"Worlds of Learning" Through Digital Approaches to Late Medieval
Charters
The Department of Digital Humanities at the University of Graz, host of
the European Research Council-funded project "From Digital to Distant
Diplomatics" (DiDip), invites submissions for a series of sessions at
the International Medieval Congress 2025, exploring the conference theme
"Worlds of Learning" through innovative Digital Humanities approaches to
late mediaeval charters (c. 1300-1500).
Charters are "Worlds of Learning" - for contemporaries learning about
legal activities and status, and for mediaeval studies scholars, sources
of their own learning. Digital methods provide entirely new learnings:
on the charters themselves and on the actors writing, using, and keeping
charters. Our sessions aim to demonstrate how computational methods can
fundamentally transform and expand our understanding of documentary
practices and knowledge transmission across Europe.
We welcome papers on the following topics:
1.
Computer Vision and Medieval Charters: New Perspectives on Visual
Learning
*
How can computer vision techniques reveal patterns in the visual
aspects of charters across regions and time?
*
Applications of machine learning algorithms to identify and
analyse layout, script styles, and graphical elements (seals,
monograms) in large datasets of digitised charters.
2.
Natural Language Processing and Charter Formulas: Tracing Textual
Learning Networks
*
Computational analysis of charter texts using NLP techniques to
uncover patterns in formulaic language, legal terminology, and
scribal practices.
*
Exploration of networks of textual learning and the
dissemination of documentary conventions across linguistic and
cultural boundaries.
3.
Data Visualisation and Medieval Charter Networks: Mapping Knowledge
Circulation
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Application of network analysis, GIS mapping, and other
visualisation methods to represent relationships between
chanceries, scribes, and document types.
*
New insights into the "worlds of learning" in charter production
through data visualisation techniques.
4.
Digital Methodologies and Medieval Charters: Innovative Approaches
to Documentary Learning
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How can digital editions enhance our understanding of charter
creation, use, and preservation? What insights can database
creation and management offer into the organisation and
retrieval of mediaeval documentary knowledge?
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Applications of XML/TEI encoding for semantic analysis of
charter content and structure.
*
Exploration of linked data approaches to connect charter
information across different collections and archives.
By applying state-of-the-art computational methods to the study of late
mediaeval charters, we aim to contribute to a more interconnected and
nuanced understanding of European documentary cultures and the
transmission of specialised knowledge in this period.
Submission Guidelines:
*
Please submit a 100-word abstract of your proposed contribution and
a brief CV.
*
Send submissions to didip(a)uni-graz.at
<mailto:didip@uni-graz.at>(Subject: IMC2025)
*
Deadline: September 16th, 2024
We look forward to your contributions to these exciting intersections of
medieval studies and digital humanities!
Georg Vogeler for the ERC DiDip Team