Insular Script in Britain from Alfred the Great to the Norman Conquest
One Day Course: Tuesday 4 June 2024
This course (which would be ideal for someone who has taken an introductory course on Insular palaeography and wants to broaden their knowledge) covers developments in Insular script from the end of the first Viking Age up to the Norman Conquest. We will start by looking at the state of writing in England during the reign of Alfred, and proceed through the various forms of Insular script which developed during the tenth and eleventh centuries (principally Square minuscule and Vernacular minuscule). Welsh and Cornish scripts of this period – which influenced and were influenced by English script – will also be covered. By the end of the course, students should be familiar with the relevant script-types and with their historical and cultural background.
There will be frequent opportunities to practise reading Insular script, and specialist letter-forms and abbreviations will be explained as they occur.
Additional Information
Course Requirements
No prior knowledge of medieval languages is required. It would be helpful, however, if students already had some familiarity with Insular script (e.g. as a result of attending an introductory course at LIPS).
Essential Reading
- Michelle P. Brown, A Guide to Western Historical Scripts from Antiquity to 1600 (London: British Library, 1990)
- Richard Gameson (ed.), The Cambridge History of the Book in Britain, Vol. I (c. 400-1100) (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012) (specifically chapters 3, 4, and 5)
- Jane Roberts, A Guide to Scripts used in English Writings up to 1500 (London: British Library, 2005 / Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 2015)
Location
This course will take place in Senate House.
Fees
Course fees for LIPS 2024 are below:
