The Carolingian Renaissance By Kelli Floyd

While the renaissance period of history is long over, it dramatically impacted the modern world. Some of the great discoveries in science, developments in the arts, architecture, and humanism took place during this period of history. The results had major impacts on politics at that time as well into the future. The renaissance left both positive and negative influences on the world as we know it.

The Renaissance had the most significant effect on Early Modern Western Civilization because of how it changed religion, politics, and technology. Many technological advancements were made during the Renaissance, and many social changes occurred in the areas of politics and religion. These advancements and changes greatly affected Early Modern Western Civilization.

He is also remembered because of the Carolingian Renaissance which took place under his direction and leadership. Although he was not a learned man, he revered and respected knowledge. He attracted many scholars to his palace. Theology and the literary

Many Historians disagree to what Charlemagne and his successors achieved during their time and whether it’s a success or a failure. The Carolingian era was an era completely devoted to revolt. Charlemagne needed help since he had his hands tied things what was happening in his land. Since Charlemagne was not content with a subordinate position even more now that they byzantine empire was fighting off the Muslims and couldn’t exert his power in the west. So in his mind Charlemagne decided that he wanted to recreate the power, prestige and culture of the western Roman Empire. Charlemagne accomplished this by using the early stages of the feudalistic system appointing Counts, and Dukes. After that he began encouraging the growth of land

The Renaissance was influential in the new way of thinking and helped discover things that would later be very important for the world. The Renaissance was a change for good, not only for the Europeans, but also for America and other societies around the world. The renaissance encouraged people to think for their own instead of having the church tell them everything. More and more people started thinking more

One similarity between Charlemagne and Geoffrey Chaucer is that they were both the “Father” of something. This title meant that the person of interest played a big part in a change that became the new norm for the rest of history. Charlemagne was known as the “Father of Europe” and Geoffrey was known as the “Father of English Literature”. Charlemagne was the former king of the Franks, king of the Lombards, and was the first Roman emperor for the Holy Roman Empire. One of his reigns were the Franks, which were a Germanic tribe in Belgium, France, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, and western Germany. One of his main goals were to unite all Germanic tribes under one kingdom and convert them to Christianity. It was because of Charlemagne that Christianity remained relevant in the west because of all his efforts. Another one of his main goals was the Carolingian Renaissance, which he wanted to be a cultural and intellectual revival of Europe. This meant that he wanted Europe to become fuller of culture and intellectual

This period has become known as the Carolingian Dynasty. The sense of renewal in a newly stabilized society was stimulated by an elite group of scholars gathered to Charlemagne’s court. During this time, there was a strong flourish of arts, literature, architecture, and religion.

Even though he could not read or write he was a German speaker who learned Latin and some Greek. Charlemagne ordered books to be sent to the capital Aachen, where they got copied and translated. The writing back was not very clear so Charlemagne ordered a new clear form of writing Carolingian miscue script to be used. Charlemagne had many achievements in the military. He fought in more than 50 battles, and introduced new weapons like the cavalry and stirrup, used clever tactics like a pincer movement which is when you surround the enemy attacking from both sides, and he also used military intelligence. The people Charlemagne conquered were forced to convert to Christianity and if they refused, they were executed like 4 500 people in Saxony were all executed because they refused. Charlemagne was very determined we know this because he fought the Saxons for 10 years until they finally gave in. Charlemagne created a new political and social system, so that he wouldn’t lose power over his kingdom. Charlemagne divided his lands and gave some to the bishops of the church, counts, or heads of noble’s families and created a team of officials to check the loyalty. This made sure that he ruled for a long period of time. This system is called feudalism/ feudal system and spread through medieval

The Carolingian empire during the reign of Charlemagne was a time of great change. This time period would appear to be anything but stagnant whether it be in their architecture or their art. This leads to the belief that Charlemagne made the Carolingian world appear to be an inspiration for new changes and innovations.

