Byzantine monastic libraries in the eleventh and twelfth centuries
This thesis examines how and why books were being commissioned, produced and circulated in the eleventh and twelfth centuries by and for the monastic communities. Furthermore it is also concerned with who was reading these book and in what way. Chapter 1 establishes definitions of 'monastic' and 'book culture' and looks forward to the central definition and understanding of what constituted a mediaeval library. 'Library' is examined in detail at the close of Chapter 1. Previous work is critically reviewed. 'Book culture' can be examined from a variety of methodological approaches; for example paleographical and codicological. In addition aspects of the wider phenomenon of social and cultural history, in particular literacy and to a much lesser extent education, are considered. This discussion assesses the range of methodologies and highlights how the approaches in this thesis are complementary to or differ from earlier work. Chapter 2 focuses on the books. Data from the extant mediaeval inventories are examined from a number of perspectives. How information was organised is considered and the vocabulary used to describe not only the texts but also the physical characteristics of the book as object is examined
Waring, Judith
History
Byzantine monastic libraries in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. This thesis examines how and why books were being commissioned, produced and circulated in the eleventh and twelfth centuries by and for the monastic communities. Furthermore it is also concerned with who was reading these book and in what way. Chapter 1 establishes definitions of 'monastic' and 'book culture' and looks forward to the central definition and understanding of what constituted a mediaeval library. 'Library' is examined in detail at the close of Chapter 1. Previous work is critically reviewed. 'Book culture' can be examined from a variety of methodological approaches; for example paleographical and codicological. In addition aspects of the wider phenomenon of social and cultural history, in particular literacy and to a much lesser extent education, are considered. This discussion assesses the range of methodologies and highlights how the approaches in this thesis are complementary to or differ from earlier work. Chapter 2 focuses on the books. Data from the extant mediaeval inventories are examined from a number of perspectives. How information was organised is considered and the vocabulary used to describe not only the texts but also the physical characteristics of the book as object is examined
byzantine monastic library eleventh examines book commission produce circulate eleventh monastic_community furthermore also concerned read book way establishes definition monastic book culture look forward central definition constitute mediaeval library library examine_detail close previous_work critically_review book culture examine variety methodological_approach example addition aspect wider phenomenon social_cultural history particular literacy much_less extent education consider discussion assess range methodology highlight approach complementary differ earlier_work focus book data extant mediaeval inventory examine number perspective information organise consider vocabulary use_describe text also physical characteristic book object examine