1. Read Einhard and supporting materials in Reiter 9. Why is Charlemagne the symbol of a new Europe?
2. Read the Rule of Benedict. What makes this choice of devotion a challenge? What about it is appealing?
3. Read the "Fall" of the Roman Empire, and the accounts in Reiter 8. What are the chief theories? Do you think it was a fall, a decline or a transition?
4. Read the Res Gestae (Divine Accomplishments) of Augustus, as well as the account of Augustus' career in the supporting sources, and the various opinions in Reiter 7 and Suetonius' life of Augustus. Remembering that he is a politician - and therefore prone to spinning events to his advantage - how does Augustus make his message convincing to his audience?