The characteristics and deeds of Charles the Great were recorded in The life of Charlemagne after Charles’ death by the courtier, Einhard, who argues that Charles was the greatest, idealistic king and must be passed on to the next generation. The author Einhard, a courtier to Charlemagne served as an attendant to the king, dedicated the writing to Charles and Charles’ son, Louis, for who it was to serve as a guide to being a great king. Although Einhard is humble in stating that he is not worthy of writing about Charles the Great and the impossibility of writing as good as Cicero, who was considered the most eloquent writer in Latin, he still writes Charles’ biography in Latin which was the language of the Roman Empire. As Einhard is well educated he was able to writing about Charles, Charles was passionate for the education of himself, his children, and the nation itself. Education became an essential component of being successful and powerful because Charles promoted its importance; however, regardless of Einhard’s statement that Charles was highly educated, his education was well supported by other scholars and education itself also became politicized and supported Charles goals of reviving the Roman Empire.

The education of the Frankish Empire was almost nonexistent so the first step Charlemagne made was simply encouraging intellectual curiosity and learning. He gathered many wise men to his court, including Alcuin, Peter of pisa, Paulinus, Theodulf, and Agobard. They encompassed diverse fields like grammarian, historian, poet, theologian, and came from far away places like Italy, Spain, and Ireland.7 Charlemagne highly valued their wisdom and would reward them lavishly with money and property such as abbeys.8 with these great men, Charlemagne set up the first school at his palace to teach reading, writing, and the scriptures. One story by Mayke de Jong, gives an illustration of just how much Charlemagne valued education. While inspecting the school, Charlemagne put the hardworking pupils on his right and the lazy ones on his left symbolizing eternal judgement.9 He made no distinction between rank, but many of the lower ranked pupils

After the end to the rough and challenging middle ages came a new era of literature art and culture. this period was known as the Renaissance. The Renaissance started in the early 14th century and would go on to the 16th century.The renaissance started a social change all through the entire of Europe and is seen as an extension between the medieval and cutting edge ages. Researchers educated in writing alongside artists, subjects and schoolmasters, all with a capable hunger for learning, got to be known as the scholarly development the humanists. They rediscovered Greek and Latin messages and started to show Latin writing. The artist, history specialist and savant, Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374) was one of the main lights of the development. The lessons of traditional vestige, Greek and Roman figure, design and writing did not surface again until the begin of the Renaissance in Italy. The beginnings of the Italian Renaissance fixated on Tuscany and on Florence specifically. The Italians of the period viewed themselves as to be living in a brilliant age, better than anything subsequent to the fall of the roman realm a thousand years prior, with

The next work comes from the minds of Edward Peters and William McDermott in their book, Monks, Bishops, and Pagans, written in 1949. Although mainly primary sources that McDermott translated, they also write important introductions to works such as a significant portion of Gregory of Tours works, as well as important selections from Jonas’ Life of Saint Columbanus. These introductions give important glimpses into the lives of these men, their culture, and the writings themselves. Written in 1957, Heinrich Fichtenau’s work, The Carolingian Empire, offers a very cynical look compared to other medieval narratives concerning Charlemagne’s reign. He attempted to demythologize Charlemagne and show many of the contradictions and fundamental flaws that the Carolingian Empire possessed from the start. He further argues in the anti-Louis the Pious trend in another chapter. This book contributes greatly to the historiography of the era because it shows a more “human” Charlemagne and his people.

Charlemagne supported religious communities where old books were safeguarded and replicated. He improved the higher learning centers of knowledge and made sure that religious schools were set up all throughout the domain, this "Carolingian Renaissance" was a disengaged marvel. Learning did not burst into flames all throughout Europe, just in the illustrious court, religious communities, and schools were there were any emphasis on training and higher learning. However, due to Charlemagne's enthusiasm for safeguarding and restoring learning, an abundance of old original manuscripts were duplicated for those of future generations. Similarly as imperative, a custom of education was set up in European ascetic groups that Alcuin and St. Boniface

The focus of this report will be on Charlemagne, an Emperor of Western Europe during the eighth century and early ninth century as well as the Education he brought with him. Charlemagne’s rule had a significant impact on the education, economy and political life of Medieval Europe. It will become evident that his rule impacted the Education of the time quite evidently.