History of Manuscript Book
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course provides the general lines of the history of the manuscript book and the tools necessary to understand and describe the different forms, responsibilities, techniques and functions of manuscripts produced in the West from antiquity until the invention of printing.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course the student will have acquired knowledge of the main forms, functions, responsibilities and techniques of the manuscript book produced in the West from antiquity until the invention of printing. They will also be able to place the most representative manuscripts in their historical and geographical contexts of use and preservation. The student will be able to use language tools (language properties, correct specific lexicon) to express, in a clear, effective and codified form, technical concepts inferred from the autopsy observation ofthe manuscripts; He will also be able to read historiographical works critically and use the main tools, including digital tools, for the research and analysis of sources.
These skills will be acquired through a direct and continuous meeting with the instructor in the classroom. The discussion around the proposed sources will be an essential moment of critical reflection and methodological learning. Participation in seminars and meetings at conservation libraries and visits to restoration workshops will also be of great importance.
Students opting not to attend the lessons will be able to make use of the educational tools provided by the instructor on Ariel, deepen their knowledge of main topics through special readings with the agreement with the instructor, and of course contact the instructor either by e-mail and during office hours
These skills will be acquired through a direct and continuous meeting with the instructor in the classroom. The discussion around the proposed sources will be an essential moment of critical reflection and methodological learning. Participation in seminars and meetings at conservation libraries and visits to restoration workshops will also be of great importance.
Students opting not to attend the lessons will be able to make use of the educational tools provided by the instructor on Ariel, deepen their knowledge of main topics through special readings with the agreement with the instructor, and of course contact the instructor either by e-mail and during office hours
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Title of the course: History of manuscripts
Part 1: Aims and methods of manuscript studies
Part 2: Writing materials and techniques for their preparation, writing, decoration, and binding
Part 3: Circulation, use, preservation, and description of manuscripts
Part 1: Aims and methods of manuscript studies
Part 2: Writing materials and techniques for their preparation, writing, decoration, and binding
Part 3: Circulation, use, preservation, and description of manuscripts
Prerequisites for admission
There are no specific requirements different from those requested for the degree admission.
Teaching methods
Attendance atclasses is strongly recommended although not compulsory. The teaching is delivered through frontal lectures aimed primarily at the acquisition of knowledge, competence, and specific language of the subject. Discussion with the teacher both in the classroom and, if it will be possible, in archives, libraries, and laboratories for the restoration of manuscripts is an integral part of the didactic method and aims at promoting a critical attitude and the capacity to apply the acquired competence and knowledge.
The teaching is also based on didactic and multimedia material provided on Ariel.
The teaching is also based on didactic and multimedia material provided on Ariel.
Teaching Resources
ATTENDING STUDENTS PROGRAMME 6 CFU
