PALAEOGRAPHY AND CODICOLOGY

Academic year and teacher
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Versione italiana
Academic year
2016/2017
Teacher
SANDRO BERTELLI
Credits
6
Didactic period
Primo Semestre
SSD
M-STO/09

Training objectives

The course aims to give the basic knowledge of the scientific analysis of the scripts in different periods, and to offer to the students some examples of the application of the palaeographical method to the script evidences.

Prerequisites

It is advisable to have a basic knowledge both of the European history and culture form the Roman ancient period to the Humanism and of the Latin. For foreign students: good skills to read and speak Italian.

Course programme

The course introduces the student to the scientific analysis of the Latin script.
The following subjects will be examined:
History and definition of the Latin palaeography. Principles and methods of the palaeographical analysis: the shape, the form, the ductus, the angle of script, the hatching. The ligatures and the bonds. Capital and minuscule script. The principal handwriting materials. The handwriting means. The code and his shape. Techniques of the script: librarian and Italic scripts. Description and historical development of the Latin abbreviation system (acronyms, apocopes, notae tironianae etc.). The course will present a concise overview of the Latin scripts from the late ancient period to the IXth century, with the analysis and commentary of reproduced manuscripts.

Didactic methods

Oral lessons, with the projection of images in Power Point and the comment and analysis of reproductions of Latin manuscripts.

Learning assessment procedures

Abilities to identify critically the series of the tables given at the course is demanded for the exam.
At least one week before the exam, the students have to give to the professor the test of transcription assigned (a facsimile with the transcription and critical comment).
The exam consists of the revision of the test of transcription and of an exercise of reading intended to verify: skills in reading facsimiles, ability in dating at least two of the tables (one is free choice) distributed and explained at the course.

Reference texts

Lesson notes. Textbooks: B. Bischoff, Paleografia latina. Antichità e Medioevo, ed. it. a cura di G.P. Mantovani e S. Zamponi, Padova, Antenore, 1992; or: G. Cencetti, Lineamenti di storia della scrittura latina, ristampa edited by G. Guerrini Ferri, Bologna, Pàtron, 1997. It's recommended the reading of: E.A. Lowe, Codices Latini Antiquiores., vol. I-XI, Oxford 1934-1966; or: F. Steffens, Paléographie latine, ed. francese a cura di R. Coulon, Trèves-Paris, 1910 (rist. anast. Roma 1982). For the abbreviations, it is recommended: A. Cappelli, Dizionario di abbreviature latine e italiane, Milano, Hoepli, 1949 (rist. 1990).