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What was Charlemagne's biggest achievement during the Middle Ages?

Adriana MacCathay

Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, was one of the most influential rulers of the Middle Ages. His reign as king of the Franks and later as emperor of the Western Roman Empire from 768 to 814 brought about significant changes to Europe. There were several achievements that he accomplished during his lifetime, but I believe his biggest accomplishment was the revitalization of learning and education throughout his empire.

Charlemagne recognized the importance of education and made it one of his top priorities to promote and advance learning. He established a palace school at his residence in Aachen and encouraged scholars from all over Europe to come and teach there. The curriculum consisted of the liberal arts, including arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, grammar, logic, and rhetoric.

In addition to the palace school, Charlemagne also established monastic schools throughout his empire. These schools provided education to a wider range of students, including the poor and the non-aristocratic. He also ordered the copying of ancient manuscripts, which preserved many works of ancient literature that would have otherwise been lost.

Charlemagne's patronage of learning and education had far-reaching effects that continue to be felt today. It brought about a revival of classical scholarship, which had been largely forgotten after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. The formation of the Palace School, which was later known as the Carolingian Renaissance, paved the way for the development of universities in Europe. It also influenced the development of the written French language, which was derived from the Frankish dialect that Charlemagne spoke.

Furthermore, Charlemagne's emphasis on education helped build a more educated and skilled workforce. This, in turn, led to advancements in agriculture, manufacturing, and commerce. It also led to the formation of a more sophisticated legal system and a well-trained military.

In conclusion, Charlemagne's biggest achievement during the Middle Ages was his revitalization of learning and education. His contribution to the advancement of education in Europe had a significant impact on the development of Western civilization. Charlemagne's vision of education as a means to promote progress and civilization laid the groundwork for the development of modern education systems that exist today.