Synopsis

Following Rome’s decline, the Christians of Europe preserved culture through art deeply entwined with their faith. We find evidence of this in the robust Romanesque churches, their walls adorned with works that affirmed the established power structures. Simultaneously, a vibrant energy pulsed from Europe’s borders: the Byzantines to the east, whose mosaics shimmered with brilliance; the Spanish Muslims, with their opulent palaces; and the formidable Vikings of the north—each contributing to the