Monasteries such as Lindisfarne and Iona, both located on islands in the northern British Isles, are known as the "cradle of Christianity" because of their contributions to medieval theology, promotion of ecclesiastical order, dedicated teaching of Latin, and transcription of numerous manuscripts.
Background
The collapse of Rome created tremendous political, economic, and social instability in Europe. The empire had built and managed a network of roads, supported fleets of trading vessels, and set currency standards that facilitated trade. The spread of Latin among the empire's elites made communication easier and laws more uniform. Before the collapse, Roman artists, philosophers, and scholars not only transcribed the notable works of Greek civilization into Latin, they made substantial contributions to those fields in their own right. Roman civilization produced great technological advancements and masterful urban planning. Without an administrative structure, however, most of these endeavors were impossible. During the next 300 years Europe languished in the Dark Ages, an era that earned its name when the scientific, technological, and philosophical advancements of the Roman Empire were largely forgotten.
One institution did survive the fall of Rome, however. The Roman Church continued to spread Christianity within the borders of the former empire.
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