Palaeography and Diplomatics
Code
711051107
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
História
Credits
6
Teacher in charge
João Alves Dias
Weekly hours
4
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
Students are expected to:
1. Understand the evolution of handwriting in Portugal between the 13th and the 18th centuries;
2. Be able to read a range of handwritten documents produced in Portugal between 1200 to 1800;
3. Be able to transcribe early documents;
4. Be able to present material according to recognized scholarly and diplomatic conventions;
5. Develop ability to carry out primary research in medieval and early modern studies.
Prerequisites
None.
Subject matter
1. Concepts and theoretical notions.
Concept and object of Palaeography. Scientifical and practical character of the discipline. The evolution of handwriting.
Timelines. Scholarly conventions for transcribing and presenting documents.
2. Reading and transcribing documents (13th to 18th centuries)
Distribution for centuries:
XIII - 1 document
XIV - 5 documents
XV - 6 documents
XVI - 7 documents
XVII - 7 documents
XVIII -2 documents
(texts are chosen from a wide range of texts and hands, with a particular focus on cursive types).
Bibliography
- Álbum de Paleografia / Selecção de documentos e transcrição de João José Alves DIAS. Lisboa, 2007 [no prelo].
- MARQUES, A. H. de Oliveira, «Paleografia». Dicionário de História de Portugal, dirig. por Joel SERRÃO, (1ª ed., vol. 3, Lisboa, Iniciativas Editoriais, 1968, pp. 292-298), nova ed., vol. IV, Porto, Figueirinhas Editores, 1992, p.528-534.
- Coelho, Maria Helena da CRUZ, A Diplomática em Portugal, Balanço e Estado Actual, Coimbra, ed. do autor, 1992.
- MARQUES, A. H. de Oliveira, Diplomática. Separata do Dicionário de História de Portugal, dirig. por Joel SERRÃO, (1ª ed., vol. 1, Lisboa, Iniciativas Editoriais, 1963, pp. 823-828), nova ed., vol. II, Porto, Figueirinhas Editores, 1992, p.309-314.
- NUNES, Eduardo Alexandre Borges, Abreviaturas Paleograficas Portuguesas, Lisboa, Faculdade de Letras, 1981.
Teaching method
Lectures play only a minor role, since this is a practical course designed for students to acquire skills. Therefore the
learning activities include collective reading and the transcription of a wide range of documents during class.
Evaluation method
The structure of marks and the nature of assignments is the following: one written test (accounting for 60% of the final
grade); a take-away exam (accounting for 40% of the final grade). Both assignments comprise a transcription exercise.