- knowledge of the topics taught in lectures (parts 1 and 2)
- knowledge of M. Maniaci, Archeologia del manoscritto. Metodi, problemi, bibliografia recente, Roma, Viella, 2002 (or later reprints)
- knowledge of M. Cursi, Le forme del libro. Dalla tavoletta cerata all'e-book, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2016, only with regard to pp. 9-160
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS PROGRAMME 6 CFU
- knowledge of M. Maniaci, Archeologia del manoscritto. Metodi, problemi, bibliografia recente, Roma, Viella, 2002 (or later reprints)
- knowledge of M. Cursi, Le forme del libro. Dalla tavoletta cerata all'e-book, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2016, only with regard to pp. 9-160
- knowledge of one of the following texts
· D. Frioli, Gli strumenti dello scriba, in Lo spazio letterario del Medioevo. 1. Il Medioevo latino, I. La produzione del testo, Roma 1992, pp. 293-324
· D. Frioli, Sui tempi di copia dell'amanuense medievale, in Immagini del Medioevo. Saggi di cultura neolatina, Spoleto 1994, pp. 129-149
· E. Ornato, Apologia dell'apogeo. Divagazioni sulla storia del libro nel tardo Medioevo, Roma, Viella, 2000 (I libri di Viella, 22) only with regard to chapter III. Tipologie librarie e modi di produzione del libro nel tardo medioevo, pp. 80-142
ATTENDING STUDENTS PROGRAMME 9 CFU:
- knowledge of the topics taught in lectures (parts 1, 2 and 3)
- knowledge of M. Maniaci, Archeologia del manoscritto. Metodi, problemi, bibliografia recente, Roma, Viella, 2002 (or later reprints)
- M. Cursi, Le forme del libro. Dalla tavoletta cerata all'e-book, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2016, only with regard to pp. 9-160
- knowledge of of A. Petrucci, La descrizione del manoscritto: storia, problemi, modelli. Edizione corretta e aggiornata, Roma, Carocci, 2001 (or later reprints)
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS PROGRAMME 9 CFU:
- knowledge of M. Maniaci, Archeologia del manoscritto. Metodi, problemi, bibliografia recente, Roma, Viella, 2002 (or later reprints)
- M. Cursi, Le forme del libro. Dalla tavoletta cerata all'e-book, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2016, only with regard to pp. 9-160
- knowledge of of A. Petrucci, La descrizione del manoscritto: storia, problemi, modelli. Edizione corretta e aggiornata, Roma, Carocci, 2001 (or later reprints)
- and, in addition, one of the following texts
· M.L. Agati, Il libro manoscritto. Introduzione alla codicologia, Roma 2003, limitatamente al cap. VIII. La decorazione, pp. 301-344
· M.L. Agati, Il libro manoscritto. Introduzione alla codicologia, Roma 2003, limitatamente al cap. IX. La legatura, pp. 345-385
· M. Cursi, La tabula, in Le forme del libro. Dalla tavoletta cerata all'e-book, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2016, only with regard to pp. 9-45
· M. Cursi, Il rotolo, in Le forme del libro. Dalla tavoletta cerata all'e-book, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2016, only with regard to pp. 46-96
· M. Cursi, Il codice, in Le forme del libro. Dalla tavoletta cerata all'e-book, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2016, only with regard to pp. 97-160
· D. Frioli, Gli strumenti dello scriba, in Lo spazio letterario del Medioevo. 1. Il Medioevo latino, I. La produzione del testo, Roma 1992, pp. 293-324
· D. Frioli, Sui tempi di copia dell'amanuense medievale, in Immagini del Medioevo. Saggi di cultura neolatina, Spoleto 1994, pp. 129-149
· E. Ornato, Apologia dell'apogeo. Divagazioni sulla storia del libro nel tardo Medioevo, Roma, Viella, 2000 (I libri di Viella, 22) only with regard to Tipologie librarie e modi di produzione del libro nel tardo medioevo, pp. 80-142
International and Erasmus students are invited to promptly get in touch with the professor in order to arrange a reading plan (available in English) for exam preparation.
