A Short History of the Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts

Summary

This video from World History Encyclopedia, hosted by Kelly, delves into the world of medieval illuminated manuscripts—hand-written, lavishly decorated books that utilized gold and silver to 'illuminate' their pages. Created between 500 and 1600 CE, these manuscripts were primarily religious but also included works by classical authors like Virgil. Produced initially by monks, their creation became commercialized with growing demand. Despite the advent of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century, which eventually led to their decline, illuminated manuscripts left a lasting impact on the shape and design of modern books. The video highlights 'The Book of Kells' as a pinnacle of this art form, showcasing its intricate illustrations and the historical context of its creation.

Takeaways

• 📜 The shape of modern books is influenced by medieval illuminated manuscripts.
• 🖋️ Illuminated manuscripts were handwritten books decorated with gold or silver, reflecting light.
• 📅 Production of these manuscripts declined after the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century.
• ✝️ Initially, illuminated manuscripts were primarily on Christian scripture, but also included works by ancient writers like Virgil.
• 💰 These manuscripts were expensive and only affordable to the wealthy, reflecting their status.
• 👨‍🎓 Monks were the initial creators of illuminated manuscripts, and the scriptorium was their workspace.
• 📝 The material of choice for these manuscripts was parchment, with vellum being a high-quality variant.
• 📚 'The Book of Hours' was the most popular type of illuminated manuscript, serving as a Christian devotional.
• 🖌️ The process of creating an illuminated manuscript involved multiple steps including writing, proofreading, and illumination.
• 📚 The 'Book of Kells' is a renowned example of an illuminated manuscript, celebrated for its intricate illustrations and detail.

Q & A

What are illuminated manuscripts?

Illuminated manuscripts are hand-written books that are highly decorated with precious materials like gold or silver, created between circa 500 and 1600 CE.

Why are they called 'illuminated'?

They are called 'illuminated' because the use of metallic materials like gold and silver reflects light, giving the books a glowing or illuminated appearance.

How did the invention of the printing press impact illuminated manuscripts?

The invention of the European printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in circa 1440 CE led to a decline in the production of illuminated manuscripts, as printed books became more popular and affordable.

What was the most popular type of book among illuminated manuscripts?

The 'Book of Hours', a Christian devotional of prayers, was the most popular type of book during the time of illuminated manuscripts.

What materials were used for writing in illuminated manuscripts before the acceptance of paper?

Before the use of paper, which was not widely accepted in Europe until the 11th century, animal hides were used to create parchment, with calf skin specifically known as 'vellum'.

Why did medieval monks initially create illuminated manuscripts?

Initially, illuminated manuscripts were created by monks in abbeys, often focusing on Christian scripture, and later as demand increased, the production became commercialized.

What was the role of the scriptorium in the creation of illuminated manuscripts?

The scriptorium was the room in monasteries where monks, known as scriptores, worked on every step of manuscript creation, from processing vellum to copying text and adding illustrations and illumination.

How did the shape of modern books relate to medieval European manuscripts?

The modern shape of books, being longer than they are wide, began with medieval European monks who cut their vellum pages to that shape, which influenced the design of later printed books.

What is the 'Book of Kells' and why is it significant?

The 'Book of Kells' is a famous illuminated manuscript from circa 800, produced by monks in Scotland or Ireland, and is significant for its grandeur, intricacy, and high-quality illustrations of the four gospels of the Christian New Testament.

How did the rise of literacy and professional bookmakers in the 13th century affect the production of books?

The rise of literacy and professional bookmakers in the 13th century led to an increased demand for books, introducing vernacular literature and the involvement of women as scribes, which in turn expanded the production of books beyond monasteries.

What was the final outcome for illuminated manuscripts after the invention of the printing press?

