Summary: Western Civilization Before The Thirty Years War
HIST121
Western Civilization before The Thirty Years War
Charlemagne: Roman Emperor, Father of Europe, or the Chief Bishop
Larry Ray
December 15, 2013
Charlemagne was one of the greatest European rulers of medieval times. He was both part warrior and part scholar. He was also know to many as Charles the Great or just Charles in his inner circle. He lived from 747 to 814. Charlemagne was a Frank. Franks’ were German tribes who controlled the area of northwestern Europe that is now western Germany and northern France. Not much is known about Charlemagne’s childhood, however her grew up to be a very religious righteous man. He boasted with Christian spirit and it is with that …show more content…
He was truly a visionary of his time. He himself was quite educated verbally and in reading but he never mastered the art of writing. He thought that every child should have a chance to go to school, even commoners. He felt with education that he could lead his people to eternal salvation. What better way to spread the word of God, and then teach it along side general education? In Charlemagne’s conquests there were several newly conquered lands and or people that needed saving, so he took upon himself to build school and fill them with the most educated of educators. He vowed to have the teachers teach grammar, psalms, math, and reading. Charlemagne would offer free schooling to anyone ages six years and up that would offer there children to the Church, attaching them to the monastic life permanently. He would task the nuns and monks to educate these children with little or no down time. If the child successfully completed the first series of education they would then be allowed to continue in his educational program, which would include subjects such as, geometry, music, astronomy, and math. 4 The end result of Charlemagne’s school curriculum well surpassed anything he could have imagined. “It led to a kind of literacy renaissance”. 5Scholars from all over Europe would come and teach different subject. These scholars from Italy, Spain, Ireland, and England influenced …show more content…
However it is said she was sent away a year later because she could not have children. 6 He later took a Swabian woman as his partner and had four sons and five daughters. Charlemagne was unlike other rules with children. His autobiographer would often say that he bonded with his children, always making time for them. He would eat dinner with them, and he never would travel without them. They were educated just as other children, first in the Liberal Arts, with emphasis in math and grammar and then on to the higher level, which included music and geometry. After a certain age the boys were taught how to ride horses and carry a sword. The girls were taught how to work wool, so they would value hard work.7 He never did marry off any of his daughters. It is speculated that he was too worried about having to give up land by the request of their suitors, so he never strove to marry them off. Each went on to have several illegitimate children.8 One thing is for sure; Charlemagne was a visionary and a skilled warrior. He knew that education was the key and he also knew it should be available to anyone who wanted it. His successors would continue on his legacy of learning by educating their officials and by spreading the word of God throughout the lands. His biographer said it all; Charlemagne has a “ greatness of spirit and steadfast determination” 9 which made him the
Western Civilization before The Thirty Years War
Charlemagne: Roman Emperor, Father of Europe, or the Chief Bishop
Larry Ray
December 15, 2013
Charlemagne was one of the greatest European rulers of medieval times. He was both part warrior and part scholar. He was also know to many as Charles the Great or just Charles in his inner circle. He lived from 747 to 814. Charlemagne was a Frank. Franks’ were German tribes who controlled the area of northwestern Europe that is now western Germany and northern France. Not much is known about Charlemagne’s childhood, however her grew up to be a very religious righteous man. He boasted with Christian spirit and it is with that …show more content…
He was truly a visionary of his time. He himself was quite educated verbally and in reading but he never mastered the art of writing. He thought that every child should have a chance to go to school, even commoners. He felt with education that he could lead his people to eternal salvation. What better way to spread the word of God, and then teach it along side general education? In Charlemagne’s conquests there were several newly conquered lands and or people that needed saving, so he took upon himself to build school and fill them with the most educated of educators. He vowed to have the teachers teach grammar, psalms, math, and reading. Charlemagne would offer free schooling to anyone ages six years and up that would offer there children to the Church, attaching them to the monastic life permanently. He would task the nuns and monks to educate these children with little or no down time. If the child successfully completed the first series of education they would then be allowed to continue in his educational program, which would include subjects such as, geometry, music, astronomy, and math. 4 The end result of Charlemagne’s school curriculum well surpassed anything he could have imagined. “It led to a kind of literacy renaissance”. 5Scholars from all over Europe would come and teach different subject. These scholars from Italy, Spain, Ireland, and England influenced …show more content…
However it is said she was sent away a year later because she could not have children. 6 He later took a Swabian woman as his partner and had four sons and five daughters. Charlemagne was unlike other rules with children. His autobiographer would often say that he bonded with his children, always making time for them. He would eat dinner with them, and he never would travel without them. They were educated just as other children, first in the Liberal Arts, with emphasis in math and grammar and then on to the higher level, which included music and geometry. After a certain age the boys were taught how to ride horses and carry a sword. The girls were taught how to work wool, so they would value hard work.7 He never did marry off any of his daughters. It is speculated that he was too worried about having to give up land by the request of their suitors, so he never strove to marry them off. Each went on to have several illegitimate children.8 One thing is for sure; Charlemagne was a visionary and a skilled warrior. He knew that education was the key and he also knew it should be available to anyone who wanted it. His successors would continue on his legacy of learning by educating their officials and by spreading the word of God throughout the lands. His biographer said it all; Charlemagne has a “ greatness of spirit and steadfast determination” 9 which made him the