In this episode of Math Science History, we journey back to 8th-century England to uncover the story of Alcuin of York, a quiet but powerful force behind the Carolingian Renaissance. From his beginnings in the cathedral school of York to his influential role as Charlemagne’s advisor, Alcuin shaped the future of Western education, preserved ancient texts, and helped revive a culture of learning in a world on the brink of intellectual collapse. Discover how this humble teacher from northern England helped build the foundations for modern classrooms and script systems—and even shared a few brain-teasing puzzles along the way.

Three Things You’ll Learn

How Alcuin’s work at the Palace School of Charlemagne helped ignite the Carolingian Renaissance

Why the trivium and quadrivium became the foundation for medieval education—and how they still echo in modern curricula

The surprising origins of the wolf, goat, and cabbage river-crossing puzzle and its connection to Alcuin’s teaching style

Resources and Further Reading

Bullough, Donald A. Alcuin: Achievement and Reputation. Brill, 2004.

McKitterick, Rosamond. Charlemagne: The Formation of a European Identity. Cambridge University Press, 2008.

Folkerts, Menso. “Alcuin's Propositiones ad acuendos juvenes.” Historia Mathematica 5, no. 4 (1978): 385–404.

The Alcuin Club: www.alcuinclub.org.uk

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