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04358 - Latin Palaeography and Diplomatics

Academic Year 2026/2027

  • Moduli: Maddalena Modesti (Modulo 1) Maddalena Modesti (Modulo 2)
  • Teaching Mode: In-person learning (entirely or partially) In-person learning (entirely or partially) (Modulo 1); In-person learning (entirely or partially) (Modulo 2)
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Humanities (cod. 6601)

    Also valid for First cycle degree programme (L) in History (cod. 6664)
    First cycle degree programme (L) in Humanities (cod. 8850)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student knows the main stages of the evolution of Latin writing and knows the main factors related to the production of manuscripts. He knows what a diplomatic document is, its basic forms and functions. He has direct knowledge of the main types of Medieval handwritten documents. He knows the basic principles and the most up-to-date and accurate ways of studying and researching the discipline. At the end of the course the student has skills for reading, interpreting, transcribing, dating a manuscript. He can use critically the main tools for researching and interpreting handwritten documentary material and enhancing documentary heritage. He can set up issues related to the interpretation of handwritten sources with methodological rigor.

Course contents

During the course, students will be introduced to the fundamental principles of Latin Palaeography and Diplomatics, with the aim of providing them with the tools and skills required to read, date, and interpret manuscript sources. Through the reading and analysis of selected manuscripts, the course will examine different types of script, in both book and documentary/cancery contexts, in order to illustrate the main stages in the history of Latin writing, from its origins to the seventeenth century. At the same time, again through direct engagement with the sources, students will analyse some of the main types of medieval documents, both public and private, with particular attention to their external and internal features.

To this end, the course is divided into two closely interconnected teaching modules, A and B, of 30 hours each. Students enrolled in the 6-CFU course are required to attend Module A only.

MODULE A — 6 CFU 1.

1. Fundamental concepts: Palaeography

  • What palaeography is
  • Writing materials and tools
  • Vocabulary and terminology of palaeographical analysis
  • The functions of writing and the distinction between book scripts, documentary scripts, and chancery scripts
  • The method of palaeography

2. History of Latin writing I, with practical reading exercises

  • Introduction to the study of abbreviations in Latin writing
  • General periodisation
  • The graphic unity of the Roman world
  • Early medieval graphic particularism
  • The renewed graphic unity of the Carolingian period

3. Fundamental concepts: Diplomatics

  • What diplomatics is
  • Definition of a document
  • Forms, functions, and factors of the document
  • External and internal features of the document
  • The method of diplomatics and the critical assessment of documentary authenticity

4. Introduction to Diplomatics I, with practical exercises

  • Public and private documents
  • The fides of the document
  • Basic elements of the history of the notarial profession
  • Analysis of selected case studies

MODULE B — 12 CFU

1. History of Latin writing II, with practical exercises

  • The renewed graphic unity of the Carolingian world
  • The emergence of Gothic script
  • University scripts and the pecia system
  • The revival of cursive scripts and mercantesca
  • Francesco Petrarca and the scripts of the humanistic period up to the advent of printing

2. How to date a manuscript

  • The reckoning of time
  • Basic elements of medieval chronology

3. Introduction to Diplomatics II, with practical exercises

  • Survey of some of the main types of medieval documents, both public and private, including privileges, sales, donations, emphyteutic leases, and other possible examples

4. Practical activity

  • Group-based reading, analysis, and transcription of a manuscript source, carried out directly in the archive.

Readings/Bibliography

1) ATTENDERS (Module A 6 cfu)

  • G. Cencetti, Paleografia latina, Roma Jouvence, last ed.
  • A. Pratesi, Genesi e forme del documento medievale, Roma 1999.
  • Didactic material provided during the course

2) ATTENDERS (Module B 12 cfu): in addition to the titles listed above, the reading is also required of Didactic material about second Module

3) UNATTENDERS (Module A 6 cfu):

