The course aims to provide, through paleographic, codicological, and historical knowledge, the means useful for the identification, dating, and localization of the most important graphic types and the main stages in the history of Latin writing, from its origins to printing.

First the basic principles of the paleographic method will be explained, then the most important book and documentary writings of the Latin West will be presented, from their origins to the printing press. There will be a focus on methodological issues concerning the reading, dating and socio-historical contextualization of the writings. The course is supplemented with the distribution of tables in print and digital format.

Knowledge and understanding: Students are expected to obtain an understanding of the correct chronological course of the various writings and their sequence, to be able to recognize, read, date, locate and contextualize the various writings; students are also expected to acquire awareness of the tools useful in understanding the history of book forms from antiquity to the invention of printing, and to know the problems related to the form of the book, the materials used, and the writing instruments.

Applying knowledge and understanding: The student should use paleographic and methodological knowledge to easily recognize the different types of writing and be able to carry out their reading. He or she should also have the ability to frame the elements that characterize each script type so as to describe, date and locate them correctly.

Making judgements: It is expected that the student will acquire the ability to recognize, read and contextualize the different scriptures of the Latin West, that he/she will become acquainted with the lineaments of paleographic methodology.
The skills acquired will certainly prove useful in view of critical editorial use of any ancient text.

Communication skills: The student will be expected to navigate the various types of writing from VI B.C. to the printing press. The tools acquired by the student at the end of the course should enable him or her to cope with the necessary technical skills in decoding and analyzing the various scripts.

Learning skills: The student should be able to analyze a writing by extrapolating its useful parts for dating and localization. He/she should be able to use working (repertories) and supporting tools (e.g., dictionary of abbreviations). He/she should be able to propose questions and topics for critical discussion pertaining to the course topics, so as to track personal learning development.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

The course is supplemented with practical exercises aimed at the ability to recognize, read and contextualize scripture in history. Visits to archives and public libraries may be organised, to gain autopsy experience of the scriptures and the various scriptural media, as well as support seminars in presence or at a distance, to explore specific topics in depth (Latin papyrology; codicology; etc.).

Teaching

Frontal lectures and tutorials.

Innovative teaching methods

Debate; Problem-based learning; Flipped classroom

Attendance

To be considered attending, students must be present for at least 80 percent of the lectures; alternatively, they will refer to the directions for non-attenders. Due to the special need for instructor-led exercise, attendance is strongly recommended.

Course books

1) P. Cherubini, La scrittura latina: storia, forme, usi, Roma, Carocci editore, 2019.

2) M. Cursi, Le forme del libro. Dalla tavoletta cerata all'e-book, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2016, pp. 7-160.

Other materials (reading tables, background articles, bibliography), prepared by the lecturer in addition to the recommended texts, will be available within the Moodle platform ' blended.uniurb.it

In order to give non-attending students the opportunity to compensate for what is done during the lectures by self-study, the following materials referring to the same syllabus content are provided to promote full understanding:

the Open Source, edited by A. Cartelli and M. Palma, Materials to support the study of Latin Paleography, available at

http://www.tramedivita.it/matedida/index.html

F. Steffens, Palaeographie latine, an important repertory of facsimiles available online at http://www.paleography.unifr.ch/steffens_fr/tafeln_frm.htm

Assessment

Oral examination

The examination consists of general questions on the history of scripture and the key historical periods that brought about its changes, in the manner illustrated by the study texts. This will be followed by the examination of some facsimiles of scriptures, which are to be identified, located, dated and deciphered along the lines of the analyses found in the textbooks.

A rating will be given:

- excellent to very good (30 and praise-27) on the basis of the student's possession of excellent/very good critical and in-depth skills; the ability to link together the topics covered in the course; the use of appropriate language with respect to the specificity of the discipline.

- good to fair (26-23) on the basis of the student's possession of mnemonic knowledge of the content; relative critical and in-depth ability to connect the topics covered: use of appropriate language.

- sufficient (22-18) on the basis of the student's attainment of minimal knowledge of the topics covered, in the presence of some formative gaps and the use of inappropriate language.

- negative on the basis of the student's difficulty in orientation to the topics covered in the examination texts, formative gaps, use of inappropriate language.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Frontal lectures and tutorials.

Attendance

Due to the special need for instructor-led exercise, attendance is strongly recommended.

Course books

1) P. Cherubini, La scrittura latina: storia, forme, usi, Roma, Carocci editore, 2019
or, alternatively, Fabio M. Bertolo-P. Cherubini-G. Inglese-L. Miglio, Breve storia della scrittura e del libro, Roma, Carocci, 2012.

2) M. Cursi, Le forme del libro. Dalla tavoletta cerata all'e-book, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2016, pp. 7-160.

We also recommend consulting the Open Source, edited by A. Cartelli and M. Palma, Materials to support the study of Latin Paleography, available at

http://www.tramedivita.it/matedida/index.html

and by F. Steffens, Palaeographie latine, an important repertory of facsimiles available online at http://www.paleography.unifr.ch/steffens_fr/tafeln_frm.htm

Other materials (reading tables, background articles, bibliography), prepared by the lecturer in addition to the recommended texts, will be available within the Moodle platform ' blended.uniurb.it

Assessment

Oral examination

The examination consists of general questions on the history of scripture and the key historical periods that brought about its changes, in the manner illustrated by the study texts. This will be followed by the examination of some facsimiles of scriptures, which are to be identified, located, dated and deciphered along the lines of the analyses found in the textbooks.

A rating will be given:

- excellent to very good (30 and praise-27) on the basis of the student's possession of excellent/very good critical and in-depth skills; the ability to link together the topics covered in the course; the use of appropriate language with respect to the specificity of the discipline.

- good to fair (26-23) on the basis of the student's possession of mnemonic knowledge of the content; relative critical and in-depth ability to connect the topics covered: use of appropriate language.

- sufficient (22-18) on the basis of the student's attainment of minimal knowledge of the topics covered, in the presence of some formative gaps and the use of inappropriate language.

- negative on the basis of the student's difficulty in orientation to the topics covered in the examination texts, formative gaps, use of inappropriate language.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

A basic knowledge of the following disciplines would certainly be helpful: Latin Language and Literature, Roman History, Medieval History.