Charlemagne (742 - 814 A.D)

Interview with Charlemagne 794 A.D
How did you gain power?

Well, my father, Pippin died and he decided to split his power between me and my brother, Carloman.  Some people said that my brother was a better leader and I was. But, the main reason I gained power was because I got land.  Also, my brother died in 771, giving me power to the throne. 

What did you do with your power?

Well, I took land, I stopped the revolts against me, I also started the Christian Leadership for kings and emperors.  In addition, I united Europe for my reign.

Why is all this important to the West?

Because I was one of the most influential kings to Europe, also my leadership ideas were spread to the West.


Source: "Charlemagne." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 10 Nov. 2010.

Battle of Tours (732 A.D)

Interview with Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi: 743 A.D

What was the point of this battle?

Well, what we wanted to do was get France and turn it into a Islamic religion place, because we wanted Islam to be spread.  We heard that if we got this land to be Muslim, that Islam will be spread around the World.

How did you lose?


Well, we thought that with our amount of troops, that we could win the battle, no problem.  I didn't know this at the time, but the French army was very trained.  We got beaten by the brains and tactics of the French army.

Why is this so significant? 


If we, as in Islam, were to win this Battle of Tours, the main religion would have been Islam.  But, because the French won, they became Christians, and followed Christianity, Christian practice will most likely be one of the biggest religions ever.

Sources: Hickman, Kennedy. "Muslim Invasions." Battle of Tours. The New York Times Company, 14 Nov 2010. Web. 14 Nov 2010.

Rome Sacked/Falls to Barbarians (410 A.D.)

Interview with Aleric: 414 A.D


Why in the world did you want to take Rome? Why Rome?

That's a very easy answer: food. We needed it, badly; we were so close to starving we would do anything to get it.  In fact, we took it over, and then we just left because we needed food.

Is there any reason why this sacking of Rome was easy?


Oh yes, of course.  I heard that people didn't like Rome's rule at all.  The Emperors wouldn't even give the Rome people guns.  Plus, when we took it over it literally didn't have any food; we starved Rome out.  Rome was beaten down already, it was very easy to take it over.

Why was your sacking of Rome important?


I think it was important because Rome was an important power, and we took it over within a few years.

Source: Notes and Dark Ages notes

Constantine the Great (A.D. 306 - 337)

Interview with Constantine the Great; date: 310 A.D


Why are you so important? 


Well, in my power, I started to let people have religious diversity.  This is very important because now Christianity was the religion for Europe. This may not seem like much, but during the Dark Ages, Christianity was the only thing that Europe could look to for guidance because they basically gave up on everything else.

What else did you do?


I created the new capital:  Constantinople.

So, why is this so important?

Because now Christianity is a huge religion in the world, and I said that everyone could believe in any religion.

Source  Gill, N.S. "Constantine the Great." Constantine Basics. The New York Times Company, 14 Nov 2010. Web. 14 Nov 2010.




  (Constantine the great statue in New York)

Julius Caesar and the Fall of the Roman Republic (49 B.C.)

Interview with Julius Caesar; 48 B.C.

So how did the Roman Republic fall?

I had much power a long time ago.  The Senate of Rome didn't like this, and they asked me to "resign [my] command and disband [my] army or risk being declared an 'Enemy of the State'" (   ). I now had a very big decision: do what the Senate wanted, or make the Roman Republic go into a war.


So, what did you do?

I started an army to be a rebellion, so that I could gain power.  In 49 B.C, I crossed the Rubicon as a sign of rebellion, then proceeded to lead the army on an invasion of Italy and Rome into a great civil war. Once I got victory, I was named "Dictator For Life", and I ended the Roman Republic.  


Why is this so important?


After my death, in 44 B.C, Constantine the Great came into power, because the Republic was down, and had Christianity be legalized. Basically, the fall of the Roman Republic changed the course and religion of Rome forever.   


Sources:  
"Julius Caesar Crosses the Rubicon, 49 BC," EyeWitness to History, www.eyewitnesstohistory.com (2002).

McPhee, Isacc. "A Defining Moment in Western Civilization." Julius Caesar Crosses the Rubicon. Suite 101, 26 Feb 2008. Web. 14 Nov 2010.

Axis Age/ Golden Age in Greece (500 to 300 BC)

Interview: Pericles Date: 478 B.C.
How did the Golden Age in Greece start?

Don't you mean the "Periclean Age"? Well, it started by the victory of Athens over Persia in the "Persian Wars" (546 to 479 B.C.). Now, with them out of the picture, we didn't have anything to really be worried about, and we achieved great success in government, art, philosophy, drama and poetry.   

Why is this important?

Because now, Greeks can express themselves in more ways, and they can help their culture expand.

http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/greeceancientgreece/a/ClassicalGreece.htm

Alexander the Great (356 B.C. - 323 B.C.)

Interview with Alexander the Great.  Date: 345 B.C


Who are you, Alexander the Great? what did you do? 

I am son of Phillip II, and when Phillip was assassinated, at the age of 20, I took his place.  In 334 B.C, I decided to start a war against Persia, which is something my father wanted to do during his rule.

So, you started wars. Anything else?

Yes, I wanted land.  So I went into Egypt to conquer Tyre and Gaza, and I was treated as a liberator (someone that freed another person).  In fact, when I founded the city Alexandria, Egyptians honored me as a sun-god.  

Why are you so important to Greece; what was the effect?

Well, because I started the war that would begin Greece's Golden Age, and I conquered land, which is always important.  


Sources: "The Crusades (Overview)." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 14 Nov. 2010.