The cardinal points and the structure of Christian history in the early-twelfth century
This dissertation evaluates the use of the cardinal points as a conceptual system that bridges historical, geographical and theological knowledge for authors of the first half of the twelfth century. Looking towards its use as a basis for identity construction within historical or historically driven texts, this thesis considers the broader function of this vocabulary across three different genres of text in two broad thematic sections. The first section focuses on the reception of geographical and exegetical knowledge from antiquity to the twelfth century, with the cardinal points serving as a device to analyse the way in which authors constructed and evaluated the geographical world which they inhabited. It pays particular attention to the way in which authors of the twelfth century actively engaged with and manipulated this tradition, particularly in the context of the northern French intellectual milieu of the early century. The second half focuses on narrative construction and identity formation through the application of spatial categories to history. It addresses this problem first in terms of genres. Through an analysis of three universal historians - Sigebert of Gembloux, Romuald of Salerno and Orderic
Wolever, Eric W. S.
The cardinal points and the structure of Christian history in the early-twelfth century. This dissertation evaluates the use of the cardinal points as a conceptual system that bridges historical, geographical and theological knowledge for authors of the first half of the twelfth century. Looking towards its use as a basis for identity construction within historical or historically driven texts, this thesis considers the broader function of this vocabulary across three different genres of text in two broad thematic sections. The first section focuses on the reception of geographical and exegetical knowledge from antiquity to the twelfth century, with the cardinal points serving as a device to analyse the way in which authors constructed and evaluated the geographical world which they inhabited. It pays particular attention to the way in which authors of the twelfth century actively engaged with and manipulated this tradition, particularly in the context of the northern French intellectual milieu of the early century. The second half focuses on narrative construction and identity formation through the application of spatial categories to history. It addresses this problem first in terms of genres. Through an analysis of three universal historians - Sigebert of Gembloux, Romuald of Salerno and Orderic
cardinal point structure christian history evaluates use cardinal point conceptual_system bridge historical_geographical theological knowledge author looking towards use_basis identity_construction within historical historically drive text considers broader function vocabulary across_three different_genre text two_broad thematic section first_section focus reception geographical exegetical knowledge antiquity cardinal point serve device analyse way author construct evaluated geographical world inhabit pay_particular_attention way author actively_engage manipulated tradition particularly context northern french intellectual milieu second_half focus narrative construction_identity formation application spatial category history address_problem first term genre analysis universal historians