jan 1, 500 - Medieval Manuscripts

Description:

Notable for its sheer longevity, the primary form of the book throughout the Middle Ages was the manuscript codex. Texts were copied by hand onto leaves of parchment which were subsequently bound into a codex. Sometimes these manuscripts were illuminated, painstakingly illustrated with valuable pigments and decorated with gold leaf. For much of the Middle Ages, this work was done by monks in scriptoria, specialized workshops for the production of books (Galbraith, 2020). Due to the materials, time, and labor involved in the production of medieval manuscripts, books were incredibly expensive and rare. Early printed books were modeled after these manuscripts, which are highly sought-after items to this day (Sington, 2020).

About the image: This image is of an anatomical manual manuscript produced in 1158 CE by monks in Bavaria. This page shows the meticulous calligraphy which characterized the medieval manuscript as well as illustrations showing the arteries and veins of the human body.

SOURCES
Galbraith, S. K. (2020). A Brief History of the Book: From Tablet to Tablet. Libraries Unlimited.
Raven, J. (2023). The Oxford History of the Book (First edition). OUP Oxford. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780192886897.001.0001
Sington, D. (Director). (2020). A to Z: How Writing Changed the World [Video/DVD]. In NOVA. Public Broadcasting Service. https://video-alexanderstreet-com.libezproxy2.syr.edu/watch/hour-2?utm_campaign=Video&utm_medium=MARC&utm_source=aspresolver

IMAGES
Liber scriptus est in coenobio Pruvingensi sub Erbone abbate ab H. Wolfgero et Swichero anno 1158. Corporis humani arteriae et venae duabus figuris exhibitae (Anatomical manual). (1158 CE). [Manuscript codex on vellum]. Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Munich, Germany. https://exhibitions.kelsey.lsa.umich.edu/art-science-healing/medieval_manuscripts1.php.

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