Manuscripts

Travel back in time through Scottish history by examining early modern Scottish handwriting. Explore Scottish history and learn more about using historical sources. Palaeography is the study of ancient handwriting and a vital skill in the historian’s toolkit. It is essential when conducting research on early modern Scotland – [...]

Take a journey through the literature of English country houses from the time of Thomas More to Oscar Wilde. Trace the history and context of country house literature. Through the course you will investigate and discuss the role and representation of the English country house in literature, and learn [...]

Discover medieval Ireland using the Book of Kells, a ninth-century manuscript featuring the four gospels of the new testament. The Book of Kells manuscript, housed at Trinity College Dublin is world famous - it attracts almost one million visitors a year. But what can this book tell us about [...]

Learn about the Icelandic Sagas, the characteristic literary genre of Medieval Iceland comprising roughly 40 texts. The Medieval Icelandic Sagas is an introductory course on the single most characteristic literary genre of Medieval Iceland. Mainly written in the 13th century, the Icelandic Sagas are comprised of roughly 40 texts [...]

Explore the history and significance of the Birmingham Qur'an, and its journey from late Antiquity Middle East to contemporary UK. The Birmingham Qur’an is one of the oldest surviving Islamic manuscripts. This course will explore the origins and the journey of the Birmingham Qur’an from the Islamic heartlands, the [...]

Explore the medieval city of Toledo (Spain) and assess its history of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim religious and cultural coexistence. This course evaluates the medieval history of Toledo from the reign of King Alfonso “The Wise” (1252-1284) until the creation of the blood purity statutes in the [...]

Explore the medieval city of Burgos (Spain) and assess its history of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim religious and cultural coexistence. This history course delves into the medieval history of the city of Burgos, from its inception in 884 c.e. as the homeland of the Spanish Kingdom of Castile and [...]

Get an introduction to European handwriting of the so-called “twelfth-century renaissance,” when manuscript production skyrocketed as never before.