Latin 260
 
Latin Palaeography and Textual Tradition
Spring 2006

Instructor: Robert W. Cape, Jr.
Office: Admin. 310         Phone: ext. 2241
Email: rcape@austincollege.edu      Web Homepage: http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/cml/rcape/
Office hours: MWF 2:00 -2:50 post meridiem & by appt.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:
  • Thompson, Sir Edward Maunde, An Introduction to Greek and Latin Palaeography. Clarendon Press, 1912; rpt. Oxbow, 2002.
    RECOMMENDED BOOK:
  • Bischoff, Bernard Latin Palaeography: Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Trans. D. Ó Cróinín and D. Ganz. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990.

    • This course offers an introduction to Latin paleography, the historical transmission of Latin texts, and the early development of book production in Europe. Our focus will be on the development of the Latin alphabet and handwriting styles from the first century AD to the invention of the printing press and the regional variations of scripts in the first printed books. It will also trace the transmission process of Latin texts from antiquity to the first printed editions. Knowledge of Latin through LAT 201 is required, but the emphasis of the class is on the development of the alphabet and on the European cultural framework in which manuscripts, inscriptions, and books circulated.

    Each class period will be devoted to introducing one or two new hands, with emphasis on development from the previous styles, and to working from with manuscripts to determine characteristics of style and ductus. There will be a weekly quiz to identify scripts and scriptoria. Since the course meets once a week, only one absence is allowed for the semester. The course meets concurrently with Latin 414 on Fridays. There will be a final exam on identifying scripts and sorting texts by date. Austin College's Standards of Academic Integrity are assumed to apply to all work done in this course.

    The final grade is based on your participation in the course, weekly quizzes, and the final exam. The percentage breakdown is as follows:

    participation

    30%

    weekly quizzes

    40%

    final exam

    30%

    (Thursday, May 11, 12:00-2:00 pm)

    [Bob Cape's Homepage] [Classics Program Homepage]

    Robert W. Cape, Jr., Associate Professor of Classics
Classical & Modern Languages
900 N. Grand Avenue, Suite 61653
Sherman, TX 75090-4440
phone: (903) 813-2241  fax: (903) 813-2011
 

     

    Mail comments to rcape@austincollege.edu