mduLcedine tu¿l .
paupen dp
JQ|îïf mbiu uerbum

uirrircem mubcxm'1
RcxuirxuTum. di
Leen diLecn^ex:
fpeciei domufdtm

derc /роідд.
¡Ç i dormiaTifinTer

213 Carolingian minuscules (historie form).
From Anton Chroust, Monumenta Palaeog-
raphica. Leipzig, 1915.

214 Carolingian minuscules of the twelfth
century (historic form). From Anton Chroust,
Monumenta Palaeographica.

ттол с fufcqmim • ímtííertuf
pnmo cfmiTit pagrn t Іешоп
daw dhmaiu- Ю ax тшр ur
Ugrturnnuem millo decuptam
ttgnraa fup copwfouP Щѵгшп
(ЫттсптртГфсШ irradia

Carolingian Minuscule

The Carolingian minuscule almost con¬
cludes the development from majuscule
(capital) to minuscule (small letter, or
lowercase). It was developed from half
uncials and still-dynamic elements of con¬
temporary scripts and bookhands of
Frankish chanceries, and instituted as
the official script by Charlemagne
around the year 800. Similar tendencies
could be observed outside his empire.
The ultimate goal of a reform in hand¬
writing was the institution of Christi¬
anity in Europe and the raising of the
general educational level, which was un¬
thinkable without studying the cultures
of antiquity, according to Muzika. In
spite of all its advantages, the new al¬
phabet was slow in replacing the many
regional west European scripts.

Carolingian minuscules are known
for their clear forms. They are easy to
read because of their well-developed as¬
cenders and descenders, clear entrance
and exit, and the contrast between thick
and thin lines. They remained in con¬
stant use for five centuries. The remain¬
ing examples are characterized by wide
shapes within the x-height, flat arches,
round forms that are almost circles, a
biassed stress, and long, emphasized as¬
cenders with a slight slant. The ninth
and tenth centuries brought a refine¬
ment of graphic details such as entrance
strokes for ascenders that resemble serifs
and elongated stems of the letter a. Fur¬
ther minor variations appeared at the
end of the tenth century and especially
during the eleventh century. Uncials,
rustics, and roman capitals were drawn
with a quill, and filled in with color.

88

¿JbcdcÑbíj

kimnopqr
e(tuvwxy2,

Figure 215

uns k\t eine ros cr^azet im pirren mítteiwi. cííe hxc
(ehrichön геЫйЬесЬлЬеп fíe im mÄn re/euet uncí
nient um /on/r epnufiet^vvobL cieñen die áríyartcn Ьлп

Figure 216
Figure 217

215 Carolingian minuscules, lettered by the
author.

216 Carolingian minuscules, lettered by the

217 Carolingian minuscules, lettered by the
author.

abcdefijbíík

imnopqrsf

tuvxvxyz

ínoatcítmeo

89