Palaeography and Codicology I (P02353)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : LLC-P-P02353

An introduction to codicology using materials in Special Collections (EUL). Manuscripts of various dates and kinds will be examined. Topics to be covered: Page preparation and layout; formation of quires; hierarchy of scripts and decorations; illumination and illustration; binding; evidence for provenancing (shelf and press marks, indication of ownership).
An introduction to Latin Palaeography. Early capitals and their descendants; carolingian minuscule and gothic textualis scripts from continental (predominantly French) and Insular soursces; systems of abbreviation. This part of the course will concentrate on reading material, mostly in facsimile, from the 9th to the 15th century, to familiarize students with a variety of scripts, in book and cursive hands, and to introduce them to concepts of the evolution of scripts during the period.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Candidates who have no previous experience of Latin should acquire an elementary knowledge of the language to facilitate their work in Palaeography.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Common Courses (School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures), (School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, Schedule G)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

An ability to identify, decipher and transcribe scripts used in manuscripts written in continental Europe and the British Isles written in Latin between ca. 600 CE and ca. 1500 CE; an ability to identify different scripts and assign an approximate date to them; an appreciation of the implications of various forms of page layout and decoration and an ability to describe and analyse such layouts and decorations.

Assessment Information

2 transcription excercises (50 marks each) including descriptions of the page(s) and notes on letter forms, abbreviation and the transcription; an estimate of date (by half-century).