Literature and writing in the Middle Ages
Talking about the Middle Ages, reading and writing could be compared with today´s ability to pilot a huge plane, because only a few people could do it. Material, which was used most often was parchment, which was made from animal skin. It is taken as a fact the first parchment appeared in this region during 14th century. Reading a medieval text, we are confronted with several challenges. The first of those barriers is language because most of documents are written in Latin. However, also Latin-speaking people have problems because texts contain a lot of abbreviations. On the other hand, script is easy to read. Talking about medieval “literature” we have in mind usually official document or chronicles. Examples both of them you can see in this exposition.
Document written in 1160
Authors of documents usually were clerics. Bureaus used to be parts of important courts and a notary was responsible for quality of documents which were written there. Because of illiteracy, seals replaced signature. Seals enable to identify the person who issue the document. Remains of a seal we can see at the bottom of the document.
Document issued by Jaroš of Zástřizl
Document issued by Jaroš of Zástřizl. He gives local Protestants a place where they were allowed to build their church.
Seal of Tas of Boskovice
Seal of Tas of Boskovice, a bishop in Olomouc. We can see a mitre, coast of arms and writing there.
A copy of Bible
A copy of Bible is put on display in this room. The original one is in Olomouc. The book contains 537 sheets with 80 pictures. Some of them are not finished. Text is written in Czech and two unknown writers are its authors. We expect that both them sympathized with a famous Czech reformer and preacher Jan Hus. In the bible, besides small pictures you can also see decorations with gold and decorated initial letters. This suggests that the person who ordered it must have been very wealthy.
Manuscripts were richly decirated.
You can see there how a scribe or the whole scriptorium worked.
How to make a seal at home...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuNfdHNTv9o
Vademecum pomocných věd historických.
Akta Braci Czeskich, sygn. 26
