Transcript Matthew Barrera

Charlemagne
By: Matthew Barrera
Ms. Marshall
Walter Stiern Middle School
2009-2010
HSS 7.6
Charlemagne’s Early Years
• Born in 742 at a place unknown
• His father Pepin the Short was in charge
of a huge part of European land
• As a child Charlemagne did not receive
proper education
• His childhood was overpowered by
laborious task of his father’s kingdom, that
one day he would rule
Young king
• Then on 768 Charlemagne’s father passed
• Frankland was then separated between
Charlemagne and Carloman
• Both had their own coronation
• Both were unable to work together
• They never trusted each other
Early Years as a King
• His brother Carloman died in 771
• Charlemagne was now known as the sole
king
• At this time the northern half of Europe
was pagan and lawless
• They were neglecting education and going
back to there barbarian ways
• But Charlemagne was still determined to
strengthen his realm
Wars
• To complete this objective Charlemagne
set out for a 30 year military campaign
• By the 800’s Charlemagne was
undefeated ruler of Europe
• His realm encompassed what are now
France, Switzerland, Belgium, and the
Netherlands
• Also included half of present day Italy and
Germany, and parts of Austria and Spain
Governing an Empire
• He made a central government
• By making the central government he
paved the way for the Holy Roman Empire
• It also helped Charlemagne on his
conquests later in years
• It set the pattern for other rulers years
after Charlemagne’s life
Charlemagne’s capital
• Yet another of Charlemagne’s
accomplishments was the building of his
permanent capital
• The capital laid in the small town of
Aachen
• He choose the town of Aachen for its sites
• It contained many rooms for education,
business, and for other hobbies
Charlemagne enjoyed
Education in the capital
• Charlemagne was so eager to improve
education in his capital
• One important feature of his capital was a
school
• Ran by a church scholar from England
named Alcuin
• Though only made for the royal family
Charlemagne allowed everyone to come
Alcuin’s accomplishments
• Alcuin wrote textbooks for students on
such subjects as grammar and spelling
• He also taught and trained teachers
• A result of Alcuin’s efforts was the use of a
new easier to read script
• The script was named Carolingian*
minuscule
• Our new printing and writing developed
from this new script
Charlemagne’s Death
• After all of Charlemagne’s
accomplishments Charlemagne fell ill with
his constant fevers
• Charlemagne was fasting trying to cure
himself, but it did not work
• It turned out to be a lung inflammation
• Then on January, 28, 814, Charlemagne
died leaving his kingdom to his son Louis
Bibliography
• Greenblatt, Miriam. Charlemagne and the
Early Middle Ages. 99 White Plains Road
Tarrytown: Marshall Cavendish
Corporation, 2003.