The books in this series put within the reach of young adult readers the lives of individuals--scientists, explorers, humanists--who distinguished themselves by their contributions to history and progress. They are written in an engaging style and contain an abundance of information that brings each individual's achievements to life. Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, was king of France and emperor of the West. Since the beginning of his reign in 768, he sought to unite Western Europe by expanding into what became the Carolingian Empire. This biography explains how, thanks to his spirit of leadership, his policy of protecting the papacy, and his support of Latin culture and arts, Charlemagne contributed greatly to the establishment of the foundation of future European identity, thus invoking the nickname "the Father of Europe." La humanidad y el espíritu de tolerancia fueron dos rasgos destacados de la personalidad de Angelo Roncalli, aspectos que desde el inicio caracterizaron su misión apostólica y que él mismo supo convertir posteriormente en las señas de identidad de su papado. Así, el papa Juan XXIII, conocido popularmente como el «Papa bueno , contribuyó enormemente a fomentar el ecumenismo entre los cristianos y la educación para la paz entre todos los pueblos, y fue además el principal impulsor del Concilio Vaticano II, que supuso una importante renovación de la Iglesia católica.