Definition
The Carolingian Renaissance was a revival of education, literature, art, and architecture in western Europe during the late eighth and ninth centuries, centered on the court of the Frankish ruler Charlemagne and continued under his successors.
Charlemagne gathered scholars from across Europe, sponsored schools attached to monasteries and cathedrals, and promoted the copying and correction of classical and religious texts. The movement is called a renaissance, or rebirth, because it recovered learning that had faded after the decline of Roman authority in the West.
Why it matters
How it works
A cultural revival needs patronage, institutions, and a supply of trained people. Charlemagne provided patronage by funding scholars and building schools; the church provided institutions in its monasteries and cathedrals; and the scriptoria, or copying workshops, produced both the texts and the literate clergy who used them. By standardizing script and correcting errors in important manuscripts, the movement made knowledge more portable and reliable, so that learning could be transmitted accurately to future generations.