Great Schism

Great Schism Priest 1054

Q: What was the Great Schism?
A: The Great Schism was the divide between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Western Roman Catholic Church.

Q: What were some of the causes of this division?
A: The East and West were always disagreeing about this or that. For example, using leavened or unleavened bread in Eucharist, or the Pope's idea of universal jurisdiction. One of the things that really made tensions rise were indulgences. Political and theological disputes like this were very common.

Q: What effect do you think this will have on the Church?
A: I cannot tell if it will strengthen Christianity as a whole and expand it, or bring it crashing down. The two sides will disagree but now that they are seperate they may fight less.

Crusades

Crusades Pope Urban II 1095

Q: You have recently sent knights out to recapture Jerusalem, what is your thinking behind this?

A: The Muslims have control of Jerusalem, a very holy site for us Christians. We wish to get it back. We have an abundance of unemployed knights and this is the perfect job for them.

1100 Christian Knight

Q: You accomplished your mission, you successfully took Jerusalem. How?

A: The journey here was long and arduous. We lacked supplies and many men died. Once we arrived, our attacks were unsuccessful. We gathered materials to build siege engines. When they were built we got over the walls of Jerusalem and took over. We opened the gates and killed anyone we came across.

Q: How do you feel being in control of the Holy Land?

A: Good, I am glad that we were able to complete our mission. I am also glad that Christians are able to make pilgrimages now. We have also learned things here that will help in Europe. Through trade we have gotten new ideas and culture.

Battle of Tours

Battle of Tours Charles "The Hammer" Martel 732

Q: Being heavily outnumbered, how did you feel going into this battle?

A: Being the King of the Franks, it was my duty to lead my troops into battle regardless of the opposing force. I knew that I was the last stand against the Umayyad before they were fully into Europe.

Q: What was the significance of winning this battle to you?

A: This was a holy fight. My army was the only thing standing in the way of Christian Europe being turned Muslim by these invaders. We simply had to win. If we had lost, they would continue through Europe killing, pillaging, and converting people to Islam.

·          " Battle of Tours (732 A.D.) ." The Latin Library . N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2010. <http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/imperialism/notes/tours.html>.

William the Conqueror

William the Conqueror 1086

Q: What position did you hold that made you wish to be the king of England?

A: When my father died, I inherited the position of Duke of Normandy.

Q: You did not gain this position as easily as it sounds, did you?

A: No, the Barons did not accept me because I was not the "legitimate" son of the duke. There was a lot of chaos involving this situation including the deaths of many of my Guardians.

Q: When you were prepared to invade England, you were forced to wait by foul winds, how did this end up helping you?

A: Yes, my ships could not launch as planned. While I was stuck though, the king of Norway attacked England and the English forces were needed there. They defeated the Norwegians but their forces were weakened. By the time I arrived the English army was weak and my forces defeated them.

Q: How did your victory at the Battle of Hastings effect the situation in England?

A: For one, it killed Harold who was the king. Two, it made me king. And three, it destroyed Anglo-Saxon England.

Q: What is different about your reign then the Anglo-Saxon?
A: The Norman Feudal system is used. Also I have created the Doomsday book to have a census and accurately tax the people.

  "William the Conqueror.." English Monarchs - A complete history of the Kings and Queens of England.. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2010. <http://www.englishmonarchs.co

Columbus leaves Spain

Columbus leaves Spain 1492

Q: You have just left Spain on an exploration trip, what are you hoping to find?

A: I will find a fast trade route to the Indies.

Q: Who is financing your trip?

A: King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain.

Q: Were they the first you presented your plans to?

A: No, previously I presented my plans to the king of Portugal, King Henry VII of England, King Charles VIII of France, and even the Spanish court three times before they agreed to finance the voyage.

Q: How did you finally get King Ferdinand to agree?

A: A priest helped me convince the Spanish rulers that if I found the route, Christianity could be spread.

Q: When he agreed, what did King Ferdinand give you?

A: He gave me three ships and all the necessary provisions and supplies to make the voyage.

Q: What effect do you think finding this trade route will have?

A: If I find the route, trade will be much faster and more practical. There will be a chance for us to enjoy some of the foreign goods here in Europe. Our culture and religious practices will be spread through trade. We will also get tastes of other cultures. European greatness will have the opportunity to spread throughout the world.

·         "Christopher Columbus." ELIZABETHAN ERA. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2010. <http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/christopher-columbus.htm>.

Magna Carta

Magna Carta 1217 Baron of King John

Q: Being a Baron, you were one of the men who got this document into place, what were your motives?

A: King John was taxing the Barons without our consent. We did not want to be taxed that heavily. We put the Magna Carta into place because we didn’t want the king to be above the law.

Q: The fighting that put this document into place sent the country into chaos, was it worth it?

A: Yes, it was very worth it. It may have sent the country into chaos for a short time but it will help the people of England greatly in the future.

Q: What is the Magna Carta?

A: Essentially the Magna Carta is a document that states that the king is not above the law, the rights of nobles, due process of law, tax control with Grand Council of Lords, the king can’t interfere with the church, and Parliament has control of the Purse.

Q: How did you get King John to sign this?

A: Originally we presented our ideas to him in the customary way. When he rejected the ideas, we had to take more drastic measures. The other barons and I, with the Church’s support, gathered our forces and defeated the King’s men. With his men defeated he was forced to sign the document.

Q: What is so important about the Magna Carta?

A: It keeps our rulers just. No longer can the king do whatever he pleases. I believe this is the first step to take our society away from kings and queens to a better system of rule.

Charlamagne

801 Charlemagne

Q: You are the grandson of Charles Martel, correct?

A: Yes.

Q: In 768 you inherited half of your father’s kingdom because it was split between you and your brother correct?

A: Yes.

Q: In 771 your brother died and you controlled all the land of your kingdom correct?

A: Yes.

Q: When you took control of the kingdom, how did you see it?

A: It was a time of chaos. The Franks were falling back into barbarian ways and moving away from their faith. The Saxons in the north were still pagans.

Q: Why were you so determined to change this?

A: The Kingdom was once great. I wished to restore it to the greatness of our past rulers.

Q: How did you go about changing this?

A: In 772 I launched a military campaign to bring unity to Europe and strengthen my kingdom.

Q: Was this military campaign successful?

A: Yes, by 800 I was the undisputed ruler of Europe.

Q: What specific event verified this undisputed rule for you?

A: When the pope decided to coronateme as Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.

Q: What was the major importance of this move?

A: Being the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, I unified the Christian Empire.

"Charlemagne | King of the Franks | Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire." Lucidcafé Interactive Café and Information Resource. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2010. <http://www.lucidcafe.com/library