- knowledge of the topics taught in lectures (parts 1 and 2)
- knowledge of M. Maniaci, Archeologia del manoscritto. Metodi, problemi, bibliografia recente, Roma, Viella, 2002 (or later reprints)
- knowledge of M. Cursi, Le forme del libro. Dalla tavoletta cerata all'e-book, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2016, only with regard to pp. 9-160
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS PROGRAMME 6 CFU
- knowledge of M. Maniaci, Archeologia del manoscritto. Metodi, problemi, bibliografia recente, Roma, Viella, 2002 (or later reprints)
- knowledge of M. Cursi, Le forme del libro. Dalla tavoletta cerata all'e-book, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2016, only with regard to pp. 9-160
- knowledge of one of the following texts
· D. Frioli, Gli strumenti dello scriba, in Lo spazio letterario del Medioevo. 1. Il Medioevo latino, I. La produzione del testo, Roma 1992, pp. 293-324
· D. Frioli, Sui tempi di copia dell'amanuense medievale, in Immagini del Medioevo. Saggi di cultura neolatina, Spoleto 1994, pp. 129-149
· E. Ornato, Apologia dell'apogeo. Divagazioni sulla storia del libro nel tardo Medioevo, Roma, Viella, 2000 (I libri di Viella, 22) only with regard to chapter III. Tipologie librarie e modi di produzione del libro nel tardo medioevo, pp. 80-142
ATTENDING STUDENTS PROGRAMME 9 CFU:
- knowledge of the topics taught in lectures (parts 1, 2 and 3)
- knowledge of M. Maniaci, Archeologia del manoscritto. Metodi, problemi, bibliografia recente, Roma, Viella, 2002 (or later reprints)
- M. Cursi, Le forme del libro. Dalla tavoletta cerata all'e-book, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2016, only with regard to pp. 9-160
- knowledge of of A. Petrucci, La descrizione del manoscritto: storia, problemi, modelli. Edizione corretta e aggiornata, Roma, Carocci, 2001 (or later reprints)
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS PROGRAMME 9 CFU:
- knowledge of M. Maniaci, Archeologia del manoscritto. Metodi, problemi, bibliografia recente, Roma, Viella, 2002 (or later reprints)
- M. Cursi, Le forme del libro. Dalla tavoletta cerata all'e-book, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2016, only with regard to pp. 9-160
- knowledge of of A. Petrucci, La descrizione del manoscritto: storia, problemi, modelli. Edizione corretta e aggiornata, Roma, Carocci, 2001 (or later reprints)
- and, in addition, one of the following texts
· M.L. Agati, Il libro manoscritto. Introduzione alla codicologia, Roma 2003, limitatamente al cap. VIII. La decorazione, pp. 301-344
· M.L. Agati, Il libro manoscritto. Introduzione alla codicologia, Roma 2003, limitatamente al cap. IX. La legatura, pp. 345-385
· M. Cursi, La tabula, in Le forme del libro. Dalla tavoletta cerata all'e-book, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2016, only with regard to pp. 9-45
· M. Cursi, Il rotolo, in Le forme del libro. Dalla tavoletta cerata all'e-book, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2016, only with regard to pp. 46-96
· M. Cursi, Il codice, in Le forme del libro. Dalla tavoletta cerata all'e-book, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2016, only with regard to pp. 97-160
· D. Frioli, Gli strumenti dello scriba, in Lo spazio letterario del Medioevo. 1. Il Medioevo latino, I. La produzione del testo, Roma 1992, pp. 293-324
· D. Frioli, Sui tempi di copia dell'amanuense medievale, in Immagini del Medioevo. Saggi di cultura neolatina, Spoleto 1994, pp. 129-149
· E. Ornato, Apologia dell'apogeo. Divagazioni sulla storia del libro nel tardo Medioevo, Roma, Viella, 2000 (I libri di Viella, 22) only with regard to Tipologie librarie e modi di produzione del libro nel tardo medioevo, pp. 80-142
International and Erasmus students are invited to promptly get in touch with the professor in order to arrange a reading plan (available in English) for exam preparation.
Assessment methods and Criteria
- Method: oral exam.
- Type of examination: oral interrogation.
- Evaluation criteria: capacity to demonstrate and elaborate knowledge; capacity for critical reflection on the completed work; quality of exposition, competence in the use of specialised lexicon, efficacy, clarity.
- Type of evaluation method: mark in 30s.
- Number and types of assessment that contribute to the final evaluation: one oral interrogation.
The format of the exam for students with disabilities should be arranged in advance with the professor, as well as the relevant office.
- Type of examination: oral interrogation.
- Evaluation criteria: capacity to demonstrate and elaborate knowledge; capacity for critical reflection on the completed work; quality of exposition, competence in the use of specialised lexicon, efficacy, clarity.
- Type of evaluation method: mark in 30s.
- Number and types of assessment that contribute to the final evaluation: one oral interrogation.
The format of the exam for students with disabilities should be arranged in advance with the professor, as well as the relevant office.
Unita' didattica A
M-STO/09 - PALEOGRAPHY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
M-STO/09 - PALEOGRAPHY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
M-STO/09 - PALEOGRAPHY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)