Rudolf Schieffer, one of the most renowned German medievalists, describes the eventful and dramatic centuries from 700 to 1200 in just under 300 pages with clear language and impressive expertise. Since the 7th century, the Christianization of the still pagan areas of Europe has been expanding, while after the death of Charlemagne in 814 and the fragmentation of the Frankish Empire, significant state formations occur. In the western part of the empire, what would later become France emerges, while in the east, the East Frankish Empire takes shape. Vikings invade, and in the south, the Islamic expansion pressures the Iberian Peninsula. Monasteries and orders experience a golden age. The Crusades, chivalry, the power struggle between emperor and pope, as well as new kingdoms like England, Norway, Denmark, Poland, Hungary, and Bohemia shape the subsequent period.