A Short History of the Middle Ages Fourth Edition

Map 2.3: Western Europe, c.750

IMPOVERISHMENT AND ITS VARIATIONS

Taking in the whole of Western Europe around this time means dwelling long on its

variety. Dominating the scene was Gaul, now taken over by the Franks; we may call

it Francia. To its south were Spain (ruled first by the Visigoths, and then, after c.715,

by the Muslims) and Italy (divided between the pope, the Byzantines, and the

Lombards). To the north, joined to rather than separated from the Continent by the