Greek books and texts. Antiquity, Middle Ages, Humanism

Course objectives

The course aims to provide knowledge and understanding of the methodological, critical and applicable aspects of the discipline, with particular regard to the material characters of manuscript witnesses, the figures of both copyists and readers, and the role that all these aspects played in the history of Greek texts, whose preservation and loss from Antiquity to the Humanism will also be focused. The course also proposes geographical areas and sectorial perspectives in which related projects are activated; it shows the variability of fields of interest; it enables the student to master the specific topics in order to use them and apply them in other fields of study while using the correct specific language. With the acquired knowledge the student will be able to develop autonomous ability of connections with other disciplines in the various historical epochs and cultural contexts.

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DANIELE BIANCONI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
The course aims to illustrate the material, social, and cultural factors that influenced the history of Greek texts from Antiquity to Humanism. We will trace the manuscript tradition of selected authors by examining the material and paleographic features of various witnesses, from papyri to the earliest printed editions.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of ancient Greek.
Books
D. Bianconi, Cura et studio. Il restauro del libro a Bisanzio, Alessandria, Edizioni dell'Orso, 2018. G. Cavallo, Scrivere e leggere nella città antica, Roma, Carocci, 2019. G. Cavallo, Dalla parte del libro. Storie di trasmissione dei classici, Urbino, Quattroventi, 2002.
Teaching mode
frontal lessons; reading practises.
Frequency
Attendance is optional but strongly recommended.
Exam mode
Oral exam at the end of the lessons, by mark expressed on a scale from a minimum of 18 (the threshold to pass the exam) to the maximum of 30 (cum laude). The exam consists in reading and discussing one or more facsimiles of Greek manuscripts.
Lesson mode
frontal lessons; reading practises.
  • Lesson code10621104
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CourseHistorical Studies
  • CurriculumStoria Medievale e Paleografia (Percorso valido anche ai fini del rilascio del doppio titolo italo-francese)
  • Year1st year
  • Semester2nd semester
  • SSDM-STO/09
  • CFU6