Slide 1

Classmate 1 Kim Crawshaw Classmate 3 Medieval and Renaissance Libraries Slide 2 How to make a Library Flourish Centralization Economic Growth Political Stability (Rubin 260) Picture of Mertin Library Exterior by Ferne Arfin Slide 3 Flourishing Libraries Constantinople Imperial Library University Library Library of the Patriarchate of the Eastern Church Damascus (Royal Library) Baghdad (University) Cairo (University) Cordoba (University) (Rubin 266-267) Slide 4 Key Events of the Middle Ages Change in book materials Decline of the Roman Empire Rise of Christianity 400 A.D. 1400 A.D. Photo of the Book of Hours by Frank Margeson Slide 5 Characteristics of Medieval Libraries Papyrus Roll gives way to the Parchment Codex Generally used in the 3 rd century. By the 5 th century, parchment replaces papyrus. More durable, easier to handle, can write on both sides (Hessel 9) (Clement ) Slide 6 Stewardship in Medieval Libraries Preserve the Human Record Transcription of existing literature from one writing material to the other. (Hessel 9) 75% of todays Greek Classics (Rubin 266) (Hadley) Slide 7 Mission of Medieval Libraries Focused on Research and Learning (Brief ) Slide 8 Intellectual Freedom of Medieval Libraries Monks transcribed books by hand Paul the Deacon (Glinster) Slide 9 Intellectual Freedom of Medieval Libraries Locking them down or chaining them to the wall (Peregrinations) Slide 10 Famous Bibliomaniacs St. Columba of Iona Picture from Orthodox Wiki Slide 11 Famous Bibliomaniacs Stephen Blumberg (Not pictured above scene from Time Enough at Last from The Twilight Zone) Slide 12 Intellectual Freedom of Medieval Libraries Book Curses (Anderson 2003) Slide 13 Medieval Book Curse Slide 14 For him that Stealeth a Book from this Library, Let it change into a Serpent in his hand & rend him. Let him be struck with Palsy, & all his Members blasted. Let him languish in Pain crying aloud for Mercy, Let there be no Surcease to his Agony till he sink to Dissolution. Let Bookworms gnaw his Entrails in token of the Worm that dieth not, When at last he goeth to his final Punishment, Let the flames of hell consume him for ever & aye. Slide 15 More Curse Examples Thys boke is one And God's curse another; They that take the one God geve them the other. Steal not this book, my worthy friend For fear the gallows will be your end; Up the ladder, and down the rope, There you'll hang until you choke; Then I'll come along and say - "Where's that book you stole away?" ____________________________________________________ (Ramsay 2/15/08) Slide 16 Intellectual Freedom in Medieval Libraries Council of Paris in 1212 ends curses! Opens opportunities for book loaning and text sharing Slide 17 Literacy & Learning in Medieval Libraries In the Roman Empire: depended on wealth Byzantine Culture: Imperial Library Moslem Empire: variety of libraries Slide 18 Literacy & Learning in Medieval Libraries Byzantine large libraries Why werent there as many books or large private libraries? Slide 19 Literacy & Learning in Medieval Libraries 1)Business slump of Roman booksellers & Publishers 2) The Church 3) The Cost 4) Monks disapproved of book ownership (Staikos 137-140) Slide 20 Summary of Medieval Libraries Shift from Papyrus to Codex Mostly Educational & Religious missions Preserved the written record of many Greek transcripts Church had strong influence Books were cursed and chained to the wall