![]() ![]() The complex and multistaged production process bears on both how manuscripts were read and consumed, and how they are described and studied today (called "codicology"). The Basics: CodicologyĪny introduction to medieval manuscripts needs to begin with an understanding of how manuscripts were made. Although there are field standards for manuscript descriptions, every archive interprets them slightly differently, so be patient with yourself when moving from one catalogue to the next. This blog post from Teaching the Codex breaks it down for you. Learning how to read a manuscript description - the technical synopsis of what a manuscript includes, when/where it was made, how it is constructed, etc - can also be a challenge. The British Library offers an extensive illustrated glossary, which I recommend for learning basic and more obscure terms. In addition to any handouts I provide in class, you can also access glossaries at the Medieval Manuscript Manual, another at the Free Library of Phildelphia's website (choose the "Manuscript Basics" tab), and another at the Auchinleck Manuscript website. One of the first hurdles to overcome in learning about into medieval manuscripts is the specialized language you need to talk about them. The increasing sophistication, however, of digital technologies is making it easier to learn about manuscripts and examine them in detail.Below, I've gathered useful introductory resources to accompany the readings I assign in manuscript units. ![]() The study of medieval manuscripts and early book culture is massive and specialized.
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