New Approaches to Carolingian Charters
Sponsoring Organization(s)
Dept. of History, King's College London
Organizer Name
Rachel Stone
Organizer Affiliation
King's College London
Presider Name
Thomas F. X. Noble
Presider Affiliation
Univ. of Notre Dame
Paper Title 1
The Making of Charlemagne's Europe: A New Database for Charter Researchers
Presenter 1 Name
Rachel Stone
Paper Title 2
Databases and Diplomatic: Is Context Worth Anything?
Presenter 2 Name
Julie A. Hofmann
Presenter 2 Affiliation
Shenandoah Univ.
Paper Title 3
The Limits of Charlemagne's Charters
Presenter 3 Name
Jennifer Davis
Presenter 3 Affiliation
Catholic Univ. of America
Paper Title 4
Respondent
Presenter 4 Name
Thomas F. X. Noble
Start Date
11-5-2014 10:30 AM
Session Location
Bernhard 204
Description
Charters are one of the most important sources for early medieval history: tens of thousands of these records survive in some form from eighth and ninth century Francia. Such charters have been the subject of research for more than three centuries, but new research questions and methodologies are still being developed to make more use of these documents. This session highlights three aspects of such new approaches.
Firstly, the use of new technologies is explored. The Making of Charlemagne's Europe database aims to collect prosopographical and socio-economic data from all the charters produced during Charlemagne's reign (768-814), combining them into an internet-accessible database which will allow comparisons across regions in a way not possible beforehand. The paper will give an outline of the project and then demonstrate the research possibilities of the database.
The second paper in the session will bring a more theoretical and historiographical perspective to the use of information technology in charter research. How does the availability of charter material in new formats, such as the move towards databases, digitization etc, alter our perception and use of charters, as compared to the traditional approach of diplomatics? To what extent do new tools themselves affect historical practice and critical thinking about sources?
In the final paper, some of the best known Carolingian charters, the royal diplomas of Charlemagne, are analysed in a new light. Why were some types of charter used more frequently than others by Charlemagne? This paper argues that while charters were an important tool of rulership they were used in a more limited and precise set of contexts than has been previously appreciated. This targeting of royal diplomas can reveal more about how early medieval kingship was practiced.
The closing response will pull together common themes, exploring both the possibilities and the problems of new approaches to Carolingian charters.
Rachel Stone
New Approaches to Carolingian Charters
Bernhard 204
Charters are one of the most important sources for early medieval history: tens of thousands of these records survive in some form from eighth and ninth century Francia. Such charters have been the subject of research for more than three centuries, but new research questions and methodologies are still being developed to make more use of these documents. This session highlights three aspects of such new approaches.
Firstly, the use of new technologies is explored. The Making of Charlemagne's Europe database aims to collect prosopographical and socio-economic data from all the charters produced during Charlemagne's reign (768-814), combining them into an internet-accessible database which will allow comparisons across regions in a way not possible beforehand. The paper will give an outline of the project and then demonstrate the research possibilities of the database.
The second paper in the session will bring a more theoretical and historiographical perspective to the use of information technology in charter research. How does the availability of charter material in new formats, such as the move towards databases, digitization etc, alter our perception and use of charters, as compared to the traditional approach of diplomatics? To what extent do new tools themselves affect historical practice and critical thinking about sources?
In the final paper, some of the best known Carolingian charters, the royal diplomas of Charlemagne, are analysed in a new light. Why were some types of charter used more frequently than others by Charlemagne? This paper argues that while charters were an important tool of rulership they were used in a more limited and precise set of contexts than has been previously appreciated. This targeting of royal diplomas can reveal more about how early medieval kingship was practiced.
The closing response will pull together common themes, exploring both the possibilities and the problems of new approaches to Carolingian charters.
Rachel Stone