| Unit name | The Cultural History of the Book, 1300 - 1559 |
|---|---|
| Unit code | HIST10022 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Harry |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of History (Historical Studies) |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit will begin in the monastic and professional scriptoria of the later Middle Ages and investigate the manuscript book trade, and examine the impact of print and its role in reform. Did the press initiate reform or was it instead a useful tool for disseminating reform ideas? How were books used and read? We will consider the impact of print on literacy and education and the role it played in the formation of modern vernacular languages; and the role of books in religious worship and the popularity of secular text; the uses of print beyond Europe and the role books played in the colonisation of the New World. Students will be given unique research opportunities taking full advantage of the online digital resources for manuscripts and early print, allowing them to work with the primary sources directly and providing research skills that will benefit them in future study.
On successful completion of this unit students will have a critical understanding and knowledge of the development and role of the book from the beginnings of printing in 1440. Students will develop their skills in assessing, presenting, analysing and evaluating complex ideas and arguments, and in researching and writing essays.
1 x 2-hour seminar per week.
1 x 3,000 word essay (formative); 1 x 2-hour exam (100%). Both elements will assess knowledge and critical understanding of the development of the book; skills in assessing, presenting, analysing and evaluating complex ideas and arguments, and in researching and writing essays
J.Crick & A. Walsham, The Uses of Script and Print, 1300-1700, (Cambridge, 2004). C. de Hamel, A History of Illuminated Manuscripts, (London, 1994). E. Eisenstein, The Printing Press as an Agent of Change, (Cambridge, 2005). A. Gillespie & D. Wakelin, The Production of Books in England, 1350-1500, (Cambridge, 2011). J. F. Gilmont, Jean Calvin and the Printed Book, (Kirksville, 2005). K. Jensen, Incunabula and their Readers, (London, 2002).
