Unlocking Europe's Memory: From Archives to Identity

Millions of historical documents are becoming accessible through AI-powered Handwritten Text Recognition, unlocking Europe's written heritage on an unprecedented scale. Yet Europe has also become increasingly disconnected from much of its own past. Via Nova argues that this moment should not remain confined to academia and specialist circles, but instead echo Europe's historic renaissances, when newly rediscovered texts reshaped Europe's understanding of itself. Today, technologies such as Transkribus could make that process truly democratic, while initiatives like Via Nova seek to carry it into the hearts of ordinary Europeans. As Europe's historic transnational language, we argue that Latin provides one of the most direct gateways into this shared heritage, helping transform recovered memory into a renewed pan-European consciousness.