Palaeography
Code: 100374 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2500243 Classics | OT | 3 | 0 |
| 2500243 Classics | OT | 4 | 0 |
| 2500501 History | OB | 2 | 1 |
Contact
- Name:
- J. Antoni Iglesias Fonseca
- Email:
- Toni.Iglesias@uab.cat
Use of Languages
- Principal working language:
- catalan (cat)
- Some groups entirely in English:
- No
- Some groups entirely in Catalan:
- Yes
- Some groups entirely in Spanish:
- No
Teachers
- Jesús Alturo Perucho
- Miquel Torras Cortina
Prerequisites
A minimum knowledge of Latin is advisable. It is recommended to read an elementary Latin grammar, corresponding, at least, to a high school level.
Objectives and Contextualisation
Paleography, despite being an autonomous discipline, is a fundamental tool for all studies of Philology and History, as it provides the basis for the correct interpretation of the written sources of any age. Therefore, the aim of the course is to train students to read and interpret all kinds of written documents, codices, diplomas and inscriptions in the Latin alphabet, within a chronological arc that goes from antiquity to this day. The classes will have an eminently practical character. Previously, however, the basic theoretical notions necessary for the technical reading and critical editing of the texts, as well as for the understanding of the evolution of Latin writing, will be given. The possibility of orienting the subject towards a certain chronological period will be taken into account, depending on the specialty and homogeneity of the groups.
Competences
- Classics
- Applying the acquired grammar knowledge to the analysis and comprehension of Greek and Latin texts.
- Interpreting written Greek and Latin texts both in prose and verse, applying the philological method.
- Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
- Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
- Students must be capable of explaining a literary text, applying their literary, metrical and stylistic knowledge.
- Students must develop the necessary learning skills in order to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
- History
- Developing critical thinking and reasoning and communicating them effectively both in your own and other languages.
- Mastering the methodology of the palaeographic work for the several historical periods.
- Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
- Students must develop the necessary learning skills in order to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
Learning Outcomes
- Applying techniques in order to quickly and completely understand texts in Latin.
- Applying the morphosyntactic analysis to the reading of Latin texts, identifying, if necessary, the specific characteristics of the literary genre or the corresponding linguistic variation.
- Applying the necessary abilities in order to assess and spread historical knowledge.
- Communicating in your mother tongue or other language both in oral and written form by using specific terminology and techniques of Historiography.
- Demonstrating they know the specific terminology of the textual criticism.
- Examining a literary passage in Medieval Latin and connecting it with its general linguistic characteristics.
- Explaining in oral and written form the thematic and linguistic characteristics of the corresponding genre.
- Facing a critical text with the tools of textual criticism in order to produce a critical view about that text.
- Identifying features of vulgar or popular Latin of specific, technical, literary and epigraphic texts.
- Identifying the main and secondary ideas and expressing them with linguistic correctness.
- Interpreting the history of a specific text by analysing the various aspects of the handwritten transmission.
- Mastering the methodology of the palaeographic work for the several historical periods.
- Producing a comment about the setting of a critical text and the details of the critical apparatus.
- Reading and interpreting manuscripts, inscriptions and diplomas of the antiquity and Middle, Modern and Contemporary Ages.
- Recognising various types of written Latin according to the periods and regions in which the use of the Latin alphabet was extended.
- Solving problems autonomously.
- Using the main computing and data management tools, as well as the information and communication technologies in the specific field of the classical studies.
- Using the specific technical vocabulary of interpretation and commentary of ancient texts.
Content
Subject program:
Historical - and also philological - research in any of its epochs requires the researcher to be able to read and interpret manuscript texts, whether they are of a literary or paraliterary nature, which requires direct consultation of the sources of 'History and Philology information for each of its periods. Only in this way will it be possible to be critical of the interpretations that the various historiographical schools make today or have made in the past, and to be able at the same time to formulate their own scientific judgment and rigorously grounded.
The subject of Paleography is therefore intended to enable the reading of literary and paraliterary texts, both in Latin and in any other language that uses its alphabet from any period.
Themes:
- Concept of Paleography and main old and current schools
- The origin of the Latin alphabet and first witnesses
- Latin writing in classical antiquity. The various types and the birth of lowercase writing
- The pre-Carolingian writings: the Visigothic; the Benevento; the Merovingian and the insular in its main variants
- The new continental writing: the tiny carolina
- Gothic writings
- Humanistic writing
Methodology
The subject will have an essentially practical orientation, based on the transcription and commentary of handwritten documentation. You will be taught to read each of the various writings of the Latin alphabet used throughout history and, in particular, the typologies that are most abundant in the archives and libraries of Catalonia.
Consultation of original documentation and, where appropriate, internships in archives and libraries, mainly with which the UAB Seminar on Paleography, Codicology and Diplomacy has signed collaboration agreements.
The content of the subject will be sensitive, as far as possible, to aspects related to the gender perspective (for example, with the exhibition of female graphic manifestations, the role of women in the transmission of written culture, the libraries, female readers and readings).
Activities
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Transcription Work | 0 | 0 | 3, 12 |
Assessment
In the case of continuous assessment, students must take two written tests throughout the course (35% + 35% of the total subject)
It will also be essential to carry out a course work, which will consist of the transcription of unpublished handwritten documentation (30%).
At the time of carrying out / delivery of each evaluation activity, the teacher will inform (Moodle, SIA) of the procedure and date of review of the grades.
In the event that the tests or written work cannot be done in person, their format will be adapted (maintaining their weighting) to the possibilities offered by the UAB's virtual tools. Homework, activities and participation in class will be done through forums, wikis and / or discussion discussions through Moodle, Teams, BBCollaborate, etc. Teachers will ensure that the student can access it or offer alternative means that are available to them.
In the event that the student commits any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade of an assessment act, this assessment act will be graded with 0, regardless of the disciplinary process that may be instructed. In the event of several irregularities in the evaluation acts of the same subject, the final grade for this subject will be 0.
Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st written test | 20% | 1.5 | 0.06 | 3, 4, 12, 8, 11, 14, 15, 16, 18 |
| 2nd written test | 20% | 1.5 | 0.06 | 3, 4, 12, 8, 11, 14, 15, 16, 18 |
| Theoretical Contents | 40% | 117 | 4.68 | 2, 3, 1, 4, 5, 12, 13, 8, 6, 7, 10, 9, 11, 14, 15, 16, 18, 17 |
| courseword | 20% | 30 | 1.2 | 3, 4, 5, 12, 13, 6, 7, 11, 14, 15, 16, 18 |
Bibliography
Web Links:
1 http:// pares.mecu.es/ (PARES. Portal de Archivos Españoles. [digital platforma Ministerio de Cultura)
2 “cultura.gencat.cat/arxius”. [Xarxa d’arxius comarcals de Catalunya. [pàgina web de la Generalitat de Catalunya.]
3 “Thelème” [web link of École des Chartes of Paris]
4 “Derepalaeographica” [web link Seminari de Paleografía, Codicologia i Diplomàtica de la UAB]
Basic bibliography:
5 Millares Carlo, A.: Tratado de Paleografía española. 3ª ed. (Madrid, 1983).
6 Bischoff, B.: Paléographie de l’Antiquité romaine et du moyen âge occidental (París 1985) [l’obra original és en llengua alemanya, i hi ha traduccions en llengua italiana i anglesa].
7 Mallon, J.: Paléographie romaine (Madrid 1952).
8 Riesco Terrero, A. (dir.): Introducción a la paleografía y la diplomática general