Debate:  The Coronation of Pepin the Short

(silver denier of King Pepin [RP = Rex Pepinus])

Remember:  you will be called upon to answer at least one of the questions as part of the debate; you may (should) also take part in other parts if you have things to say that differ from what your teammates have said.

Debate:

Team 1:  argue for the Proposition

Team 2:  argue against the Proposition

Assigned questions - Team 1:

1.  Background - Describe the Merovingian dynasty in the 7th century.  Who were the rulers, and what were they like?

2.  Background - Who was Aistulf?  What were the Lombards doing in the 740's and 50's?

3.  Background - Who was pope in 750?  What were his major concerns?

4.  Presentation of the proposition:  what is the topic?  what is the basis of your argument?

5.  Arguments - present one argument that favors your side, and illustrate it from a primary source if possible

6.  Arguments - present one argument that favors your side, and illustrate it from a primary source if possible

7.  Arguments - present one argument that favors your side, and illustrate it from a primary source if possible

8.  Do the summary, summarizing your team's arguments and state why they are preferable (you can't do this ahead of time).

Assigned questions - Team 2:

1.  Background - What is a mayor of the palace?  Describe the origin and career of Charles Martel.

2.  Background - Who was Childeric III?  What was he like?  What happened to him?

3.  Background - Describe the career of Pepin before 751.

4.  Presentation of the proposition:  what is the topic?  what is the basis of your argument?

5.  Arguments - present one argument that favors your side, and illustrate it from a primary source if possible

6.  Arguments - present one argument that favors your side, and illustrate it from a primary source if possible

7.  Arguments - present one argument that favors your side, and illustrate it from a primary source if possible

8.  Do the summary, summarizing your team's arguments and state why they are preferable (you can't do this ahead of time).

Primary source evidence

There are several primary sources that describe Pepin's assumption of the Frankish throne.  I have put these together in a document called pepinsources.doc, and put it up on Canvas under Files.

Links to information on Pepin the Short

There is a lot of junk out on the internet! For example, the Wikipedia article on Pepin the Short is terrible.  So I do not recommend looking online for information.  Instead, read your textbook, and also read the section from T. F. X. Noble's The Republic of St. Peter:  The Birth of the Papal State, 680-825 (1984) on Pepin, pp. 65-94, which has been placed as a PDF file on Canvas in the Files folder as Noble on Pepin.