Final answer:
The significant intellectual and cultural changes in Charlemagne's era, known as the Carolingian Renaissance, included the revival of Roman institutions, reform of the church, promotion of education, and patronage of the arts. The era saw advancements in handwriting, the popularization of punctuation marks, and a shift of intellectual activity from monasteries to cathedrals and towns. The Gothic period that followed saw increased urbanization, the establishment of universities, and the popularity of vernacular language books.
Step-by-step explanation:
The significant intellectual and cultural changes in Charlemagne's era, known as the Carolingian Renaissance, included the revival of Roman institutions, reform of the church, promotion of education, and patronage of the arts. Charlemagne gathered scholars from all over Europe and sponsored the education of priests, leading to the creation of libraries and the correction of flawed versions of the Latin Bible. The Carolingian Renaissance also saw advancements in handwriting and the popularization of punctuation marks, making Latin easier to learn.
In addition, Charlemagne's era marked a shift of intellectual activity from monasteries to cathedrals and towns, with the rise of cathedral schools and later, universities. The revival of classical culture and interest in ancient writings, along with the influence of scholars like Alcuin of York, contributed to the intellectual and cultural transformation of the Carolingian Empire.
Culturally, the Gothic period that followed the Carolingian Renaissance saw a shift towards urbanization, the establishment of universities, increased literacy, and the popularity of books written in vernacular languages. This period also saw the continued influence of the Catholic Church and the power of the papacy.