A comparative analysis method is extremely useful for periods in history that do not offer an abundance of sources. Through one example, we can enrich our understanding of another. The period of the Early Middle Ages is shrouded in mysteries caused by a lack of sources. The Carolingian period is particularly exceptional in this regard, as it represents a break from the continuity of the unknown, creating a society that actively utilizes the written word for both artistic and practical purposes. The era of the Carolingian Renaissance elevated the already literate Francia to a new level, and through their messianic efforts, the Carolingian kings and emperors began exporting knowledge and scholarship to foreign lands. Saxony, northern Italy, and the Duchy of Croatia are examples of regions that were influenced by the Carolingian Renaissance. Although each region is distinct not only in terms of geographical and natural determinants but also in historical tradition, language, and the influences it has experienced, every area offers comparable findings. By comparing these three regions, we can answer questions about them (regarding the influence of literacy) and about the Carolingian centre itself (and its mode of operation). The history of the formation and written culture of the first Croatian state is inseparable from Carolingian history, as is the case with Saxony and Italy. Thus, this comparative analysis demonstrates (and supports) Croatia's cultural attachment to Western Christianity, whose dominant influence helped the formation of the Croatian state, institutions, culture, literacy and more.