Università Roma Tre

Papyrus in the Middle Ages: A Mediterranean History (4th-11th Centuries).

This course aims to address, through seminar-style approaches, the history of papyrus in the Middle Ages. It is a classic topic that, starting from Henri Pirenne's research, has been consistently investigated by scholars of written culture, who have viewed papyrus as a writing material, as well as by historians of economics, who have regarded papyrus as an indicator of trade relations across the Mediterranean.

Taking into account interpretations and debates surrounding this topic or related themes, the lessons aim to discuss studies (books, essays), and especially sources (translated into Italian) based on a specific questionnaire: in which areas of the Mediterranean was papyrus produced, and how? What were the logics, dynamics, and economic actors of its circulation across the Mediterranean after the fall of the Western Roman Empire (476)? Did circulation encounter obstacles after the 7th century due to religious differences between Islam and Christianity? What were its areas of usage? How did these areas of usage vary depending on the cultural, geographical, economic, and political contexts? What impact did the economic logic of papyrus have on European cultural dynamics? When did the history of papyrus end, and why? How does the history of papyrus interact with our understanding of the cultural and economic history of the medieval Mediterranean?

Note well: In addition to participating in the discussions during the lessons, in the final section of the course students will be required to prepare and discuss, individually or in groups, a brief written text.

For attending students, the exam is essentially based on the materials provided by the professor and discussed in class. For reference reading, one can consider D. Internullo, Il papiro, la pergamena e le origini della memoria archivistica dell’Europa occidentale (secoli VI-XI), in Segni, sogni, materie e scrittura dall’Egitto tardoantico all’Europa carolingia, ed. by A. Ghignoli, M. Boccuzzi, A. Monte, N. Sietis, Roma 2023, pp. 119-162 (it will be available in the proper Teams channel)

For non-attending students, the examination is based on the comprehensive study of:
H. Pirenne, Maometto e Carlomagno, any of the many editions available
- C. Picard, Il mare dei califfi. Storia del Mediterraneo musulmano (secoli VII-XII), Roma, Carocci, 2017
- D. Internullo, Il papiro, la pergamena e le origini della memoria archivistica dell’Europa occidentale (secoli VI-XI), in Segni, sogni, materie e scrittura dall’Egitto tardoantico all’Europa carolingia, ed. by A. Ghignoli, M. Boccuzzi, A. Monte, N. Sietis, Roma 2023, pp. 119-162
Note well: in addition to an integral study, non-attending students are also asked to make the three readings interact with each other, trying in particular to understand: a) how our knowledge of Mediterranean history has changed since Pirenne's book publication - thus paying attention to Picard's book in this regard; b) how the data on papyrus circulation (cf. Internullo's essay) interacts with our knowledge of the Mediterranean.

Note well 2: A remedial programme must be agreed with the lecturer for those who have never taken a basic Medieval History examination (M-STO/01).