    3.1 G. Cencetti, Paleografia latina, Roma Jouvence, last ed.

    3.2 P. Cherubini, La scrittura latina: storia, forme, usi, Roma,            Carocci, 2019

    3.3 A. Pratesi, Genesi e forme del documento medievale, Roma              1999

    3.4 One reading of your choice from the following: 

  • A. Petrucci, Prima lezione di paleografia, Roma-Bari 2002
  • L'eredità di Armando Petrucci. Tra paleografia e storia sociale (con un inedito di Armando Petrucci), a cura di A. Castillo Gomez, Viella 2022
  • G. Tamba, Una corporazione per il potere. Il notariato a Bologna in età comunale, Bologna, Clueb, 2018, limitatamente alla parte prima
  • A. Bartoli Langeli, Notai. Scrivere documenti nell'Italia medievale, Viella 2006

4) UNATTENDERS (Module B 12 cfu): in addition to the titles listed under point 3 (Module A), students are also required to read one further title of their choice from the following:

 

 

Teaching methods

Lectures will be accompanied by practical exercises in reading, transcribing, and analysing manuscript texts, based on reproductions of original sources drawn from both book and documentary contexts. Students will be encouraged to participate actively in the analysis of the sources and in the discussion of the problems presented.

Regular attendance and active participation in class are therefore required.

During the course, at least two educational visits will be organised — one for each module — to explore the manuscript heritage of the city’s main cultural heritage institutions, such as archives and libraries.

Module A will begin on 15 September 2026.

Module B will begin on 10 November 2026. Should attending students be available, the classes of the second module may be brought forward to 20 October, without prejudice to the teaching break scheduled between the first and second teaching periods.

Assessment methods

1) ATTENDERS Modules A and B. Students are considered attending if they participate in at least 75% of the classes.

The exam consists of an oral interview divided into three parts:

a) Reading and palaeographical and diplomatics analysis of one or more sources (see teaching materials on Virtuale). Students will be required to identify the script and contextualise it historically, expand the abbreviations and, in the case of documentary sources, produce a regest and analyse the formulary.

b) One or more general questions on Palaeography, based on the handbook.

c) One or more general questions on Diplomatics, based on the handbook.

2) UNATTENDERS (Modules A and B). The exam consists of an oral interview divided into three parts:

a) One or more general questions on Palaeography, based on the required bibliography. Particular attention will be paid to the student’s knowledge and understanding of the main stages in the history of Latin writing, as well as of the fundamental principles and method of the discipline.

b) One or more general questions on Diplomatics, based on the handbook.

c) One or more specific questions on the additional readings chosen by the student (see bibliography, points 3 and 4). Particular attention will be paid to the student’s critical and synthetic skills in addressing the main themes and fundamental issues of the discipline, as well as to their ability to orient themselves critically within the field of manuscript sources, using the tools and methods specific to the discipline.

In both cases, for attending and non-attending students, excellent marks will be awarded to students who demonstrate an organic understanding of the topics covered in class, together with the ability to use them critically, and who show command of appropriate expression and specialist terminology. A mostly mechanical and/or mnemonic knowledge of the subject, limited skills of synthesis and analysis, and/or language that is correct but not always appropriate will lead to fair marks. Gaps in knowledge and/or inappropriate language, even within a framework of minimal knowledge of the examination material, will result in marks no higher than a pass. Significant gaps in knowledge, inappropriate language, and lack of orientation within the bibliographical materials provided during the course will necessarily be assessed negatively.

3) STUDENTS with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

AI may be a useful tool to support individual study through further exploration, summaries, and self-assessment activities. As regards assessment, the use of AI is prohibited during the in-person exam. Any use of AI constitutes a violation of academic integrity.

During the 2026/27 academic year, eight exam sessions will be scheduled in the following months:

  • November
  • December
  • January
  • March
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • September

    • Teaching tools

    During the course, reproductions and facsimiles of manuscripts, transcriptions and editions of sources, as well as information on the main databases and electronic resources in the field of palaeography, will be made available through the VIRTUALE platform. This applies to attending students only.

    Students with specific learning disorders or temporary or permanent disabilities are strongly advised to contact the relevant University office in good time. The office will propose any necessary adaptations for the students concerned. These adaptations must in any case be submitted to the lecturer for approval at least 15 days before the exam date; the lecturer will assess their suitability also in relation to the learning outcomes of the course.

    Office hours

    See the website of Maddalena Modesti