Workshop: Edition of Medieval and Modern Documentary Sources
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The workshop aims to provide the essential tools in order to address the reading, description and critical publication of documentary sources of the medieval and early-modern age.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the workshop the student will have become familiar with the elements in which the critical publication of documentary sources from the medieval and the early modern age are articulated. They will be able to confront a transcription of a document according to the most credible editorial criteria and to apply the correct structures to the description of their tradition and their reviewability, using the appropriate lexicon of the discipline. These skills will be acquired through an introductory lesson and archive tutorials coordinated by the instructor; individual work on unpublished texts and the peer to peer discussion of the work will be essential. Educational materials used during the meetings will be made available to members on the Ariel platform; students will also have the opportunity to contact the teacher both by email and during office hours.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Giudizio di approvazione
Assessment result: superato/non superato
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Title of the course: Editing medieval and modern documentary sources
Subject: Principles and tools for the critical edition of sources (13th-16th centuries)
Subject: Principles and tools for the critical edition of sources (13th-16th centuries)
Prerequisites for admission
There are no specific requirements different from those requested for the admission to the MA degree in historical sciences.
Teaching methods
Attendance to classes is mandatory. Laboratory is delivered through lectures aimed at providing the student with the essential tools to carry out edition of documentary sources, with particular reference to12th-16th century. The lessons will allow students
- to learn the most accreditated editorial principles;
- to identify the main types of documentary sources as well as research tools for the critical edition of sources; referring to research tools;
- to edit documentary sources by using the most accreditated principles for critical edition both in transcription and apparatus notes.
These skills will be first acquired through classes, by practicing on sources, and then in archive, through the individual edition of one document. Discussion with the teacher is integrant part of the didactic method and aims at promoting a critical attitude and the ability to apply the acquired competence and knowledge.
- to learn the most accreditated editorial principles;
- to identify the main types of documentary sources as well as research tools for the critical edition of sources; referring to research tools;
- to edit documentary sources by using the most accreditated principles for critical edition both in transcription and apparatus notes.
These skills will be first acquired through classes, by practicing on sources, and then in archive, through the individual edition of one document. Discussion with the teacher is integrant part of the didactic method and aims at promoting a critical attitude and the ability to apply the acquired competence and knowledge.
Teaching Resources
- knowledge of the topics taught in lectures;
- knowledge of one of the following essays:
- A. Pratesi, Una questione di metodo: l'edizione delle fonti documentarie, «Rassegna degli Archivi di Stato», 17 (1957), pp. 312-333; or in Antologia di scritti archivistici, a cura di R. Giuffrida, Roma 1985, pp. 693-714 e in A. Pratesi, Tra carte e notai. Saggi di diplomatica dal 1951 al 1991, Roma 1992 (Miscellanea della Società Romana di Storia Patria, XXXV), pp. 7-31.
- A. Petrucci, L'edizione delle fonti documentarie: un problema sempre aperto, «Rivista storica italiana», 75 (1963), pp. 69-80.
- G. Tognetti, Criteri per la trascrizione dei testi medievali latini e italiani, Roma 1982 (Quaderni per la Rassegna degli Archivi di Stato, 51).
- (download: http://www.scrineum.it/scrineum/biblioteca/dossier-1.html)
International and Erasmus students are invited to promptly get in touch with the professor in order to arrange a reading plan (available in English) for exam preparation.
- knowledge of one of the following essays:
- A. Pratesi, Una questione di metodo: l'edizione delle fonti documentarie, «Rassegna degli Archivi di Stato», 17 (1957), pp. 312-333; or in Antologia di scritti archivistici, a cura di R. Giuffrida, Roma 1985, pp. 693-714 e in A. Pratesi, Tra carte e notai. Saggi di diplomatica dal 1951 al 1991, Roma 1992 (Miscellanea della Società Romana di Storia Patria, XXXV), pp. 7-31.
- A. Petrucci, L'edizione delle fonti documentarie: un problema sempre aperto, «Rivista storica italiana», 75 (1963), pp. 69-80.
- G. Tognetti, Criteri per la trascrizione dei testi medievali latini e italiani, Roma 1982 (Quaderni per la Rassegna degli Archivi di Stato, 51).
- (download: http://www.scrineum.it/scrineum/biblioteca/dossier-1.html)
International and Erasmus students are invited to promptly get in touch with the professor in order to arrange a reading plan (available in English) for exam preparation.
Assessment methods and Criteria
- Method: evaluation at the end of the course
-Type of examination: in addition to attending lessons it will be necessary to discuss the edition of a document curated during the lessons
- Evaluation criteria: ability to demonstrate and elaborate knowledge through concrete editorial work; ability for critical reflection on the completed work; competence in the use of specialised lexicon.
- Type of evaluation method: approval of 3 CFUs.
The format of the assessment for students with disabilities should be arranged in advance with the lecturer.
-Type of examination: in addition to attending lessons it will be necessary to discuss the edition of a document curated during the lessons
- Evaluation criteria: ability to demonstrate and elaborate knowledge through concrete editorial work; ability for critical reflection on the completed work; competence in the use of specialised lexicon.
- Type of evaluation method: approval of 3 CFUs.
The format of the assessment for students with disabilities should be arranged in advance with the lecturer.
Professor(s)