Great Schism

A sit down with Pope Leo IX

Q: What lead to the Great Schism (1054 C.E.)?
A: There were too many differences between East and West?

Q: What were those differences?
A: There was claims of authority, the patriarch versus the pope, the use of icons, marriage, and Greek versus Latin.

Q: What happened as a result of the Great Schism?
A: The Byzantine Church became known as the Eastern Church and the western branch became known as the Roman Catholic church.

Q: What did you do?

A: The patriarch and I excommunicated each other.

Q: What else happened?

A: Contacts between the two churches were very distant. We treat each other like rivals rather than branches of the same faith.

Columbus leaves Spain

A sit down with Christopher Columbus

Q: Why did you leave Spain?
A: I set forth to the East Indies in search of wealth and prestige.

Q: Were you worried when you couldn't find land?
A: I was very worried. Thoughts of a useless voyage crossed my mind but land was spotted on October 12, 1492.

Q: What were the Tainos and the West Indies like?
A: The Tainos were very friendly and open toward my people. The West Indies were not what we were searching for, but it was nice.

Q: How did you treat the Tainos?
A: We treated them rather harshly. We assaulted, killed and seized the Tainos. I required them to pay gold; if they refused, they were tortured or killed.

Q: What was it like when you returned to Spain?
A: They showered me with love and thanks. I had brought back great knowledge and was a hero.

Q: What did you do after this voyage?
A: I went on three other voyages and discovered previously unknown continents.

Charlemagne

A sit down with Charlemagne (768 C.E.)

Q: How did you get the throne?
A: Well, I am the grandson of Charles Martel. But my brother and I shared the throne for a while until he died which is when I claimed the entire throne.

Q: What do you want to accomplish?
A: I would like to create a unified Christian Europe. I will work closely with the Church and spread Christianity throughout the empire.

Q: How will you keep order in your kingdom?
A: I have appointed powerful nobles to rule local regions. I have also sent out missi dominici to check on roads, listen to grievances, and see that justice was done.

Q: Are you going to do anything about education?
A: I regard education as a way to unify my kingdom. I have set out to revive Latin learning throughout the empire and encourage the creation of local schools. I also want to revive the glory of Rome at my court at Aachen. I have brought many of the best scholars of Europe to the Palace school here.

Q: What do you want your legacy to be?
A: I want to be known for extending Christian civilization and blend it with other traditions. I also want to be known for setting up strong, efficient government. I want others to look at what I did and put it into their kingdom.

Crusades

A sit down with Pope Urban II (1095 C.E.)

Q: How many Crusades were there and what was the purpose of them?
A: There were 9 Crusades, the first one ordered by myself, and the purpose was to reclaim the Holy Land of Jerusalem.

Q: Why were the Crusades called for?
A: I hoped to increase power in Europe and maybe heal the schism between the Roman and Byzantine churches. I also hoped that the Crusades would set Christian knights to fight Muslims instead of one another.

Q: Were the Crusades successful?
A: Yes and no. We returned with knowledge and many great things, but we were also captured and killed by the Muslims in the 3rd and 4th Crusade..

Q: What were the affects?
A: The Crusades did have a significant effect on life in Europe. European economies expanded, the power of monarchs increased, increased papal power, and a wider view on the world was shown. The Crusades also ended the Dark Ages.

Magna Carta

A sit down with King John (1215 C.E.)

Q: How did you end up signing the Magna Carta?
A: The Barons rebelled against me and were complaining about taxes and how I violated their rights.

Q: What did the Magna Carta state?
A: It stated the states rights of the Barons and that I, the King, must obey the law.

Q: What did this lead to?
A: This lead to Due Process of Law.

Q: What is that exactly?
A: It states the rules the government must follow for fair and impartial trial.

Q: This also lead to the development of Parliament. What is that?
A: Parliament is the House of Commons, House of Lords, and they have the Power of the Purse. I agreed to not raise new taxes without consulting the Parliament.

Q: Do you believe the Magna Carta will affect future government?
A: Most definitely. The Magna Carta has ideas that will carry on throughout the future.

Battle of Tours

A sit down with Charles "The Hammer" Martel

Q: What happened at the Battle of Tours and what were its effects?
A: I lead my men, the Franks, against the Muslims. We triumphed at the battle and to us it was a sign that God was on our side. Muslims would no advance no further into Western Europe.

Q: What is the significance of the Battle of Tours?
A: It shows that any kind of people can walk into Europe. They must fight the best to take over, which will not happen under my watch.

Q: Where do you go from here?
A: The only way is up. I plan to set the table for my kin in the expansion of the Roman Empire.

William the Conqueror

A sit down with William the Conqueror (1066 C.E.)

Q: How did you go from William of Normandy to the King of England known as William the Conqueror?
A: I raised an army and won the backing of the pope. I then defeated Harold of England at the Battle of Hastings. I was then crowned King of England.

Q: How will you get control of new land?
A: I will: grant fiefs to Norman lords and the church, keep land for the crown, monitor castles, and all vassels will swear allegiance to me.

