EIGHTH CENTURY.

(700-800.)

THE end of this century finds three great empires in Europe and Eastern Asia: the SARACENIC EMPIRE, the EASTERN ROMAN EMPIRE, and the EMPIRE OF CHARLEMAGNE.

SARACENS. Since the date of the last map the Saracens complete, in 709, the subjection of North Africa, cross in 710 to Spain, where they defeat the Visigoths and overrun the whole peninsula, except where the Goths still hold the Christian kingdom of the ASTURIAS. The Saracens cross the Pyrenees and try to subdue the Franks, but are defeated (battle of Tours, 732) and driven back into Spain. In 755 the vast dominion controlled by the Saracens divides into the Caliphate of Cordova and the Caliphate of Bagdad (762).

FRANKS. The Franks win victories over the Lombards in Italy. The territory known as the Exarchate of Ravenna is ceded to the Pope in 756. Charlemagne extends the Frankish power by conquests among the Saxons; by victories over the Slavonians, Bavarians, Avars, and other tribes; by annexing the whole territory from the Adriatic to the Baltic (modern Germany and Austria); by incorporating the greater part of Italy (774); and by taking from the Saracens the region north of the Ebro (778). On Christmas day, 800 (see next century), Charlemagne is crowned "Emperor of the West," a sovereignty equal in extent to that of the old Roman Empire. EASTERN EMPIRE. Though the boundaries of the Eastern Empire are subject to fluctuations from incursions of the Slavic tribes, etc., they remain substantially as at the end of the preceding century.

BRITAIN is still divided into petty kingdoms.

The NORTHMEN begin, towards the close of this century, to make their power felt by their marauding expeditions.

VISIGOTHS. See above, under SARACENS.

LOMBARDS. The Lombards conquer the Exarchate of Ravenna, but the Lombard kingdom is itself overthrown by Charlemagne in 774. (See above, under FRANKS.)

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