Medieval Documents: A Journey Through History

E-books are a modern invention, while charters, manuscripts, and scrolls are all types of medieval documents.

Charters were often used by kings or lords to grant land or privileges to individuals or groups.

Manuscripts are handwritten, usually illustrated, and more expensive than printed books.

The Bible was the most widely read and copied text in the Middle Ages.

The Bayeux Tapestry is all of the above: the earliest surviving example of a medieval tapestry, it depicts the Norman conquest of England in 1066, and it is one of the longest tapestries in the world.

Medieval seals were used to authenticate documents, decorate documents, and mark ownership of documents.

Parchment was the most common material used to make medieval manuscripts because it is durable and easy to write on.

Charters are issued by kings or lords, grant land or privileges, and are more formal than deeds. Deeds are issued by private individuals, transfer ownership of land, and are less formal than charters.

Medieval manuscript illuminations were used to decorate the manuscript, help the reader understand the text, and make the manuscript more valuable.

The Magna Carta is significant because it is the first document to limit the power of the king, it established the principle of habeas corpus, and it guaranteed the right to a trial by jury.

Medieval chronicles were used to record historical events, tell stories about the past, and provide moral instruction.

Primary sources are written by people who witnessed the events they are describing, they are more reliable than secondary sources, and they are usually older than secondary sources.

The Book of Kells is significant because it is the most beautiful illuminated manuscript in the world, it is the oldest surviving Irish manuscript, and it contains the complete text of the Bible.

Medieval bestiaries were used to describe the different animals that exist in the world, provide moral lessons about animals, and entertain the reader.

The Nibelungenlied is significant because it is the oldest surviving German epic poem, it tells the story of Siegfried, a legendary hero, and it is one of the most popular medieval poems.