RCCHU Medieval History International Seminars: Series II

Reviving Ancient Greek Literature: Insights from the Palaeologan and Early Italian Renaissance

Gonzalo Jerez Sánchez (Complutense University of Madrid)

Humanistic studies have long faced a crisis, and the Greeks under the Palaeologan dynasty (1261-1453) developed techniques to save ancient Greek literature that became the basis for teaching Greek in the early Italian Renaissance. In this talk, we explore how these techniques tackled the challenge of the separation between spoken and written Greek language. Through the eyes of a 16th-century teacher, we examine the materials that were available during the direct successor of the Palaeologan Renaissance to gain insights into their approach. Our focus is on two manuscripts from Biblioteca Laurenziana Medicea (Florence), Plut. 56.28 (16th century) and Plut. 56.17 (14th century), which contain didactic texts widely used at the time. This presentation delves into the fascinating history of the revival of ancient Greek literature, highlighting the insights that can be gleaned from the innovative techniques developed centuries ago.

The Querelle des femmes and the role of women in Humanism and Renaissance

Maria Vardala (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)

The Querelle des femmes is the intellectual debate that emerged in the early 15^th century and its main objectives were to discuss and promote the female nature and the role and status of women in society. Female figures such as Christine de Pizan – the pioneer of the debate – proved that women should be considered as equal to men and cross the thresholds of masculine realms. Studying in academic circles, exerting political power, corresponding with other intellectual men and women are only a few of the activities in which women of this circle were and should be involved. Man voices are not rare in the Querelle des femmes; however, their role is to praise these women and offer further guidance on their studies.

You can follow the event here

Organized by:  Pablo Sanahuja Ferrer (Posdoctoral Researcher in the Department of History at Harvard University)

Speakers: Gonzalo Jerez Sánchez (Complutense University of Madrid); Maria Vardala (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)

Sponsors: RCCHU; Complutense University of Madrid; Aristotle University of Thessaloniki