Writing history, narrating fulfillment : the 'Isidore-moment' and the struggle for the 'before now' in late antique and early medieval Hispania
This thesis critically interrogates major texts and historiographies of seventh-century Hispania, produced within what the author calls the âIsidore-momentâ. The primary purpose is to develop a new framework for interpreting the Liber Iudiciorum (LI), the law-code issued by King Recceswinth (649/653-672) in the mid-650s. The LI was not a formulaic or structurally pre-determined text of appeasement, the rapid product of immediate circumstances in the 650s, or an objective collection of laws meant for courts and confirming existing modes of authority. The LI was a manifestation of a vibrant competitive dialectics that reached back to the early 600s. This period represents the historical situation that the author refers to as the âIsidore-momentâ. The meaning, significance and purposes of the LI, in its historical setting, are the products of the literary-political dialectics endemic to the âIsidore-momentâ, and thus the LI must be interpreted by way of an acute awareness of its discoursive culture. This thesis, in order to chart an alternative historiography for the Liber Iudiciorum, therefore sets to task to develop the theory of the âIsidore-momentâ. It does this through a series of four case-studies
Kelly, Michael J.
Writing history, narrating fulfillment : the 'Isidore-moment' and the struggle for the 'before now' in late antique and early medieval Hispania. This thesis critically interrogates major texts and historiographies of seventh-century Hispania, produced within what the author calls the âIsidore-momentâ. The primary purpose is to develop a new framework for interpreting the Liber Iudiciorum (LI), the law-code issued by King Recceswinth (649/653-672) in the mid-650s. The LI was not a formulaic or structurally pre-determined text of appeasement, the rapid product of immediate circumstances in the 650s, or an objective collection of laws meant for courts and confirming existing modes of authority. The LI was a manifestation of a vibrant competitive dialectics that reached back to the early 600s. This period represents the historical situation that the author refers to as the âIsidore-momentâ. The meaning, significance and purposes of the LI, in its historical setting, are the products of the literary-political dialectics endemic to the âIsidore-momentâ, and thus the LI must be interpreted by way of an acute awareness of its discoursive culture. This thesis, in order to chart an alternative historiography for the Liber Iudiciorum, therefore sets to task to develop the theory of the âIsidore-momentâ. It does this through a series of four case-studies
writing history narrate fulfillment moment struggle before late_antique early_medieval critically interrogate major texts historiography seventh_century produce within author call moment primary_purpose develop_new framework interpret law_code issue king mid formulaic structurally pre_determined text appeasement rapid product immediate circumstance objective collection law meant court confirm exist mode authority manifestation vibrant competitive dialectic reach_back period represent historical_situation author refers moment meaning_significance purpose historical_setting product literary political dialectic endemic moment thus must interpret way acute awareness culture order chart alternative historiography therefore set task develop_theory moment series_four case_studies