Example Of Online Learning Resource: Digital History
The following is an example page of the online learning resource referred to in my research project, Thinking Historically Online. The sample page provided is one case study that highlights the functionality of the online resource.
This page was generated for illustrative purposes for the submission of my research project thus it should be considered a prototype of the future resource (which will be hosted on another website).
Immersion:
Context:
Key Characters:
- I will be able to describe the roles, motivations, and actions of Leo III and Charlemagne leading up to the crowning of Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor.
- I will be able to analyse the power dynamics between the Papacy of Leo III and Charlemagne’s Kingdom, assessing how they interacted with one another.
- I will be able to make a historical interpretation on the reasons why Charlemagne was crowned Emperor by Pope Leo III.
- I have been able to outline key events linked to Leo III and Charlemagne.
- I have been able to compare and contrast the aims and goals of the Papacy under Leo III and Charlemagne’s Kingdom.
- I have been able to use primary sources to back up my arguments or insights.
- I have been able to critically assess the reliability and potential bias of the sources I’ve consulted.
- I have been able to pinpoint specific moments of collaboration or tension between Leo III and Charlemagne.
Why was Charlemagne crowned emperor in 800 CE and what impact did it have on Europe?
Titles: King of the Franks (768 CE), King of the Lombards (774 CE), Patricius of the Romans (795 CE), Holy Roman Emperor (800 CE)
Also known as: Charles the Great, Pater Europae (Father of Europe), Carolus Magnus (Charles the Great in Latin)
Dates: b. c.747 CE, d. 814 CE.
Ancestry: Frankish – A Germanic tribe located in Western Europe.
Best known for: Unifying much of Western Europe under the rule of the Frankish Kingdom, he conquered many tribes during the late 8th and early 9th centuries, and became the Holy Roman Emperor (of the West) in 800 CE at a time when the Byzantine Empire (the continuing Roman Empire in the East) was ruled by Irene of Athens.
Titles: Bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States (i.e. Pope)
Also known as: Saint Leo
Dates: b. C. 750 CE, d. 816 CE.
Ancestry: Unknown – born in Italy, his ancestry is potentially Greek or Arab.
Best known for: Crowning Charlemagne as the Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas Day in 800 CE, a significant act that revived the concept of the Roman Empire in the West and laid the foundations for the Holy Roman Empire causing the Byzantine Empire to view Charlemagne as a usurper in the West.
Charlemagne Image: Unknown. (13th century). Harley MS 1321, f.38v. A 13th century artist’s interpretation of Charlemagne shown here sitting on a throne (the figure on the left), conversing with a kneeling man named Aimery (the figure in the middle) a legendary hero from an Old French Narrative Chansons de Geste. Original image can be accessed via: https://www.bl.uk/catalogues/illuminatedmanuscripts/ILLUMIN.ASP?Size=mid&IllID=39647 (CC0 1.0).
Pope Leo III Image: Giovanni Giacomo de’ Rossi. (1675 CE). Saint Leo III. Chronologia Summorum Romanorum Pontificum. A 17th century artist’s impression of Pope Leo III represented here with a halo (by this time he was canonised as a Saint) wearing his Papal attire and his coat of arms represented below. Original image can be accessed by: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1870-0514-107-A (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).
What is a Holy Roman Emperor?
The term refers to the ruler of the Roman Empire which during its height was a vast Empire that was challenging to govern. In the 3rd century CE Emperor Diocletian divided the Empire into ‘East’ and ‘West’ in an attempt to better control administratively the regions, with the Eastern Capital in Byzantium and the Western Capital in Rome. By the 5th century the Western Roman Empire had collapsed whilst the Eastern Roman Empire continued. The areas that were once under the Western Roman Empire were controlled by various barbarian tribes until the Franks had consolidated much of the territory into their kingdom by the end of the 8th century. The Italian Peninsula at this time was controlled by the Lombards, a Germanic tribe who established the Lombardic Kingdom at the end of the 6th century.
The Papacy at the time of Lombardic rule still existed however the Papacy during this time was politically weak (but spiritually strong) with the Byzantine Empire focusing their efforts in the East. After the Lombard invasion in Italy, the Papacy though subject to the Byzantine Emperor often received little help, resulting in the Papacy entering into the temporal sphere as they provided services and protected Rome from the Lombards. As such, the Papacy began building an independent State with Rome at its centre.
The Papacy chose to ally with the Franks resulting in the then Frankish King, Pepin the Short, going to war with the Lombards and successfully gaining a parcel of land in the Italian Peninsula for the Papacy in 754 CE via a treaty with the then Lombardic King. With the Lombardic Kingdom divided in two it was weakened and the relationship between the Franks and the Papacy was strengthened, as the Papacy conferred the honour of Patricius Romanorum, an honorary title that formalised his political and military obligations in Italy. This title was conferred upon Pepin the Shorts sons – his eldest son was Charlemagne.
