This renaissance led to the preservation and copying of ancient manuscripts, the standardization of Latin script (which evolved into the Carolingian minuscule handwriting), and advancements in theology, art, and architecture. This cultural awakening not only strengthened the Church but also laid the intellectual groundwork for the later European medieval universities and the Renaissance.
Religious Impact and the Christianization of Europe
Charlemagne saw himself as a protector of Christianity, collaborating closely with the papacy. His military campaigns often had a missionary aspect, particularly in the forced conversion of the Saxons, a pagan tribe in northern Germany. Though brutal, these efforts helped solidify Christianity’s dominance in much of Europe.
By aligning with the Church, Charlemagne established a powerful symbiotic relationship between the monarchy and religion, which became a defining feature of European political life throughout the Middle Ages. The idea of a Christian empire under a divinely sanctioned ruler would resonate in Europe for centuries. shutdown123