Aspects of knowledge

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 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.

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.

Introduction – Marilina Cesario and Hugh MagennisPart I: Anthologies of knowledge1 Dream divination in manuscripts and early printed books: patterns of transmission – László Sándor Chardonnens2 Knowledge of the weather in the Middle Ages: Libellus de disposicione totius anni future – Marilina Cesario3 The Cambridge Songs as anthology of musical knowledge – Ann BuckleyPart II: Transmission of Christian traditions4 Cristes leorningcnihtas: traditions of the apostles in Old English literature – Hugh Magennis5 Seeing Jerusalem: schematic views of the Holy City, 1100–1300 – Suzanne Conklin Akbari and Asa Simon Mittman6 The emergence of devotion to the name of Jesus in the West – Denis Renevey7 ‘Ther are bokes ynowe’: texts and the ambiguities of knowledge in Piers Plowman – Kath StevensonPart III: Past and present8 Meet the pagans: on the misuse of Beowulf in Andreas – Richard North9 Reading and writing St Margaret of Scotland from Turgot’s Vita to the Blackadder Prayerbook – Emily WingfieldPart IV: Knowledge and materiality10 The Jellinge Stone: from prehistoric monument to petrified ‘book’ – Michelle P. Brown11 Mis en page: the dimension and layout of books containing Old English – Donald G. ScraggIndex