Mappae Mundi (Viiie-Xiie Siecle) (French Edition) Hardcover – October 2, 2024

English summary: "The mappae mundi exist in scores of manuscripts and much work needs to be done before secure generalizations may be based upon them", wrote the English historian Denys Hay in 1957. This book aims to contribute to this study by describing in detail the hundreds of diagrams and more elaborate maps found in medieval (mainly Latin) manuscripts up to around 1200. Most documents have been examined directly, some having been described from microfilm or electronic reproductions. Each document, far from being considered in isolation, is described in terms of its materiality (how the drawings were made, reprints and corrections, etc.), its codicological context (place of the drawing in the economy of the codex, rubrication, etc.) and its intellectual context (illustrated texts, place of the drawing on the page and in the codex as a whole). Taking these data into account will enable specialists to define precisely the reasons that contributed to the creation of these drawings. Each entry is accompanied by a reproduction of the map in large format to allow for comparisons and more in-depth study, making this book an indispensable resource for all related research. French description: "Les mappae mundi existent dans un grand nombre de manuscrits, et beaucoup de travail doit etre accompli avant que des generalisations certaines puissent etre fondees sur elles", ecrivait l'historien anglais Denys Hay en 1957. Cet ouvrage entend contribuer a ce programme en decrivant dans le detail les centaines de diagrammes et de cartes plus developpees que l'on rencontre dans les manuscrits medievaux (principalement latins) jusqu'aux environs de 1200. La plupart des temoins ont ete examines directement, certains ayant ete decrits a partir de microfilms ou de reproductions electroniques. Chaque temoin, loin d'etre considere isolement, est decrit dans sa materialite (facon dont les dessins ont ete realises, repentirs et corrections...), dans son contexte codicologique (place du dessin dans l'economie du codex, rubrication...) et intellectuelle (textes illustres, place du dessin dans la page et dans l'ensemble du codex). La prise en compte de ces donnees permettra aux specialistes de definir precisement les raisons qui ont contribue a la realisation de ces dessins. De tres nombreuses reproductions permettent des comparaisons et des recherches plus approfondies, faisant de l'ouvrage un instrument de travail indispensable. Read more