Medieval Codicology and Palaeography Summer School 2013 (CEU – Budapest)
July 15-20, 2013
Application deadline: 15 February, 2013
Course director:
Dr Anna Somfai (Latin palaeography, book hand), Central European University, Budapest, Hungary
Faculty:
Dr Niels Gaul (Greek palaeography) – Central European University, Budapest, Hungary
Dr David Juste (Latin palaeography, book hand) – Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Munich, Germany
Dr András Németh (Greek palaeography) – Bibliotheca Apostolica Vaticana
Dr Inmaculada Pérez Martín (Greek palaeography) – Instituto de Lenguas y Culturas del Mediterráneo y Oriente Próximo, Madrid, Spain
Dr Anna Somfai (Latin palaeography, book hand) – Central European University, Budapest, Hungary
Dr Katalin Szende (Latin palaeography, diplomatic hand) – Central European University, Budapest, Hungary
Course coordinator:
Ivana Dobcheva (Central European University, Budapest, Hungary)
Aim of the course
The aim of the Summer School is to provide practical training at an intermediate level in the basic skills of Latin and Greek palaeography combined with a new approach to codicology based on the latest trends in research. Manuscripts are more than just the physical objects that carry texts and images. Being individually produced and consequently used by generation of scholars, they reflect cognitive processes. While the practical palaeographical seminars focus on the skills of reading and transcribing medieval scripts, recognising features and dating hands, the lectures on codicology and diplomatics will contextualise skills and bring the new insights into the study of the history of medieval book and document production.
Rationale
Medieval manuscript books are the physical objects that transmitted classical and medieval texts and images. They are the basis for our modern printed editions and we rely on them for our understanding of our literate past. Charters, accounts and other archival documents were products of pragmatic literacy in the service of administration. These two groups together form the bulk of the written heritage of the Middle Ages. Their study requires specialised knowledge covered by the fields of codicology and palaeography. The current digitisation projects, encouraged internationally, give an excellent opportunity for the dissemination of the manuscript material worldwide. But without proper training in manuscript studies and palaeography, scholars of the next generation will not be able to make use of the material whether in the original or in digital form.
Details
Length
One week (six days), a total of 48 teaching hours (parallel courses for Latin and Greek).
Main target audience
The main target audience of the Summer School is PhD and MA students, furthermore young researchers.
Prerequisites
Working knowledge of Latin and/or Greek.
Prior study of elementary palaeography (proof of transcript or exam).
Assessment of participants’ performance
A practical palaeography test on the last day.
Course schedule
The course will include intensive Latin and Greek practical palaeography seminars, lectures on codicology and visits to manuscript libraries. The intensive practical reading seminars will run in two parallel options: Latin and Greek book and diplomatic hands. The lectures and library visits bring together the two options.
Day 1
CEU welcome, Introductory lectures
Break
Palaeogr. seminar
Lunch break
Lecture
Break
Palaeogr. seminar
Welcome reception (Japanese Garden)
Day 2
Palaeogr. seminar
Break
Library visit
Lunch break
Lecture
Break
Palaeogr. seminar
Day 3
Palaeogr. seminar
Break
Library visit
Lunch break
Small group session
Break
Palaeogr. seminar
Visit to the medieval ruins of Margit Island
Day 4
Palaeogr. seminar
Break
Small group session
Lunch break
Lecture
Break
Palaeogr. seminar
Day 5
Palaeogr. seminar
Break
Library visit
Lunch break
Small group session
Break
Palaeogr. seminar
Closing dinner
Day 6
Palaeogr. seminar
Break
Exam (test)
Lunch break
Lecture
Break
Conclusion
Certificate-giving ceremony
Course list with brief syllabus
Reading seminars: Latin and Greek palaeography. These intensive seminars will run parallel for the two options and include the reading and transcribing of various scripts, discussing the features of the scripts and hands, practicing the dating of the hands and brushing up on abbreviations and the history of scripts. Some contextualising information will be given on each sample.
Introductory and thematic lectures given by faculty to students of the Latin and Greek options combined will cover general notions and approaches to Latin and Greek codicology and palaeography (introductory lectures, day 1) and will deal with selected themes within these book cultures (thematic lectures).
Visits to libraries will include the Manuscript Department of the Library of the Hungarian Academy of Science which has a large collection of manuscripts, the National Library’s Fragmenta Research Group which offers the unique possibility to see how research is done on fragments, and the University Library Manuscript Room which holds both manuscripts and charters. The visits help students to explore manuscripts and charters in the original with expert guidance at hand.
Small group sessions will facilitate students with the opportunity to discuss individual research and specific questions with various faculty members in small groups.
Practical palaeography test: Taken on the last day, it will enable both students and faculty to assess student progress. The test will include the transcription of a Latin or Greek text (photocopies and digitised images will be used), the recognition of the script, the description of the characteristics of the script and the approximate dating of the hand.
Financial aid is available.
For further information see: http://www.summer.ceu.hu/codicology-2013
L'Agenda des Médiévistes 