Selection of entries--which are truly global in their range--was based on the guidelines and recommendations of organizations and agencies such as the National Council for History Education, the National Center for History in the Schools, the World History Association, the College Board World History Advanced Placement Test, and many of the state standards for history education. The content of the entries has been kept brief and concise to provide a definition or fundamental facts. Features include: BL70 maps BLEmphasis on Middle Eastern, Asian, African, and Latin American History BLMesoamerican Entries BLIndexed by Region BLIndexed by Period BLIndexed Thematically BLEasy-to-Use A-to-Z Organization BLCross-referenced Entries BLBibliography Entries Cover: BLWorld Religions and Religious Figures BLScientists and Scientific Events BLWars and Battles BLEthnic and Cultural Groups BLInternational Organizations BLPolitical and Military Leaders BLTreaties and Alliances BLEmpires and Nations BLIntellectuals, Artists, and Musicians BLCities and Geography BLRevolutions and Rebellions BLTrade and Economic Issues BLLiterary Works BLReligious Texts BLCommodities BLPolitical Systems BLWeapons BLDisasters BLCultural Institutions BLInventions and Discoveries

During Charlemagne's time, life was full of ordinary difficulties: the food supply could be depleted quickly by a bad growing season; most people had no access to artificial lighting; childbearing was extremely dangerous for both the child and the mother. This book covers topics ranging from food, clothing, housing, the intellectual life at court, the military life, the monastic life, and everything in between, giving readers a compelling portrait of how life was lived in the early Middle Ages.

Charlemagne's impact on the world is virtually unparalleled. Had he not built his empire and encouraged what became known as the Carolingian renaissance, much of the ancient Roman culture would have been lost, and Christianity may have died in the West. Yet on a personal level, people of Charlemagne's age lived as they had for hundreds of years.