Throughout much of the Middle Ages, France (AKA Frankland) was considered the premier monarchy of Europe: first under Charlemagne and again in the High Middle Ages as it recovered from the chaos of the ninth and tenth centuries. This lesson traces the rise of the French monarchy under the Capetian dynasty, first analyzing the tortuous process of getting the region around Paris under control. It then looks at how the monarchy used its ties with the Church and rising towns to gradually expand and make itself the ruler of france in reality as well as in name. Highlights include short picture essays on Louis VI and Louis IX (AKA St Louis).

This is a self-contained PowerPoint that develops slide by slide while other notes for the students scroll down the side. It can be run as a timed presentation on its own, presented slide by slide for discussion, or integrated into your other lectures. There are also extensive pictures with captions mixed in to illustrate the lesson and capture students’ interest. This packet also contains a student reading, flowchart, and the author’s own research notes which contain lots of details and interesting trivia to spice up your class.

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