Medieval Scrolls: Purpose and Persistence in Book Era
Despite codex dominance, scrolls retained importance in medieval Europe for ceremonial, legal, and administrative purposes, bridging ancient and modern formats.
Despite codex dominance, scrolls retained importance in medieval Europe for ceremonial, legal, and administrative purposes, bridging ancient and modern formats.
Discover why scrolls remained popular in medieval Europe long after codex books became dominant. This Harvard course examines the creation, use, and significance of scrolls from the Middle Ages. Learn about four main types of scrolls: those of indeterminate length, long format scrolls, ceremonial and archaizing scrolls, and portable scrolls. Through detailed examination of beautiful artifacts from Harvard's collection, you'll gain insights into medieval scroll-making techniques, various layouts, and decorative styles. The course features a virtual tour of a Harvard exhibition, allowing unprecedented interaction with digitized scrolls using cutting-edge technology.
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What you'll learn
Understand the reasons for continued scroll production in medieval Europe
Identify and differentiate between various types of medieval scrolls
Analyze the techniques used in scroll-making and compare them to codex production
Explore the layouts and decorative styles unique to different types of scrolls
Examine the cultural and historical significance of scrolls in medieval society
Gain hands-on experience with digitized scrolls using advanced web applications
Skills you'll gain
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Module Description
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the creation and use of scrolls in medieval Europe. It explores why the scroll format remained relevant even after the codex became the dominant form of book. The curriculum is structured around four main reasons for scroll-making: scrolls of indeterminate length, long format scrolls, ceremonial and archaizing scrolls, and portable scrolls. Students will examine in detail a variety of beautiful medieval scrolls from Harvard's collection, gaining insights into the motivations behind choosing the scroll format for certain texts. The course features a virtual tour of an exhibition on Harvard's medieval scroll collection, allowing students to interact with fully digitized scrolls using Mirador, a state-of-the-art web application. Through this course, participants will develop a deep understanding of scroll-making techniques, various layouts and uses, decorative styles, and the historical and cultural significance of scrolls in medieval society.
Fee Structure
Instructors
Medieval Religious Scholar and Manuscript Expert
Timothy M. Baker completed his Doctor of Theology at Harvard Divinity School in 2015, specializing in medieval religious history and manuscript traditions. His academic journey includes a BA from Dartmouth College, an MTS from Harvard Divinity School, and a Diploma in Manuscript Studies from the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies. His doctoral dissertation, "'Be You as Living Stones Built Up, A Spiritual House, A Holy Priesthood': Cistercian Exegesis, Reforms, and the Construction of Holy Architectures," explored twelfth and thirteenth-century Cistercian interpretations of monasteries as sacred spaces. Baker's scholarly work spans medieval Christian theology, manuscript studies, and monastic traditions, with significant publications including collaborations with Beverly Mayne Kienzle on monastic preaching and contributions to the Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception. He has taught at both Harvard and Dartmouth College, offering courses in Latin, Classical Studies, and Medieval Christianity. His expertise in manuscript studies led him to co-curate an exhibition on medieval scrolls at Harvard's Houghton Library and contribute to HarvardX's online educational platform. Baker's work combines detailed textual analysis with broader historical and theological perspectives, particularly focusing on how medieval monastics understood their physical and spiritual environments
11 Courses
Prominent Scholar Advancing Musicology and Early Music Performance
Thomas Forrest Kelly is the Morton B. Knafel Professor of Music at Harvard University, specializing in performance practice, early music, and liturgical music. He earned his BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his PhD from Harvard, where he has been a faculty member since 1997. His influential works include "The Beneventan Chant," which received the Otto Kinkeldey Award from the American Musicological Society, and "Capturing Music: The Story of Notation." Kelly has also authored "Early Music: A Very Short Introduction" and "First Nights," which explores significant musical premieres throughout history. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has received numerous accolades, including being named a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres by the French Republic. His extensive contributions to musicology encompass research on medieval music and its performance, as well as teaching at various prestigious institutions. Through his scholarly work and active participation in the music community, Kelly continues to influence the understanding and appreciation of early music traditions.
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