The External School in Carolingian Society (Education and Society in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, Vol 1) - Hardcover

Hildebrandt, M. M.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 9004094490 ISBN 13: 9789004094499

Publisher: Brill Academic Pub, 1992

Synopsis

This study explores one means of imparting Latin literacy in early medieval society: the so-called "external school," often presumed to have been a common feature of medieval monastic education. It questions the prevalence of this institution and whether the external school can be used as evidence of relatively widespread literacy among the non- clerical Carolingian population in particular.
By precisely defining and chronicling external schooling, M.M. Hildebrandt invites the reader to reconsider conventional notions about the nature of the Carolingian educational program. The author examines the intention of monastic founders and writers regarding education, the effects of missionary activities on the religious training of non-monks, the attempts made by royal and ecclesiastical leaders to rationalize external schooling, and the impact of
ninth-century political and economic turmoil on the development of this institution.
The scope of this book makes it of interest as a contribution to the current debate concerning the character of medieval literacy as well as a source book for the study of early medieval monastic education.

About this title

About the Author:

Madge Hildebrandt Klais studied history and library science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Michigan. Currently she is Library Media Center Director, Madison Metropolitan School District, Madison, Wisconsin.

Review:

'This is a daring and important revistionist study which challenges not only old truisms but new ones as well about education and literacy in the Carolingian world. It is also an exemplary lesson in how to combine close readings of programmatic texts with the methods of Personnenforschung as developed in Münster and Freiburg. In all, it is a splendid book with which to begin your series.'
Patrick J. Geary, Professor of History, University of Florida.
'...a welcome contribution ...'
Janet L. Nelson, Journal of Ecclesiastical History, 1993.
'The scope of this book makes it of interest as a contribution to the current debate concerning the character of medieval literacy as well as a source book for the study of early medieval monastic education.'
G.H., Scriptorium, 1995.

About this edition

• Publisher: Brill Academic Pub
• Publication date: 1992
• ISBN 10: 9004094490
• ISBN 13: 9789004094499
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 184