• Course begins May 7, 2026

  • Live weekly sessions with the instructor from 1:00 to 2:30pm Eastern U.S. time

  • All sessions are recorded and available to view for up to 2 weeks after the last live session

From Franks to Carolingians

How did this specific Germanic tribe – the Franks – manage to take the lead in the early Middle Ages and create the foundation for what will be the Carolingian Empire? This week we look into the often confusing and turbulent world of the early Middle Ages, with an emphasis on expansion and military control, as well as the transitions of power and the importance of religion as sociocultural and political leverage. We will discuss the role of important figures such as Clovis, the Merovingian rulers, Charles Martel and his descendants.

The Carolingian Emperors

We run through the timeline of the Carolingian emperors that shaped the important though short-lived empire. Starting from Charlemagne, the timeline will continue until the decline of the empire with Charles the Fat. This week will cover the most important issues and achievements of each ruler as well as the ongoing problems of the political rule of the Franks. We will also work with primary sources that gives us contemporary insight into the time period itself to highlight specific topics.

The Carolingian Church

In this session we will address the religious achievements and issues that the Carolingians endured as Franks before the empire and as leaders of religious reform in early medieval Europe. We will assess whether this was a period of renovation, reform or disorganization through investigating the primary sources. And we will navigate their ever-changing world that sometimes seems to border on paganism while trying to understand if indeed -- as Charlemagne proposed -- the Carolingians were truly good Christians.

Government, Law, and Culture

The final lecture will focus on understanding the significant infrastructure developed during the so called “Carolingian Renaissance”. In this world the legal system and advancements in administration were clearly interlinked with the development of a cultural renovation that allowed the arts to flourish. We will look into technical roles and aspects of the legal system, while also appreciating the beautiful world of art, literature, and knowledge in general.

Meet your Instructor

Lillian Cespedes Gonzalez

Dr. Lillian Cespedes Gonzalez is a medievalist with a PhD from the University of Winchester, specializing in culture and identity within the subject of medievalism and popular culture. She is a cultural scholar and historian with an interdisciplinary and international approach. While her PhD focused on Norse women and their representation in popular culture, she has always had a keen interest in the way humans see the world: mythology, religion, art and literature are the things she enjoys most. Her academic publications include many works on the Norse, comic book studies and cultural identity. She is also an active blogger and podcaster and currently runs her own tour guiding and cultural education company as a public historian, where she gets to bring history to life every day for anyone who will listen.

  • Start Learning

    First live session May 7, 2026 at 1:00pm Eastern U.S. time

  • Continued access to the course materials is available for 2 weeks after the last course session

What others say about Lillian

“I have been touring with Lillian for some time now. She covers a lot of very interesting topics and has helped me gain perspective of some that I found fascinating yet confusing. Very intelligent lady who is passionate about her subjects.”

Natasha

“I am so impressed by her breadth of knowledge and deep perspective on the various chapters of Spanish history, all very well explained in 45 minutes. A true gift for teaching others.”

Karen