Legacy of Charlemagne's Carolingian Renaissance

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This paper discusses the development and implementation of Charlemagne's plans to further education and spread Christian learning throughout his kingdom and all of Europe. Specifically, this paper details the importance of the involvement of Alcuin of York, who was the instrumental architect of Charlemagne's legacy of learning and knowledge, which came to be known as the Carolingian Renaissance.

From the Paper:

"Under the rule of Charles the Great, or Charlemagne, from 768 814 A.D., the Frankish Empire expanded in many aspects. Of all the Empire's augmentations under Charlemagne, in political, military and religious aspects, the increase in emphasis and quality of learning through the Carolingian Renaissance and the re establishment of the Palace School at Aachen had as much if not more impact on the future culture and history of Western Europe. However, Charlemagne can only partially be credited with the development of such educational ideas. The major force behind the organization of the educational institution at Aachen was Alcuin of York. Under Charlemagne's plans, "(Alcuin) established and expanded schools, libraries, and scriptoria in monasteries all over France. The impact of his work can be seen in the great increase of literary and documentary materials surviving from the Carolingian period. It can be seen in the number of classical texts whose manuscripts are in the Carolingian hand" (Cantor 230). The overall effects of Alcuin under Charles the Great can be seen today in that, "around 8,000 manuscripts survive from the late eighth and ninth centuries, and many more are known to have been produced" (Peters 118)."

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