The Eight Century is quite a fascinating period of history as its sort of a transitionary period from the Late Classical Roman political order of Italy, and by extension Europe into what we now consider the Middle Ages. Though to be fair, the 600's/700's were pretty close to a Dark age for Western Europe until the Carolingian Renaissaince in the West, and the later Byzantine recovery under the Amorians which became the Macedonian Renaissance in the East. This period however conversely was the beginning of the Islamic Golden Age though. Since the Carolingians don't come to rule Italy here like they did in otl, the Carolingian Renaissance is thus butterflied away. That isn't to say that Italy's recover isn't though. After all much of the Eastern Roman Empire's population and religious establishment even at the height of the Iconoclast controversy remained Iconoduels, but many fled westward into Roman ruled Italy in the South. I'm planning for something similar to happen with the new Western Empire with many of these Eastern scholars kickstarting a new Italo-Roman Renaissance reviving the "Roman" identity in Italy. Though it wouldn't be the same as that of the classical era as some of the old feudal practices have already taken root.
I think I might start writing this timeline sometime late next year.