750
CE: Medieval Europe - The first great English epic
poem, Beowulf, is written in Old English. The work is anonymous
and untitled until 1805. It is a Christian poem that exemplifies
early medieval society in England and shows roots in Old Testament
Law.
 750
CE: Medieval Europe - Irish monks establish early-medieval
art. The greatest surviving product of these monks is the
Book of Kells, a Gospel book of decorative art.
751
CE: Medieval Europe - St. Boniface anoints Pepin
a divinely sanctioned king, and the Frankish monarchy is fused
into the papal order. The western European empire, based on
the alliance between the Frankish monarchy and the Latin Church,
provides the image of Western cultural unity for Europeans,
though it does not last long.
768
CE: Medieval Europe - Pepin's son, Carolus Magnus
(Charlemagne), succeeds his father and is one of the most
important rulers of medieval history. In time, his empire,
known as the Carolingian dynasty, includes the greater section
of central Europe, northern Italy and central Italy in addition
to realms already conquered by Frankish rule. Charlemagne's
system of government divides the vast realm into different
regions, ruled by local "counts" who are overseen
by representatives of Charlemagne's own court. In addition,
to aid expansion and administration of the kingdom, Charlemagne
promotes, what is called later, the "Carolingian Renaissance."
Prior to this revival of learning, practically the entire
realm (with the exception of Benedictine England) is illiterate
due to the decay of the Roman Empire. The director of the
"renaissance" is Anglo-Saxon Benedictine Alcuin,
who receives his learning from a student of Bede. Alcuin sets
up schools, sees to the copying of classical Latin texts and
develops a new handwriting.
 800
CE: Medieval Europe - On Christmas Day, Charlemagne
is crowned emperor by the pope in Rome. This event indicates
an autonomous Western culture based on Western Christianity
and Latin linguistics. Charlemagne establishes schools in
all bishoprics and monasteries under his control.
814
CE: Medieval Europe - Charlemagne dies without leaving
competent successors to continue the glory of the Carolingian
dynasty. His sole surviving son, Louis the Pious, divides
his inheritance between his own three sons, who engage in
civil war. Charlemagne's united realm is invaded by Scandinavian
Vikings, Hungarians and Muslims during these civil wars. The
Carolingian Empire falls apart.
871
CE: Medieval Europe - King Alfred the Great of England
constructs a system of government and education which allows
for the unification of smaller Anglo-Saxon states in the ninth
and tenth centuries. Alfred is responsible for the codification
of English law, public interest in local government and the
reorganization of the army. He founds schools and promotes
Anglo-Saxon literacy and the establishment of a national culture.
Alfred dies in 899 CE. His innovations are continued by his
successors.
910
CE: Medieval Europe - The Benedictine monastery of
Cluny in Burgundy becomes a place of monastic reform. The
two major innovations here are the direct subjection of monasteries
to the pope -- avoiding secular, local and ecclesiastical
powers -- and the building of "daughter monasteries"
subordinate to the Cluniac "family," which grows
to sixty-seven monasteries by 1049 CE.
 936
CE: Medieval Europe - Otto the Great is crowned king
in Germany and is responsible for Germany's strength through
the latter part of the eleventh century. Otto establishes
a pattern of resistance to political fragmentation and a close
alliance with the Church.
955
CE: Medieval Europe - John XII becomes pope at the
age of eighteen and rules for nine years. His title as pope
exemplifies the decline in value of the Church in the early-medieval
period. Local lords establish control over churches and monasteries,
and Church officials are often unqualified. The majority of
priests are illiterate and live with concubines. The majority
of popes, mostly sons of powerful Roman families, are corrupt
or incompetent.
962
CE: Medieval Europe - Otto the Great is named emperor
in Rome after defeating the Hungarians. This provides Germany
with the power to resist invasion. Following Otto are several
competent and enthusiastic successors, who continue to shape
a stable German government.
987
CE: Medieval Europe - Hugh Capet replaces the last
of the Carolingian monarchs in France. The Capetian dynasty
rules until 1328. The Capetian dynasty is too weak in the
beginning to have any influence on the unification of France.
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