more than four decades. At the time of his death,
his empire encompassed much of Western Europe.
Philip II
One of the most powerful Capetians was Philip II, who ruled from 1180-1223.
Philip II watched his father, lose land to Henry II of England. After Philip II
became King in 1180, he had little success against Henry II or Henry’s son Richard
the Lion-Hearted. However, when King John seized the English throne, it was
another matter.
Philip II seized Normandy from King John in 1204 and within two years
gained other territories. By the end of Philip’s reign he had tripled the lands under
his direct control. For the first time, a French king had become more powerful than
any of his vassals.
Philip II not only
wanted more land, but he
also wanted a stronger
central government. He
established royal officials
called bailiffs. He sent
these bailiffs to every
district in the Kingdom to
preside over the king’s
courts and collect the
king’s taxes.
‘Ello Chap! Welcome to England!
While you are visiting the British Isles, please take some time
to check out some important events in English history! After
you read each section, check your notes and see what concept
you are trying to identify and answer any questions with that
concept!
Explain the impact of the Magna
Explain the development of
English Common Law.
What is the function of Parliament?
Carta on the King.
What are
William the Conqueror’s
major accomplishments based on his puzzle?
Write them in the arrow.
Describe the Hundred
Years War in 20 words or less!
Use the images to the right and
left to describe what the
Hundred Years War
did for England and France.
English
Pride!
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Go
France!
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Hi, my name is
William the Conqueror,
but my friends just call me William.
In January of 1066, a man named “Edward the
Confessor” (who was a descendent of the Anglo-Saxans)
died without leaving an heir to his throne. Edward was my
cousin, so naturally I claimed the right to the English
crown. So I invaded England (I was living in France, in a
place called Normandy).
After the invasion, I fought in a battle against my
rival (Harold Godwinson) and on October 14, 1066 I
defeated Harold in a battled called The Battle of Hastings.
After winning at the Hastings I declared all of
England mine and those who supported Harold before all
lost their lands. I then redistributed land to my fellow
Normans (about 200 of them).
A lot of people also know me for building the Tower
of London located on the Thames (pronounced, Tems)
River.
Verdict
English Judge who
determines verdicts of
cases.
(decision
or ruling
in a court
case)
English Common Law
Henry II of England, ruled England from 1154 to 1189. He strengthened the royal courts of justice by sending royal judges to every part of
England at least once a year. They collected taxes, settled lawsuits, and punished crimes. Henry also introduced the use of the jury in English
courts. A jury in medieval England was a group of loyal people—usually 12 neighbors of the accused—who answered a royal judge’s questions
about the facts of the case. Jury trials became a popular means of settling disputes. Only the king’s courts were allowed to conduct them.
Over the centuries, case by case, the rulings of England’s royal judges formed a unified body of law that became known as common law. Today
these principles of English common law are the basis for law in many English-speaking countries, including the United States.
King John signing the Magna
Carta on June 15, 1215
M
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On June 15, 1215, consenting to the demands of 40 rebellious barons, King John affixed his seal to Magna Carta. By doing so he attempted to avoid a civil war. Magna Carta was written by a group of 13th‐century barons to protect their rights and property against a tyrannical king. It is concerned with many practical matters and specific grievances relevant to the feudal system under which they lived. The interests of the common man were hardly apparent in the minds of the men who brokered the agreement. BEFORE
THE
MAGNA
CARTA…
AFTER THE
MAGNA
CARTA…
Hundred Years War
1
4
5
3
VS.
The Hundred Years War was a war between England and France (fought on French soil) that lasted from
1337-1453. And by 1453 the French finally drove out the English! For France, this war meant loss of lives,
property, and money; but it also raised the prestige of the French monarchy. It also gave both nations a feeling of
nationalism and saw each nation’s leader as fighting for the glory of the country.
After the war, England suffered a period of internal turmoil (known as the War of the Roses) in which two
noble houses fought for the English throne. Despite this turmoil, the war was responsible for strengthening the
power of the English Parliament (legislative body). This can be attributed to the fact that the King had to ask
Parliament 27 times for new taxes in order to find the war! It’s from this that Parliament’s “power of the purse”
becomes established!
In 1295, English King Edward I needed to raise taxes for a war against the French. Edward summoned two wealthy citizens
(known as burgesses) from each borough and two knights from every county to serve as Parliament, or a legislative group. In
November 1295, this group met together at West Minster in London.
Over the next 100 years, the king called the knights and burgesses to London anytime a new tax was needed. Two groups
gradually formed and met separately – House of Commons and House of Lords.
As time goes by, Parliament became stronger and stronger an
d provided a check on the monarch’s power!
Parliament
Photos from Joan of Arc’s Story: