LJMedB06 Medieval Encyclopedias

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025

The course is not taught in Spring 2025

Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Taught in person.
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Dana Stehlíková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Dana Stehlíková, Ph.D.
Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Jitka Erlebachová
Supplier department: Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 10 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to introduce students to the major Latin encyclopedias and the transformations of this genre from late antiquity to the end of the Middle Ages.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course students will be able to: clarify key moments in the development of encyclopedism from late antiquity to the end of the Middle Ages; describe the various approaches of the authors in creating new compilations; compare different principles of classifying material in the most important late antique and medieval encyclopaedias; and independently evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of these priciples with respect to the target reader.
Syllabus
  • General characteristics of the encyclopaedias of the Antiquity and Middle Ages.
  • The encyclopaedias of the ancient world (Plinius the Elder; Martianus Capella; Cassiodorus).
  • The encyclopaedias of the Early Middle Ages (Isidor of Sevilla; Hrabanus Maurus).
  • New perspectives on the system of arts and sciences in the 12th century (Honorius Augustodunensis; Hugo a Sancto Victore).
  • Relationship between medieval encyclopaedias and glossars (Papias; Hugutio z Pisy; Johannes Balbus).
  • The golden age of encyclopaedias I–IV (Alexander Neckam; Arnoldus Saxo; Bartholomeus Anglicus; Thomas de Cantimpré; Vincentius Bellovacensis).
  • Paulus Žídek (Paulerinus)
  • Varia: Herrad of Landsberg, Gregorius de Monte Sacro, Aegidius Zamorensis.
  • Practical aids for the orientation in medieval encyclopaedias (capitulatio, the alphabetical order, indexes).
Literature
    required literature
  • HÜNEMÖRDER, Christian. Antike und mittelalterliche Enzyklopädien und die Popularisierung naturkundlichen Wissens. Sudhoffs Archiv für Geschichte der Medizin. 1981, vol. 65, p. 339-365. info
    recommended literature
  • MEIER, Christel. Die Enzyklopädie im Wandel vom Hochmittelalter bis zur frühen Neuzeit. München: W. Fink, 2002. info
  • KELLER, Hagen and Klaus GRUBMÜLLER. Pragmatische Schriftlichkeit im Mittelalter. Erscheinungen und Entwicklungsstufen. München: W. Fink, 1992. info
  • MEYER, Heinz. Ordo rerum und Registerhilfen in mittelalterlichen Enzyklopädiehandschriften. Frühmittelalterliche Studien : Jahrbuch des Instituts für Frühmittelalterforschung der Universität Münster. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter & Co., 1991, vol. 25, p. 315-339. ISSN 0071-9706. info
Teaching methods
One 2-hour seminar per week, reading, class discussion.
Assessment methods
Colloquium (20 min) - the student demonstrates basic orientation in the subject and translates a short piece of text from latin to Czech. Regular attendance (min. 75%) is also required, as well as active participation in the class discussions.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught: every week.
General note: Pro mimooborové studenty je nutná znalost latiny v rozsahu čtyř semestrálních kurzů.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: 0.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2006, Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2010, Autumn 2010, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2025/LJMedB06