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Medieval Manuscripts

Magister Iacobus
by Magister Iacobus
5.00 (4 Ratings)
Categories Manuscripts
Course Duration: 30h
Last Updated:January 9, 2026

Step into the world of medieval manuscripts with this unique hands-on course. Rather than focusing on technical paleography, this course is designed as a reading laboratory—a practical space to develop your skills by reading real manuscripts, one page at a time.

What You’ll Learn

Each week, we’ll examine a different famous manuscript, focusing on:

  • Deciphering medieval scripts

  • Recognizing and expanding common abbreviations

  • Translating Latin texts for full understanding

  • Navigating digitized manuscript libraries

  • Applying effective reading and interpretation strategies

Script Styles Covered

Over 12 sessions, you’ll progressively learn to read:

  • Roman bookhand (capitalis, uncial)

  • Carolingian minuscule

  • Gothic script

  • Humanistic script

Texts will grow gradually in difficulty, allowing you to build skill and confidence step by step.

Featured Manuscripts Include:

  • Codex Amiatinus — the oldest complete Latin Bible

  • Bible of Borso d’Este — a Renaissance masterpiece

  • Vergilius Romanus — an early illustrated Virgil

  • …and other iconic manuscript from the Latin tradition.

Who Can Join?

A basic knowledge of Latin is required, as we will translate each text to ensure full comprehension. No prior training in paleography is needed.

Format & Materials

  • Live sessions are held via Zoom

  • All sessions are recorded and available for later viewing

  • Students receive transcriptions, abbreviation charts, and other reading aids

  • A certificate of completion is available upon request

Note: When purchased as a standalone course, this program includes lifetime access to all video recordings. It is also included at no extra cost in the Pro Membership Plan.

Course Program

Introduction to Medieval Manuscripts

  • Schola
    00:00
  • Tabulae

The Humanistic Minuscule: The Carafa Hours

The Humanistic Cursive: Cod. Vat. lat. 3255

The Roman Capital: The Roman Virgil

The Uncial Script I: The Codex Fuldensis

The Uncial Script II: The Codex Amiatinus

The Half-Uncial: Cod. Vat. Lat. 1322

Early Medieval Fragmentation: The Book of Kells

The Caroline Script I: Tetramorph Symbolism

The Caroline Script II: Bern Physiologus

The Abbreviation System: Reg. Lat. 572

The Gothic Script I: Ingeborg Psalter

The Gothic Script II: Legenda Aurea

The Gothic Script III: Dies Irae

The Gothic Script IV: Litterae Scholasticae

Cancelleresca, Mercantesca, & Bastarda Scripts

The Semigothic Script: Borso d’Este Bible

The Rebirth of the Antiqua: Bibbia Urbinate

How to Find Manuscripts Online

Enrollment Options

Choose the plan that best suits your learning style:

🔸 All-Access Membership – €29.95/month

Everything you need to learn Latin in one place.

✔ Unlimited access to our entire course catalogue
✔ Weekly live lectures and practice labs
✔ Members-only discussion groups
✔ Video lessons, quizzes, and cheatsheets

🔸 Annual All-Access Membership – €299.95/year

Commit to learning and save money.

✔ Enjoy two months free (worth €60)
✔ 17% cheaper than paying monthly

🔸 Lifetime Access – €299,95 (one-time payment)

Own this course, forever.

✔ Full lifetime access to this course
✔ All future course material updates included
✔ One-time payment — no subscriptions

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need prior Latin knowledge to start?

No! Our courses are designed for all levels, from complete beginners to more advanced learners.

 

How do I access the courses?

Once you have registered and selected a membership plan, you will be able to access the courses through the course catalog. There, you will also find the Zoom link for weekly webinars and live sessions.

 
Can I upgrade or downgrade my membership?

Yes! You can change your membership level at any time. Upgrades take effect immediately, while downgrades apply from the next billing cycle.

 

Do you offer a free trial?

At the moment, we do not offer a free trial. However, you can cancel anytime if you decide the program isn't the right fit for you.

 

Is there a minimum commitment?

No, our memberships are billed monthly, and you can cancel at any time.

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept major credit/debit cards and PayPal, with all payments securely processed via Stripe.

What happens if I cancel my subscription?

You will retain access to your current membership benefits until the end of the billing cycle. After that, your access will be revoked unless you re-subscribe.

Do you offer refunds?

Due to the nature of digital courses, we do not offer refunds. However, you can cancel anytime to avoid future charges.

Student Ratings & Reviews

5.0
Total 4 Ratings
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Mehmet Fırat
Mehmet Fırat
3 months ago
"Medieval Manuscripts" was an excellent experience for me. I am doing a PhD in medieval history, so the course was academically very useful. One big advantage is that it does not require advanced Latin: sometimes being able to recognise a few words makes things easier, but the focus is clearly on scripts, layout, and how to approach the page rather than on detailed philology. Magister Iacobus explained each manuscript style together with its historical background, which really helped me understand why a text looks the way it does in a particular period. The texts we worked on were very well chosen and illustrated the main points perfectly. For me, the most crucial part was the section on abbreviations; in this respect the course exceeded my expectations and gave me exactly the tools I was hoping for (and more). The practical tips on how to access manuscripts online and how to navigate digital collections were also extremely valuable. Overall, I would definitely recommend this course to anyone with an interest in medieval studies and manuscripts.
Kevin Napora
Kevin Napora
3 months ago
For decades, I have had a love of everything medieval, loving the calligraphy, Gregorian chant, and just the shear beauty of the text. I know a little Latin but could never read the text on the very rare occasion that I ever saw an actual manuscript. This coarse was absolutely more than I could have imagined. Magister Iacobus knowledge base is insane and right from the beginning we were reading actual texts that were well over a 1000 years old. We learned all of the shorthand that calligraphers at that time used to right the text and most importantly we learned how to find the texts in the Vatican library and through other digital sources. Even though I was taking the course for pure interest I liked the way he treated every student as if we were scholars and this would be our life's endeavour. And after taking this course it is now mine.
JL
Jack Lipski
3 months ago
As a beginner in Latin and an avid student of medieval history when I first heard of this course I thought it sounded very interesting and a great blend of two of my favorite topics. I was unsure if my level of understanding the language would be enough to even participate. I was surprised and delighted with how easy Magister Iacobus has made this course. It has opened a whole new world of study along with a plethora of resources that were out of my purview. The layout of the material is structured well and offers a blend of historical context as well as reading the medieval manuscripts. This was by far my favorite part. Reading the texts in their original form and identifying all of the different writing styles, the symbols used, the abbreviations, as well as the contextual translations provided a perspective that's hard to find in the modern age. There is a unique wealth of knowledge that can be gained by anyone studying Latin be it a novice or a seasoned student of the art. The live sessions are very helpful and provide all of the information you will need to continue researching this material on your own going forward.
Daniella Muñoz
Daniella Muñoz
3 months ago
This course is truly a hidden gem. For a topic so obscure as medieval manuscripts (in latin!), Magister Iacobus has managed to make it all digestable and accessible for almost anyone. Even if you're just starting to learn latin (like I am), you're already a latinist, or want an extra incentive to actually start to learn the language, I really recommend you give this a try so you can immerse yourself with the ancient sources, discover them, and find yourself capable of understanding them and their historical context. The selection of manuscripts was diverse, interesting, and also beautiful to the eye and soul. Truly, it was a delight to complete this course, from start to finish!

Price

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  • Level
    Intermediate
  • Duration
    30 hours
  • Last Updated
    January 9, 2026

Tags

Intermediate Latin Medieval Manuscripts Paleography

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