Source: Wario2. (2023). Map of the Lombard Kingdom of Italy and its surroundings circa 740, showing its two main “parts” (Langobardia Maior and Menor) and its internal subdivisions. Original image can be accessed by: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lombard_(Kingdom_of)_Italy.png (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Have a look at the map transitions below (expand for greatest effect):
Map References:
Netchev, S. (2022, March 24). The Provinces of the Roman Empire under Augustus. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15518/the-provinces-of-the-roman-empire-under-augustus/
Netchev, S. (2023, April 18). The Fall of the Western Roman Empire, c. 480 CE. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17289/the-fall-of-the-western-roman-empire-c-480-ce/
Netchev, S. (2021, June 16). Migration Period in Europe During the 4th & 5th Century. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/14250/migration-period-in-europe-during-the-4th–5th-cen/
Netchev, S. (2022, March 09). The Byzantine Empire, c.520 – 1204. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15330/the-byzantine-empire-c520—1204/
By the end of Charlemagne's reign the Frankish Kingdom was vast!
Source: Sémhur. (2007). Map of the rise of Frankish Empire, from 481 to 814. Accessed on 2.2.2023 from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frankish_Empire_481_to_814-en.svg
Discover:
Part 1: Read through the sources below to discover evidence for your inquiry. You may use the embedded cornell notes option for each source if you wish by clicking on the ‘pencil’ image in the top left hand corner.
Source 1: Annales Laureshamensis in Monumenta Germaniœ Historica, Scriptores (Pertz ed.), Vol. I., pp. 37-38. Accessed via: https://www.dmgh.de/mgh_ss_1/index.htm#page/37/mode/1up
Source 2: Alciun of York. (799 CE). Letter to Charlemagne. As cited in Moore, R. (2006). Charlemagne: A Frank Analysis. [Thesis]. Accessed via: https://wou.edu/history/files/2015/08/Robert-Moore.pdf
Source 3: New World Encyclopedia. (n.d.). “Charlemagne”. Accessed via: https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Charlemagne#Coronation_in_Rome (CC-BY-SA 3.0).
Source 4: Fleener, M. (2005). The Significance of the Coronation of Charlemagne. [Thesis]: https://wou.edu/history/files/2015/08/Monica-Fleener.pdf
Source 5: Moore, R. (2006). Charlemagne: A Frank Analysis. [Thesis]. Accessed via: https://wou.edu/history/files/2015/08/Robert-Moore.pdf
Source 6: Meek, H. (n.d.). The Enigma of Sources: Charlemagne’s Imperial
Coronation in 800 and Reading Between the Lines. Accessed via: https://www.academia.edu/5669911/The_Enigma_of_Sources_Charlemagnes_Imperial_Coronation_of_800_and_Reading_Between_the_Lines
Well done! After your source analysis consider what your historical interpretation is to our inquiry question – Using the evidence you have examined, Why was Charlemagne crowned Emperor in 800 CE and what impact did it have on Europe?
If you aren’t able to fully answer the question that’s okay! You now have the opportunity to explore the wider web (in part 2) to answer any questions you may still have about the topic and potentially find new historiographical debates!
Part 2: Now that you have examined some of the evidence you are ready to conduct your own research! If you’ve forgotten the tips and tricks for navigating the web review the videos below.
Video guides:
- How to navigate digital information.
- How to become a ‘fact checker’.
- How to read laterally.
- How to identify credible sources.
- How to evaluate visual sources.
- How to practice click restraint.
Download the independent research document by clicking on the image below:
Create:
You have conducted some amazing research in order to answer the inquiry question: Why was Charlemagne crowned Emperor in 800 CE and what impact did it have on Europe?
You are now ready to write a response showing your ability to make a historical interpretation using all of the Historical Thinking concepts and skills you have used during this project.
Download the document to the right to write your response by clicking on the image.
Review:
Did you meet the learning intentions and success criteria?
Were you able to answer the inquiry question?
- I will be able to describe the roles, motivations, and actions of Leo III and Charlemagne leading up to the crowning of Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor.
- I will be able to analyse the power dynamics between the Papacy of Leo III and Charlemagne’s Kingdom, assessing how they interacted with one another.
- I will be able to make a historical interpretation on the reasons why Charlemagne was crowned Emperor by Pope Leo III.
- I have been able to outline key events linked to Leo III and Charlemagne.
- I have been able to compare and contrast the aims and goals of the Papacy under Leo III and Charlemagne’s Kingdom.
- I have been able to use primary sources to back up my arguments or insights.
- I have been able to critically assess the reliability and potential bias of the sources I’ve consulted.
- I have been able to pinpoint specific moments of collaboration or tension between Leo III and Charlemagne.
Why was Charlemagne crowned emperor in 800 CE and what impact did it have on Europe?
Well done!