72374 - ARCHEOLOGIA DEL LIBRO MANOSCRITTO

Learning outcomes

The first part of the course presents the history of manuscripts and their making from Antiquity to the invention of movable type printing. Particular attention will be given to the physical process, the techniques employed, the context of production and the people involved. The second part is devoted to the conservation and cataloguing topics, with issues to the most important collections of manuscripts preserved in the libraries. The knowledge acquired enables to date and describe the book manuscripts.

Course contents

The first part of the course presents the history of manuscripts and their making from Antiquity to the invention of movable type printing. Particular attention will be given to the physical process, the techniques employed, the context of production and the different forms of the ancient book (tablet, roll, manuscript). The book will be presented as a material tool and as an instrument of the text transdmission. In this respect will be investigated causes and characters of the book changes between the early and late Middle Ages, focusing on parallel changes in the historical, political and cultural fields. Some lessons will be devoted to the conservation and cataloguing topics, according to the current descriptive standards. In consideration of the topics, some lessons will be conducted in the libraries.

1. Book manuscript from Antiquity to the Print in the the East and West culture: materials and construction techniques.

2. Book and scribe: the scribe at work (organisation and work sharing);

3. Material and cultural changes between the early and late Middle Ages.

4. Manuscript description: history and problems; typologies; traditional and electronic describing patterns 

Readings/Bibliography

The following texts are recommended only to students attending the course. The attendance is warmly recommended. The students unable to attend must contact the teacher at the beginning of the course in order to establish an alternative program :

E. Ornato, Apologia dell'apogeo. Divagazioni sulla storia del libro nel tardo medioevo, Roma, Viella, 2000 (cap. 2).

G. Cavallo (ed.),  Le biblioteche nel mondo antico e medievale, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2004

M. Maniaci, Archeologia del manoscritto. Metodi, problemi, bibliografia recente, Roma, Viella, 2002.

A. Petrucci, La descrizione del manoscritto. Storia, problemi, modelli. Seconda edizione corretta e aggiornata, Roma, Carocci, 2001 (Beni culturali, 24).

Other materials distributed during the course.

 

Teaching methods

Lectures; practical exercises  in the libraries.

Assessment methods

The oral exam aims at assessing the critical knowledge of the recommended reading as well as of the topics discussed during the lessons. Written text

Teaching tools

Educational visits as well as lessons in the most important  libraries of Ravenna and Bologna are planned in order to provide practice with original book manuscripts and cataloguing.

Office hours

See the website of Paola Degni