Aspects of Knowledge : Preserving and Reinventing Traditions of Learning in the Middle Ages

This edited collection explores how knowledge was preserved and reinvented in the Middle Ages. Unlike previous publications, which are predominantly focused either on a specific historical period or on precise cultural and historical events, this volume, which includes essays spanning from the eighth to the fifteenth centuries, is intended to eschew traditional categorisations of periodisation and disciplines and to enable the establishment of connections and cross-sections between different departments of knowledge, including the history of science (computus, prognostication), the history of art, literature, theology (homilies, prayers, hagiography, contemplative texts), music, historiography and geography. As suggested by its title, the collection does not pretend to aim at inclusiveness or comprehensiveness but is intended to highlight suggestive strands of what is a very wide topic. The chapters in this volume are grouped into four sections: I, Anthologies of Knowledge; II Transmission of Christian Traditions; III, Past and Present; and IV, Knowledge and Materiality, which are intended to provide the reader with a further thematic framework for approaching aspects of knowledge. Aspects of knowledge is mainly aimed to an academic readership, including advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students, and specialists of medieval literature, history of science, history of knowledge, history, geography, theology, music, philosophy, intellectual history, history of the language and material culture. Front matter Contents List of figures List of tables List of contributors List of abbreviations Introduction Part I Anthologies of Knowledge Dream divination in manuscripts and early printed books: patterns of transmission Knowledge of the weather in the Middle Ages: Libellus de disposicione totius anni futuri The Cambridge Songs as anthology of musical knowledge Part II Transmission of Christian Traditions Cristes leorningcnihtas: traditions of the apostles in Old English literature Seeing Jerusalem: schematic views of the Holy City, 1100–1300 The emergence of devotion to the name of Jesus in the West 'Ther are bokes ynowe’: texts and the ambiguities of knowledge in Piers Plowman Part III Past and Present Meet the pagans: on the misuse of Beowulf in Andreas Reading and writing St Margaret of Scotland from Turgot’s Vita to the Blackadder Prayerbook Part IV Knowledge and Materiality The Jellinge Stone: from prehistoric monument to ­petrified ‘book’ Mise en page: the dimension and layout of books ­containing Old English Index This edited collection explores how knowledge was preserved andreinvented in the Middle Ages. Rather than focusing on a historicalperiod or specific cultural and historical events, it eschewstraditional categories of periodisation and discipline,establishing connections and cross-sections between differentdepartments of knowledge. The essays cover the period from theeighth to the fifteenth centuries, examining the history of science(computus, prognostication), the history of art,literature, theology (homilies, prayers, hagiography, contemplativetexts), music, historiography and geography. Aspects ofknowledge is aimed at an academic readership, includingadvanced undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well asspecialists in medieval literature, history of science, history ofknowledge, geography, theology, music, philosophy, intellectualhistory, history of language and material culture This edited collection explores how knowledge was preserved and reinvented in the Middle Ages. Rather than focusing on a historical period or specific cultural and historical events, it eschews traditional categories of periodisation and discipline, establishing connections and cross-sections between different departments of knowledge. The essays cover the period from the eighth to the fifteenth centuries, examining the history of science (computus, prognostication), the history of art, literature, theology (homilies, prayers, hagiography, contemplative texts), music, historiography and geography. Aspects of knowledge is aimed at an academic readership, including advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as specialists in medieval literature, history of science, history of knowledge, geography, theology, music, philosophy, intellectual history, history of language and material culture. This book investigates the role of 'texts' - including books, maps, stones and caskets - in the conveyance and transformation of knowledge and ideas throughout the Middle Ages. It contains original contributions by leading medievalists, who explore the topic from different yet complementary angles, offering diverse interdisciplinary and multi-cultural approaches on a wide variety of subjects This book investigates the role of ‘texts’ – including books, maps, stones and caskets – in the conveyance and transformation of knowledge throughout the Middle Ages. It contains original contributions by top medievalists, who explore the topic from different yet complementary angles, offering interdisciplinary approaches to a variety of subjects.