Anyone know where I can find a genuine medieval city map that is highly detailed. For example, what would be a good name for a library in 1000 AD? Did they even have libraries back then? If so, I'm sure they were reserved for clergymen and nobility only. I know "Life in a Medieval City" by Frances Gies has some good information, but I couldn't find anything about libraries. Anyone???
Medieval Cities and Libraries
- Thread starter Sir Edgar
- Start date
The only thing I've found is this:
Bodleian Library
(colloq. Bodley) the library of Oxford University. The first library was founded in the 14th century and benefited from the manuscript collections donated by Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester (1391 - 1447). It was refounded by the Diplomat and scholar , Sir, Thomas Bodley (1545 - 1613), and opened as the Bodleian Library in 1602. In 1610 the Stationers' Company agreed to give to the library a copy of every book printed in England, and the Bodleian is now one of the six copyright libraries entitled to receive on demand a copy of every book, periodical, etc. published in the UK. It also houses one of the world's most extensive collections of Western and oriental manuscripts.
Bodleian Library
(colloq. Bodley) the library of Oxford University. The first library was founded in the 14th century and benefited from the manuscript collections donated by Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester (1391 - 1447). It was refounded by the Diplomat and scholar , Sir, Thomas Bodley (1545 - 1613), and opened as the Bodleian Library in 1602. In 1610 the Stationers' Company agreed to give to the library a copy of every book printed in England, and the Bodleian is now one of the six copyright libraries entitled to receive on demand a copy of every book, periodical, etc. published in the UK. It also houses one of the world's most extensive collections of Western and oriental manuscripts.
boothbey
First Post
This might help.
Try this, don't know if this is really what you are looking for, but it might help you out.
www.trytel.com/~tristan/towns/towns.html
Try this, don't know if this is really what you are looking for, but it might help you out.
www.trytel.com/~tristan/towns/towns.html
GuardianLurker
Adventurer
Since you're talking pre-renaissance, (and also pre-printing press), all books have to be hand-written (scribed).
For most of the medieval period, the only "caste" that had both time and resources to copy books were the cloistered monks (as opposed to the priesthood in general).
The books were almost entirely theological/religious in nature; the very few secular exceptions were generally histories and primers of the "liberal" arts - reading, maths, and rhetoric - with a rare sprinkling of classic texts (like Plato's Republic).
Regardless, books were *incredibly* expensive. Generally, only rich nobles (and merchants) could afford to own any. Owning a single book marked someone as an educated man; owning more than one a scholar. A large private, secular, library would have a dozen books. The largest private secular library in a *country* would have a few dozen (maybe even a hundred) books. Religious libraries (like that in the Vatican and many abbeys) were usually larger than their secular counterparts, but would be strongly focused on the sacred or theological texts; often they'd have multiple copies of a single work.
None of these were public libraries. None of these were lending libraries. A scholar who needed a particular volume would often need to travel long distances (possibly even through multiple countries) and beg the owner for permission to look at his copy. Large gifts were always welcome, of course.
In short, you can't find any information about medieval libraries because (for all intents and purposes) they didn't exist.
For most of the medieval period, the only "caste" that had both time and resources to copy books were the cloistered monks (as opposed to the priesthood in general).
The books were almost entirely theological/religious in nature; the very few secular exceptions were generally histories and primers of the "liberal" arts - reading, maths, and rhetoric - with a rare sprinkling of classic texts (like Plato's Republic).
Regardless, books were *incredibly* expensive. Generally, only rich nobles (and merchants) could afford to own any. Owning a single book marked someone as an educated man; owning more than one a scholar. A large private, secular, library would have a dozen books. The largest private secular library in a *country* would have a few dozen (maybe even a hundred) books. Religious libraries (like that in the Vatican and many abbeys) were usually larger than their secular counterparts, but would be strongly focused on the sacred or theological texts; often they'd have multiple copies of a single work.
None of these were public libraries. None of these were lending libraries. A scholar who needed a particular volume would often need to travel long distances (possibly even through multiple countries) and beg the owner for permission to look at his copy. Large gifts were always welcome, of course.
In short, you can't find any information about medieval libraries because (for all intents and purposes) they didn't exist.
GuardianLurker
Adventurer
Oh, and the Library of Alexandria didn't exist in medieval times; it burned down during the Roman era.
It was however HUGE, possessing thousands of scrolls (books). The collection had been built up over CENTURIES.
The library was one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient (Mediterrean) World, and it was never equaled by medieval Europe.
It was however HUGE, possessing thousands of scrolls (books). The collection had been built up over CENTURIES.
The library was one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient (Mediterrean) World, and it was never equaled by medieval Europe.
Was that "The Great Library"?
Hmmm, so, I still don't know what the naming conventions are for libraries. I guess you don't really need to put one in a medieval city, but if you are going to...
I'm assuming it would have to be named after a big donor or have a generic name like "City Library".
Thanks for the great info, btw, GuardianLurker.
Hmmm, so, I still don't know what the naming conventions are for libraries. I guess you don't really need to put one in a medieval city, but if you are going to...
I'm assuming it would have to be named after a big donor or have a generic name like "City Library".
Thanks for the great info, btw, GuardianLurker.
jester47
First Post
Most libraries in the medieval era could fit in a normal sized trunk.
Keep this in mind.
Then go read The Name of the Rose. It is a great descriptor of what a huge medieval library would be like if such a thing were able to exist. The movie with Sean Connery ("Shecksy" himself) and Chritian Slater is a fun watch too, and gets the point across.
The intellectual patterns of the medieval ages and the concept of travelling to the book and giving gifts to read them and copy them is the basis for the game's spell book rules. The gift probably was probably equivalent to the cost of room and board for the time that it would take to copy the book...
Aaron.
Keep this in mind.
Then go read The Name of the Rose. It is a great descriptor of what a huge medieval library would be like if such a thing were able to exist. The movie with Sean Connery ("Shecksy" himself) and Chritian Slater is a fun watch too, and gets the point across.
The intellectual patterns of the medieval ages and the concept of travelling to the book and giving gifts to read them and copy them is the basis for the game's spell book rules. The gift probably was probably equivalent to the cost of room and board for the time that it would take to copy the book...
Aaron.
jester47
First Post
here is a web site filled with copius maps from the medieval ages. However theonly ones that they show you are world maps. Still if you look closely you will notice a map of Jerusalem, and a map of England. (near the bottom) this would indicate to me that there may very well exist a map of a city that was penned in the middle ages. I am hopeing that the map of Jerusalem is the city proper and not the crusader "kingdom." There is no doubt such things exist but you might have to do some serious archive work to find them...
Sounds like an interesting reasearch project...
Aaron.
Sounds like an interesting reasearch project...
Aaron.
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