The course will introduce to the history and development of Latin handwriting, through the presentation of books, charters and scripts from the Classical age to the Renaissance in Latin West.
Mandatory readings to be completed during the first two weeks of the course:
B. Bischoff, Paleografia latina, Padova, Antenore 1992, pp. 7-52 (Materiali e strumenti scrittori)
T. De Robertis, Questioni preliminari e generali, «Medioevo e Rinascimento», 7 (1993), pp. 161-193 (in particolare 167-174)(www.ductus.it sezione Biblioteca → Articoli (sul sistema abbreviativo).
For the second part of the course:
Bibliografia relativa alla seconda parte del corso:
B. L. Ullman, The Origin and Development of Humanistic Script, Roma 1960.
E. Casamassima, Per una storia delle dottrine paleografiche dall’Umanesimo a Jean Mabillon, «Studi medievali» 5 (1964), pp. 525-78
T. De Robertis, Nuovi autografi di Niccolò Niccoli (con una proposta di revisione dei tempi e dei modi del suo contributo alla riforma grafica umanistica, «Scrittura e Civiltà», 14 (1990), pp. 105-21.
T. De Robertis, Motivi classici nella scrittura del primo Quattrocento, in L’ideale classico a Ferrara e in Italia nel Rinascimento, a cura di P. Castelli, Firenze 1998, pp. 65-79.
S. Zamponi, La scrittura umanistica «Archiv für Diplomatik», 50 (2004), pp. 467-92.
During the second part of the course further special bibliography will be suggested.
Learning Objectives
The course will introduce to the principal stages of the development of Latin script, from the Irst to the XVth century. Students will gain the ability to work with primary sources in their original form; they will gain familiarity with the tecnniques and principles of the palaeographical analysis. Special attention will be paid to the study of writing materials and tools, to the physical features of books and documents, to the abbreviation system. In the second part of the course a particular case-study will be discussed (in 2013-14 academic year: Palaeography of the Vindolanda Tablets).
Prerequisites
The precondition of participating in the course is the knowlegde of Latin at least on mid level. As for Erasmus students: good skills in reading and speaking italian.
Teaching Methods
60 hours course. The main part of the course will consist of practical work sessions (analysis of the handwrinting, oral reading and writtem transcription). Photocopies/digital images of charters to be discussed in class will be made available in advance on the Moodle platform (http://e-l.unifi.it/) and students are expected to prepare for each class. There will be weekly assignments to be prepared for common work in class. Since the course puts a strong emphasis on practical skills, regular attendance (at least 25 classes out of 30) and preparation is required.
Type of Assessment
Written and oral examination. Written examination will consist of the palaeographical analysis of a document not studied before.
Course program
Definition and historical ground of Palaeography (research field, method and purpose).
Methods and principles of palaographical analysis: writing as a system of signs; relationship between ductus and letter forms; writing angle; size and weight. Writing techiniques: formal hand (to write stroke after stroke), cursive hand (currenti calamo scribere); different forms of letter; ligatures; majuscule and minuscule scripts; style.
Writing objects: materials, shape and use; writing tools. Scribal practices. Short history of mediaeval manuscript production.
Introduction to mediaeval handwriting in the Latin West from the Roman Age to the dawn of print.
Main mediaeval systems of abbreviation.
Principles of transcription.
Exercises in identifying, dating, and transcribing various scripts.
In-depth program:
the origin of humanistic script.