Objective This project will examine surviving medieval manuscripts in order to investigate the writing of history in areas controlled by the Anglo-Norman Empire in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. In this period, history (referring to both the recent past and stretching back to biblical chronology), seems to have become a major interest for both the educated elite and a growing semi-literate population. New chronicles and annals were produced, together with accounts of the histories of particular peoples, nations and subjects. Much historical writing in this period dealt with issues of conquest and identity, which was often allied to geography, ethnicity or particular institutions. In addition to the very well-known Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in its many versions, some twelfth-century writers achieved recognition for their work on historical topics. In the thirteenth century their work, together with that of earlier writers, most notably Bede, was taken up and developed by writers such as Matthew Paris, and many monastic chroniclers. At the same time some of this material began to be illustrated, both with figurative imagery and with technical diagrams. This project will investigate the surviving volumes in which such works are contained. It will address their size and layout, the materials used in their production, and in particular their decoration, to consider the circumstances in which they were produced and circulated, the audiences for the material, and attitudes to both particular ideas and stories, and to historical writing in general. In particular it will consider how images, and the manuscripts in which they appeared, were used to express particular ideas about the diverse communities encompassed by the Anglo-Norman Empire as its boundaries expanded in the twelfth century, before shrinking in the thirteenth century. Fields of science humanitieshistory and archaeologyhistorysocial sciencessociologyanthropologyethnologyhumanitieslanguages and literatureliterature studieshistory of literature Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-2011-CIG - Marie-Curie Action: "Career Integration Grants" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2011-CIG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-CIG - Support for training and career development of researcher (CIG) Coordinator THE PROVOST, FELLOWS, FOUNDATION SCHOLARS & THE OTHER MEMBERS OF BOARD, OF THE COLLEGE OF THE HOLY & UNDIVIDED TRINITY OF QUEEN ELIZABETH NEAR DUBLIN EU contribution € 100 000,00 Address COLLEGE GREEN TRINITY COLLEGE D02 CX56 DUBLIN 2 Ireland See on map Region Ireland Eastern and Midland Dublin Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Deirdre Savage (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
