Proseminar in Paleography

or – how to improve your reading of books and documents from the 12th to 15th centuries

The subject is taught by: Prof. PhDr. Juraj Šedivý, MAS, PhD.

Teaching method: seminar (S:2)

ECTS: 3

Objective:

The subject is intended for those who want to improve their reading as well as dating and critical assessment of the authenticity of documents from the 12th to the 15th century (book texts but also charters, letters and official books). The subject is a supplement to the subject Latin Paleography of the Gothic Period. Theoretical lectures are combined with practical reading of period texts in Latin, German and Slovak (however, knowledge of languages is not necessary – we do not translate, we only read). This is a practically oriented subject, thanks to which graduates will gain direct access to the Gothic sources.

Brief outline:

Reading and formal analysis of sources written in Carolingian script (brief summary of development)
Reading and formal analysis of Gothic book script
Reading and formal analysis of Gothic documentary script

Requirements for graduation:

attendance – 3 classes can be missed without an excuse,
fulfillment of ongoing activities = 70% of the assessment (consists of the student's activity in class, his ongoing preparation for reading inscriptions),
final colloquium during the credit week = 30% (assessment of theoretical and practical knowledge in the form of a group interview/colloquium).

Recommended literature:

ŠEDIVÝ, Juraj: Úvod do latinskej paleografie II. Obdobie karolovské a gotické, Bratislava 2019.
NOVÁK, Jozef: Paleografická čítanka. Pomôcka na čítanie rukopisov z 12.-19. storočia, Martin 2001 (not the theoretical part!)