Introduction to Paleography

6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1020860AEW for working students in the 2nd semester at a (A) Bachelor - preliminary level.

Semester

2nd semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Possible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Enrollment Requirements

NOTE: registration for this course is only possible for working students. Day students can register for courses whose code ends with an R. At Inschrijven / studentenadministratie@vub.be you must be registered at the VUB as a working student for the current academic year.

Taught in

Dutch

Faculty

Faculty of Languages & Humanities

Department

History, Archaeology, Arts, Philosophy and Ethics

Educational team

Georges Declercq (course titular)
Hanne Roose

Activities and contact hours

2 contact hours Lecture
24 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
90 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study

Course Content

This course offers an introduction to palaeography. Students will acquire the skills which will allow them to read and transcribe texts in old handwriting. During an introduction the basic concepts of palaeography will be set out, and the abbreviation systems used in the Middle Ages and in the early modern period will be explained. The classes will then take the form of practical exercises as a series of some 15 texts in Dutch and French dating from the 13th to the early 18th centuries will be read. These include archival sources (in diplomatic or documentary script) and extracts from library sources (in book hand). During the classes students themselves have a go, taking it in turns to read a part of a text.
The introductory class is given by the professor. The remaining classes, which take the form of guided exercises, are generally given by an assistant (Hanne Roose). One class is devoted to the presentation of the interactive online practice environment on Canvas.
Because this is a very practical course, attendance at the classes is not only a requirement but is also very strongly recommended.

Course material

Digital course material (Required) : Fotokopies van teksten. Gedeeltelijke transcripties zijn na afloop te raadplegen, Canvas
Digital course material (Required) : Digitale oefenomgeving, Canvas
Handbook (Required) : Oud schrift voor beginners. Een inleiding tot de paleografie, Georges Declercq en Hanne Roose, Academia Press, Gent, 9789401491297, 2023

Additional info

The handwritten 13th to 18th century texts used for this course are handed out in the form of photocopies during the classes. Partial transcripts can be consulted afterwards via Canvas.

An interactive online practice environment with some 40 exercices is avalaible on Canvas.

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

Students can read and transcribe handwritten documents in Dutch and French from the late Middle Ages and early modern periods

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 95% of the final mark.
SELF Practical Assignment determines 5% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

written exam with a relative weight of 19 which comprises 95% of the final mark.

Within the SELF Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:

2 complete exercices with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 5% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

Written examination.

Students have to make 2 complete exercices on Canvas

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context