B5080 - LETTERATURA E SCIENZA NEL MEDIOEVO

Learning outcomes

The course aims to offer students an overview of the literature concerning natural sciences produced during the Middle Ages. By the end of the course, students acquire adequate knowledge of the historical development of sciences and scientific literature taking place during the Middle Ages, and are able to analyze the most representative texts dealing with natural sciences written between the 6th and the 14th century; they will also earn the ability to use the specific tools that are necessary to carry out researches on medieval scientific culture

Course contents

This course aims to make students acquainted with a less known, but of pivotal importance to understand both transmission and re-use in literature of Medieval science and philosophy, namely, Medieval Latin and vernacular encyclopedias.

Special attention will be paid to the main encyclopedias written during the "Golden Age" of Medieval Encyclopedism, the 13th century. Among them, we recall Bartholomew the Englishman's De proprietatibus rerum, Thomas of Cantimpré's De natura rerum, Vincent of Beauvais' Speculum maius, and Brunetto Latini's Tresor. We will also explore the influence and re-use of Medieval encyclopedias in spiritual literature and preaching.

Readings/Bibliography

Texts (selection): Bartholomaeus Anglicus, De proprietatibus rerum, ed. B. Van den Abeele et al., Turnhout 2007-2023; Thomas Cantimpratensis, Liber de natura rerum, ed. H. Boese, Berlin-New York 1973; Vincentius Belvacensis, Speculum maius, Douaci 1624 (repr. Graz 1964). We will also use the online textual database "Sourcencyme" allowing access to a wide selection of Medieval ancyclopedias and internal searches through them (http://sourcencyme.irht.cnrs.fr/).

Bibliography (selection): Encyclopédire : formes de l’ambition encyclopédique dans l’Antiquité et au Moyen Âge, ed. A. Zucker, Turnhout 2013; Encyclopédie médiévale et langues européennes : réception et diffusion du "De proprietatibus rerum" de Barthélemy l'Anglais dans les langues vernaculaires, ed. J. Ducos, Paris 2014; T. Zahora, Nature, virtue, and the boundaries of encyclopaedic knowledge: the tropological universe of Alexander Neckam (1157-1217), Turnhout 2013; Dante e le enciclopedie medievali : atti del Convegno internazionale di studi, Ravenna, 9 novembre 2019, a cura di G. Ledda, Ravenna 2023.

Further readings will be presented during the Course.

Students who cannot attend classes are requested to contact Prof. Ventura in order to receive further instructions concerning the preparation of the exam.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is suggested that they get in touch as soon as possible with the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) and with the professor in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

Teaching methods

Classes (30 hours). Classes will consist of introductory lessons given by Prof. Ventura and concerning each author we will focus upon, and of close discussions on the translation and interpretation of the selected texts.

The first two classes will be recorded, and put at students' disposal at their specific request.

Assessment methods

The exam will consist of an interview. Attending students have two options; they may:

- prepare a short lecture on a text related to the topics discussed during the course and selected by them, and present it by using the bibliography put together with the assistance of Prof. Ventura at least one month before the exam (this option is reserved to attending students);

- undergo an interview and answer the questions put by Prof. Ventura.

Whatever decision they will make, students should demonstrate that

-they are able to outline the main elements of the historical development of Medieval Latin and Vernacular encyclopedic literature;

- they are able to interpret and present the main characteristics of the text discussed during classes correctly.

The final evaluation will consider these elements:

- insufficient qualification = lacking basic knowledge, scarce capacity to portrait cultural and historical phenomena

- sufficient qualification = average knowledge of the subject, but careless, inaccurate exposition lacking personal elaboration

- good qualification = general preparation of adequate level, ability to explain cultural and historical phenomena correctly and with logical coordination

- excellent qualification = outstanding knowledge of the subject, ability to analyze cultural and historical phenomena in depth and independently, excellent communication skills

Attending students may choose between the two option listed above; if the select the lecture option, they must must fix a subject in agreement with Prof. Ventura at least 30 days before the examination date.

Student who cannot attend classes are kindly requested to contact Prof. Ventura in time, and set an appointment for a meeting with her, in order to prepare themselves for the exam.

 

Teaching tools

The selected texts will be uploaded on the "Virtuale" platform, when accessible only in print. If works can be accessed via the online platform "Sourcencyme", the texts will be directly from it, and will be accessible in OA even after classes free of charge.

Further bibliography will be provided during the Course.

Office hours

See the website of Iolanda Ventura