Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE LIS2555

 
TITLE Basic Palaeography and Diplomatics

 
UM LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Library Information and Archive Sciences

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit aims to introduce students both to the basic principles of medieval Latin West Palaeography and Diplomatics. Palaeography aims at acquainting the student with the history of script in its various phases of development as well as the techniques used in different eras. Diplomatics provides a critical study of the document and focuses on the intrinsic and extrinsic elements, writing system, law and chancery practices.

Study-unit Aims:

The study-unit aims to make students aware of the basic notions of the disciplines of Palaeography and Diplomatics.

Thus the student will be able to view a document in a more scientific manner in these disciplines and shed light on the physical aspect of the document rather than its contents.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding

With regard to Palaeography, the student will:
- Interpret graphic phenomena in a cultural, technical and social context;
- Distinguish the various techniques of execution, appropriate instruments and materials;
- Recognise and identify different typologies of scripts.

With regard to Diplomatics, the student will:
- Identify the main phases of the history of the document (public and private) and the rules which govern the drawing up of a document in a given place and era;
- Explain the basic notions of chronology and sigillography;
- Determine the juridical value of a document.

2. Skills

With regard to Palaeography, the student will be able to:
- Compare and classify scripts from different eras;
- Date and localise ancient manuscripts;
- Deduce all the useful elements for studying their contents and relate them with the cultural context in which they were written.

With regard to Diplomatics, the student will be able to:
- Interpret the intrinsic and extrinsic elements of a document;
- Examine a document for its juridical value;
- Describe the process of the production of a specific document in the context of the chancery.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main texts:

- Bischoff, B. (1990). Latin paleography: Antiquity and the Middle Ages (Ó Cróinín, D., Ganz, D., Trans.)
- Cambridge [England]; New York: Cambridge University Press. (Original work published 1979). doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511809927
- Boyle, L. (1992). Diplomatics. In Powell, J. (Ed.), Medieval Studies. An Introduction (82-113)
- Clemens, R., Graham, T. (2007). Introduction to Manuscript Studies. Ithaca: Cornell University Press
- Coulson, F., Babcock, R. (2020). The Oxford Handbook of Latin Palaeography. Oxford: Oxford University Press
- McKitterick, R. (2004). Paleography, diplomatic and codicology: the last fifty years. In Omaggio al Medioevo. I primi cinquanta anni del Centro Italiano di Studi sull’alto Medioevo di Spoleto (179-210).

Supplementary texts:

- Cappelli, A. (1982). The elements of abbreviation in medieval Latin paleography (Heimann, D., & Kay, R., Trans.). Lawrence, Kan.: University of Kansas Libraries. (Original work published 1912). Retrieved from https://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/bitstream/handle/1808/1821/47cappelli.pdf?sequence=3
- Cencetti, G. (1978). Paleografia Latina. Sesto San Giovanni: Editoriale Jouvence
- Frenz, T. (1989). I documenti pontifici nel Medioevo e nell'età moderna. Città del Vaticano: Scuola Vaticana di Paleografia, Diplomatica e Archivistica
- Petrucci, A. (1992). Breve Storia della Scrittura Latina. Bologna: Bagatto Libri
- Pratesi, A. (1987). Genesi e forme del documento medievale. Rome: Jouvence.

Additional sources (printed plates and tables) for reading exercises will be provided during the lectures.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Practical

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Examination (2 Hours) SEM2 Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Nicholas Joseph Doublet

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit