1. Carolingian Intellectual Renewal and the Role of the Family

2. Carolingian Renaissance
“Rebirth” of learning
Charlemagne needed educated clergy and government officials
Partially appropriate
Not known for creative, original ideas.
Revival of classical studies
Preserve Latin and early Christian culture

3. Carolingian Renaissance
Major goal of monasteries
Benedictine monks copied manuscripts
Scriptoria – writing rooms for monks
Frankish monasteries produced bound books using parchment or sheepskin rather than papyrus and put jewels on the cover
Carolingian miniscule – small print, not cursive, easy to read

4. Carolingian Renaissance
Impact
90% of the ancient Roman texts exist because of Carolingian monks
Allowed for Renaissance in 12th, 14th, 15th centuries

5. Carolingian Renaissance
Charlemagne established a palace school
Invited European scholars to his court
Alcuin – “greatest scholar of the day”
Taught classical Latin and “liberal arts”

6. Family and Marriage
Marriages arranged by fathers, uncles to meet family needs
Wives expected to be faithful
Many aristocratic men had concubines
Charlemagne had several

7. Family and Marriage Church attempted to influence marriage
Add blessings to the civil ceremony
Weddings should be public
Girl over 15 must consent to her guardian’s choice

8. Family and Marriage Marriage (cont.) Emphasize monogamy and permanence
Condemned concubinage and “easy divorce” – adultery of wife or impotence of husband
Shortly after Charlemagne’s reign, church completely prohibits divorce
13th century – divorce largely eliminated

9. Family and Marriage Changes in Family life Nuclear over extended
Conjugal over kin
Leads to the growth of urban life
Role of women
Extended family – eldest woman controlled all other female members
Nuclear family – wife dominated by husband, has control of children