Notam superponere studui : The use of technical signs in the early Middle Ages
Eva Steinová
Early medieval Latin manuscripts frequently contain marginal commentaries and annotations that refer to the text in these manuscripts. Such marginalia may have form of texts or diagrams, but other cases, they are symbols - crosses, dots, slashes more complex graphic signs. While scholars been aware presence technical signs manuscript margins, we had until now no coherent understanding their usage many cases lacked key decipher meaning. My PhD research provides first detailed examination used early West attempts map Carolingian period. I outline history goes back Classical Antiquity. Technical devised by scribes perform routine professional tasks, such as correction faulty critical assessment fellow scholars, were adopted Christian Late users also developed new uses for signs, example mark contained theologically problematic passages. The practice using was originally highly pragmatic, assume sign learned trade from orally observing behaviour. However, since centuries treatises how be used, gave them names sometimes added details about origin known began produced Greek Latin. These oldest provided basis surviving Middle Ages. More than twenty survive transcribe analyze my dissertation discuss testimonies reflecting scholarly discourse on subject showed majority one can encounter Western monastic who simple operations connected with copying manuscripts, readership. Nevertheless, some reflect activities attest a revival interest traditions use outlined available readers. This Renaissance reforms last decades eighth century. Most likely, thinkers study category because connection Psalter; however, gradually beyond this single tradition stimulated study. Ultimately, own captured several works during