Uncial script began to replace rustic capitals as the main script in use around the fourth or fifth century AD, and by the sixth century the Roman letterforms were relegated mostly to use for headings or titles. Half-uncial, the first minuscule script, also began its rise about this time. These scripts evolved from the uncial scripts under the influence of the Roman cursive scripts. Insular, which developed around the seventh century, was practiced in the British isles, but was also imported to Europe by missionary monks. In England, Insular was used until the twelfth century, but it survived until the nineteenth century in parts of Ireland.
Visigothic script is the name given to the Spanish national hand.
It developed in the late seventh or early eighth century in the Iberian peninsula and was practiced until about the thirteenth century. Finally, Merovingian hands were practiced in France and western Germany, and date from the mid-eighth century to the early ninth century. These include the Luxeuil, Laon, Corbie, and Chelles scripts. All of the national bookhands also had cursive versions. The Caroline minuscule script would eventually displace all of the national bookhands except Beneventan.