Q: How will you learn about your kingdom?
A: I have created the Domesday Book. This is a census of my entire kingdom. This will eventually help create an efficient system of tax collection.

Q: What is the purpose of all this?
A: I am setting the table for future kings to develop an efficient way to rule a kingdom.

Rome sacked/Falls to Barbarians

A sit down with Attila (434 C.E.)

Q: What are you trying to accomplish?
A: I plan to embark on a savage campaign to conquer Europe.

Q: Are you aware there are Barbarian groups trying to capture Rome?
A: Yes, in 410 C.E. Alaric of the Visigoths plundered into Rome as well as other Barbarian groups who were conquering parts around Rome. This helps me by weakening Rome so I can get the final blow.This conquest by Alaric was the sacking of Rome.

Q: What do the Christians call you?
A: The "scourge of God" because they believe I am punishing them for the sins of humankind. I strike fear into everyone of their eyes. Rome is no match for me.

Q: How will the Hun invasion affect other Barbarian groups?
A: They do not want to be killed by me, so they flee to the Roman empire which destroys more and more of Rome before the Hun can take over.

A sit down with a Germanic leader (476 C.E.)

Q: Have you done the unthinkable, conquer Rome?
A: Yes I have ousted the emperor in Rome. This is the official "fall of Rome."

Q: How will your conquering affect Rome?
A: There will be military attacks, political turmoil, economic weakness, and social decay. Rome has entered a dark time.

Constantine the Great

A sit down with Constantine (313 C.E.)

Q: What did the Edict of Milan do?
A: It granted freedom of worship to all citizens of the Roman Empire. This ended the persecution of Christians.

Q: How will legalizing Christianity play out?
A: It will thrive in the empire. It will also underlie social and cultural developments for many centuries.

Q: What will you reform?
A: I will continue Diocletian's reforms, but I will also grant freedom of worship and establish a new capital, Constantinople.

Q: How will Constantinople affect the empire?
A: Constantinople will make the eastern empire the center of power.

Q: What were the results of your reforms?
A: They revived the economy and by the increasing power of government, it will help hold the empire together. But on the down side the reforms failed to stop the longterm decline.

Julius Caesar/Fall of the Roman Republic

A sit down with Julius Caesar (58 B.C.E)

Q: How did you become a significant leader?
A: The Fall of the Roman Republic allowed me to emerge a leader for the Roman people. I plan on dominating Europe.

Q: How would you describe yourself?
A: A ruthless and ambitious military commander. I am also a tremendous leader.

Q: Why did you cross the Rubicon River, which no one had taken an army with before?
A: I was showing Pompey that I am all business, you cannot just tell me what to do and expect me to do it. I am the leader and I take orders from no one.

Q: Why did you make reforms?
A: Here in Rome we have tons of problems. I made a reform to employ the jobless and give land to the poor. I reorganized the government of provinces and granted Roman citizenship to more people. I also reformed the calendar based on that of the Egyptians.

Q: Why were you killed?
A: The Senate was worried I was going to make myself King of Rome so they assassinated me.

Q: Do you think a war will result after your death?
A: There were most likely be a power struggle so there will most likely be a war to gain the throne.

Alexander the Great

A sit down with Alexander the Great (331 B.C.E.)

Q: How did you gain the throne?
A: After the beloved King Philip II was assassinated, my mother Olympias put me onto the throne.

Q: What was your first victory like?
A: When I defeated the Persians at the Granicus River, I was ecstatic and I knew my father would be proud of what I had accomplished; his dream of conquering the Persians.

Q: What did you do after your first victory?
A: I went through Asia Minor into Palestine and south to Egypt before turning east again to take Babylon in 331 B.C.E. My army and I destroyed everyone in our path to total domination.

Q: Why did you pull out of India?
A: We had never lost a battle, but my soldiers were exhausted from our long campaign. Reluctantly, I also turned back to Babylon where I began planning a new campaign.

Q: What do you want your legacy to be?
A: I want to have cultures combine and have Alexandria as the cultural capital. My Hellenistic lifestyle will give new roles for women and they will love me for what I have done.

Axis Age/ Golden Age in Greece

A sitdown with Pericles (429 B.C.E.-after Persian wars)

Q:   What type of government are you using?
A:    A direct democracy

Q:   What exactly is a direct democracy?
A:    Well, under this system the citizens take part directly in the day-to-day affairs of government.

Q:   What is your opinion on the people's involvement with government?
A:    I believe that all citizens, regardless of wealth or social class, should take part in government.

Q:   What are you going to do to allow poor people to get into government?
A:    Athens is going to start to pay a stipend, which is fixed salary.

Q:   I hear you want to do some rebuilding, what is that about?
A:   Yes, I would like to rebuild Acropolis, which those dang Persians destroyed.

Q:   What is your main mission?
A:    I am going to turn Athens into the cultural center of Greece. I strongly support the arts, science and mathematics.

Q:   How are you gonna make your mark on history?
A:   I will go down as one of the greatest rulers in Greek history for everything I have accomplished.

Thanks for your time Pericles