<i>Erinnerung—Niederschrift—Nutzung: Das Papsttum und die Schriftlichkeit im mittelalterlichen Westeuropa</i> (review)
Adam J. Kosto
Reviewed by: Erinnerung—Niederschrift—Nutzung: Das Papsttum und die Schriftlichkeit im mittelalterlichen Westeuropa Adam J. Kosto Westeuropa. Edited by Klaus Herbers and Ingo Fleisch. [Abhandlungen der Akademie Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, neue Folge, Band 11; Studien Papstgeschichte Papsturkunden.] (Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. 2011. Pp. x, 272. $150.00. ISBN 978-3-11-025370-2.) The Iberian arm of the Papsturkunden project, which aims to publish registers all known papal documents before 1198 (see http://www.papsturkunden.gwdg.de), has lain dormant since publication Vorarbeiten in 1920s (Paul Fridolin Kehr, Spanien, 2 vols. 4 pts. [Berlin, 1926–28], Carl Erdmann, Portugal 1927]). Hispania pontificia now Iberia pontificia, was revived 2006. A first volume regesta been published (Dioecesis Burgensis, ed. Daniel Berger [Göttingen, 2012]); at least eight more are planned. book under review offers papers presented a 2007 preparatory workshop Göttingen that explored questions concerning creation, preservation, transmission can shed light on relationship between papacy Iberia. Due nature sources chronological focus is eleventh twelfth centuries. brief introductory chapter sophisticated hermeneutical framework distinguishes roles perception, interpretation, memory creation proper understanding sources, an approach unfortunately re-emerges only occasionally rest volume. threads may be followed with ease basic: When why were certain preserved? What explains forms what internal logic those forms? And—of principal interest readers this journal—what tell us about power influence Iberia? Given importance cartularies for records, they receive most attention. Individual chapters address structure twelfth-century stratum Liber fidei Braga (Maria João Branco); from Astorga early modern codices (Santiago Domínguez Sánchez); Tumbos related works Santiago (Fernando López Alsina); problematic bulls testamentorum Oviedo (Ma. Josefa Sanz Fuentes). To group assimilated two hybrid Santiago, Historia Compostellana Sancti Jacobi (Herbers). comparative French argues well placement records them reveals geographies rhythms (Harald Müller). These document overlap pragmatic, propagandistic, memorializing functions written word. remaining varied focus: content uses (mostly lost) early-thirteenth century their [End Page 789] pontificalis (Uta-Renate Blumenthal); introduction Romano-canonical procedure into (Ingo Fleisch); effectiveness communications dioceses Extremadura (José Luis Martín Martín); culture word Catalonia its Carolingian, Capetian, developments (Ludwig Vones). central Middle Ages particularly useful laboratory study intersection word, large part because peculiar circumstances Reconquista: or reestablishment newly conquered lands, attendant disputes over boundaries primacy as conflicts various Christian kings, created opening extension authority precisely right moment history. Add revival learned law long tradition record-keeping Peninsula, veritable explosion subject makes perfect sense. As France itself hint, however, these exceptional nevertheless illuminate across Europe. Columbia University Copyright © 2012 Catholic America Press
Catholic Historical Review