HST 197 Lecture Notes - Lecture 41: Carolingian Empire, Odoacer, Roman Law
Document Summary
Germanic general odoacer deposed the last of the western roman emperors. He however did not claim the imperial title for himself. Roman administrators and armies continued to function, temporarily but urban populations declined as continuing invasions and power struggles disputed trade and manufacturing. Germanic kingdoms emerged as successor states to the roman empire. Germanic peoples absorbed a great deal of roman influence. Some converted to christianity and others adapted roman law to the needs of their. The franks had conquered most of the roman gaul and emerged as preeminent military and political power in western europe. They gained popular support when they abandoned their inherited polytheistic religion and converted to christianity. 8th century, aristocratic clan of carolingians dramatically expanded frankish power. He temporarily reestablished centralized imperial rule in a society disrupted by invasion and contests for power between ambitious local rulers. He was very intelligent, spoke latin and regularly conversed with learned men.
