The Medieval Academy Blog

With the kind collaboration of the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), the University of Notre Dame offers its Winter School in Latin Paleography and Codicology at its Rome Global Gateway. This two-week intensive course will introduce participants to various aspects of Latin Paleography and Western Codicology, offering a balance of theoretical and practical applications.

Participants will develop mastery of abbreviation systems, the ability to identify, classify, localize, and date western book hands (ca. 1100-1500), and an understanding of the historical development and influence of Latin scripts. Western codicological principles and an introduction to analytical manuscript description will enable participants to interpret the manuscript as a complete object by utilizing physical properties such as collation, ruling patterns, and decoration in parallel with the script.

A special feature of the course will be extensive visits to the Vatican Library, which provide the opportunity for participants to apply the skills and techniques from the seminars with medieval manuscripts in situ. Discussion sections will offer a chance for students to share their experiences in a group setting and discuss various problems and difficulties. The course will culminate in a final presentation in which students present the fruits of their research and field questions from the audience.

Two evening lectures by specialists will provide in-depth supplementary content to particular aspects of the seminars.

2020 Dates

7–17 January 2020, Rome, Italy / Città del Vaticano.

2020 Application Deadline

4 August 2019.

Director

Dr. David T. Gura, curator of Ancient of Medieval Manuscripts and concurrent associate  professor of paleography, will teach the course and supervise manuscript research.

Eligibility

Applications from graduate and postgraduate students, and early career faculty in Classics, Patristics, and all areas of Medieval Studies are welcome. Prior and advanced knowledge of Latin is essential. The course will be conducted in English.

Program Costs

The program fee is $1,000 (USD), which includes tuition, course materials, a welcome reception, fives lunches at the ND Gateway sessions, and two dinners.

Lodging

Participants will secure their own lodging in Rome during the Winter School. A list of participants and contact info will be shared, in the case that participants may rent accommodations together to defray the cost (e.g., Airbnb, etc.).

Application Materials

Applicants should submit a CV and letter of application (be sure to specify Latin language experience, research topic, and the need for training in paleography and codicology), and the contact information for one letter of recommendation using the following link: http://apply.interfolio.com/63202

Payment

Payment instructions will be sent upon confirmation of acceptance. Deadline for tuition payments is September 20, 2019.

All questions may be directed to: Dr. David T. Gura, Curator, Ancient and Medieval Manuscripts, University of Notre Dame (dgura@nd.edu).

What: Byzantine Studies Colloquium
Where: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Washington, D.C.
When: November 15, 2019
Website: https://www.doaks.org/research/byzantine/scholarly-activities/the-insular-worlds-of-byzantium

Byzantine islands have been largely considered marginal to the dramatic political, social, and economic changes the Byzantine heartland experienced in the seventh century and at the onset of Arab expansion in the eastern Mediterranean. Major islands, such as Sicily, Sardinia, Malta, and the Balearics, were lost forever. Others, like Crete and Cyprus, remained in flux until they were briefly reclaimed by Byzantium in tenth century before coming under Latin control during the Crusades. Contrary to the perspectives offered by written sources (Byzantine, Arab, and Western), which for the most part dismiss them as marginal spaces, places of exile, or military outposts along maritime frontiers, islands constitute the best examples of the transformative adaptability of Byzantine society during periods of volatility and transition. Instead of decline and abandonment, archaeological work and results point to the existence of active communities, local and regional economic exchanges, and cultural continuities and interconnections during the period between the seventh century and the fall of Constantinople to the Crusaders in 1204.

Speakers will address the topic of Byzantine islands through case studies viewed in their broader Mediterranean and comparative contexts. The exploration of islands as hubs where Byzantine, Islamic, and Western European cultures encountered and influenced the local political, economic, and social structures will permit new insights into the networks of island societies and their legacies. Not only were islands located along commercial shipping routes, but, as spaces of adaptive economic activities and social strategies that were molded by military and political realities, they presented unique opportunities for cultural interconnections. In this context, the “Insular Worlds of Byzantium” will provide new and revised perspectives on the Byzantine Mediterranean and beyond.

Speakers

• Nikolas Bakirtzis, The Cyprus Institute
• William Caraher, University of North Dakota
• Salvatore Cosentino, Università di Bologna
• Sarah Davis-Secord, University of New Mexico
• Michael Decker, University of South Florida
• Jonathan Shea, Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection
• Joanita Vroom, Universiteit Leiden
• Luca Zavagno, Bilkent Üniversitesi

Please check the Dumbarton Oaks website (https://www.doaks.org/research/byzantine/scholarly-activities/the-insular-worlds-of-byzantium) in September for a link to register.

What: One-Month Research Awards of $3,000 for scholars
Where: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Washington, D.C.
When: Applications due October 1, 2019 for January 15 – June 30 award period
Website: https://www.doaks.org/research/support-for-research/one-month-research-awards

Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection offers One-Month Research Awards of $3,000 to scholars holding the PhD or other relevant terminal degree (e.g., MLA for Garden and Landscape studies applicants) and working on research projects in Byzantine studies, Pre-Columbian studies, Garden and Landscape studies, or related fields. The awards were established to make the intellectual community as well as the library, rare book, garden, and museum resources of Dumbarton Oaks more widely available to a broader range of scholars for shorter terms and with some flexibility in starting dates. Awards are intended especially for those who might not be able to avail themselves of a longer-term fellowship at Dumbarton Oaks, or scholars in related disciplines who seek greater exposure to our fields of study.