Although illuminated manuscripts continued to be produced for the wealthy through the early 1600s, the skill of illuminating was eventually lost as printed books became the norm, and their production ceased.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Introduction to Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts

Kelly from World History Encyclopedia introduces the topic of medieval illuminated manuscripts, which are hand-written books decorated with precious materials like gold and silver. These books were created between 500 and 1600 CE, with their production declining after the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in 1440 CE. Initially, people preferred handmade books, but printed books eventually became more popular and affordable. The content of illuminated manuscripts was primarily Christian scripture, but early examples include works by ancient writers like Virgil. The term 'illuminated manuscripts' is specific to European Christian works, while similar techniques were used by Muslim artisans. These books were expensive and initially produced only by monks, but later commercialized. 'The Book of Hours' was the most popular type of manuscript. The scriptores, or monks, worked in scriptoria, where they were involved in every step of book production, from processing vellum to illumination. The modern book shape, with a longer dimension than width, originated from the medieval European monks who cut their vellum pages to this shape.

05:04

🖌️ The Process and Evolution of Illuminated Manuscripts

The process of creating illuminated manuscripts involved ruling lines for writing, leaving spaces for illustrations, and using black ink for text. Monks would proofread, add titles in colored inks, and then pass the work to illuminators who added color, images, and gold. Writing was done with quill pens, and ink colors were made from natural chemicals and plants. Despite the tedious nature of the work, monks were expected to produce high-quality manuscripts. Early examples of decorated manuscripts include the 'Vergilius Augusteus' and the 'Ambrosian Iliad'. The 'Saint Augustine Gospels' and the 'Codex Argenteus' are also notable early illuminated manuscripts. The 'Book of Kells', created between the 7th and 16th centuries, is one of the most famous illuminated manuscripts, known for its grandeur and intricate illustrations. By the 13th century, literacy had improved, and the demand for books led to the introduction of professional bookmakers. Vernacular literature was encouraged, and women began to become scribes, writing in the local language. The invention of the printing press by Gutenberg in 1440 CE revolutionized book production, making it faster and more affordable. Despite initial resistance, printed books eventually became more accepted, and the art of illumination declined as the skill was forgotten.

10:07

📚 The Legacy and Modern Appreciation of Illuminated Manuscripts

The video concludes by discussing the legacy of illuminated manuscripts and their transition from being a common form of book to a rare and valuable item for the wealthy. The skill of illuminating manuscripts was eventually lost as printed books became the norm. The video encourages viewers to share their thoughts on illuminated manuscripts like the 'Book of Kells' in the comments and to subscribe for more videos. It also promotes the World History Encyclopedia website for more content and mentions the availability of merchandise featuring historical designs.

Keywords

💡Illuminated Manuscripts

Illuminated manuscripts are hand-written books that are highly decorated, often with gold or silver, which give them their name as they 'illuminate' when light reflects off the metallic materials. They were produced between the 5th and 16th centuries and are a central theme of the video, showcasing the craftsmanship and artistry of medieval Europe. Examples in the script include the 'Book of Kells' and the 'Codex Argenteus'.

💡Monasteries

Monasteries were the primary centers for the creation of illuminated manuscripts. Monks, known as scriptores, worked in rooms called scriptoria to produce these manuscripts. The video emphasizes the role of monasteries in preserving and spreading literacy and Christian texts, with Saint Benedict making it a requirement for every Benedictine monastery to have a library.

💡Scriptorium

A scriptorium was the room in monasteries where monks created illuminated manuscripts. It was equipped with wooden chairs and tables designed to hold manuscript pages at an angle. The scriptorium was a place of focused work, with a supervisor distributing pages and maintaining silence throughout the day. The term is used in the script to illustrate the environment where these artistic and religious texts were produced.

💡Vellum

Vellum is a high-quality writing surface made from the skin of animals like calves, traditionally used for important documents due to its durability and smoothness. In the video, vellum is highlighted as the preferred material for writing illuminated manuscripts, with 'calf skin' being referred to as the material that became the standard for such works.

💡Book of Hours

The 'Book of Hours' was a Christian devotional book containing prayers and was the most popular type of book during the time of illuminated manuscripts. The video mentions that more 'Book of Hours' texts have survived than any other works, indicating its significance in medieval Christian practice and the commercial success of manuscript production.

💡Printing Press

The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg around 1440 CE revolutionized book production, leading to a decline in the creation of illuminated manuscripts. The video discusses how initially, people were skeptical about printed books, preferring the craftsmanship of handmade works, but eventually, the printed books became more popular due to their lower cost and wider availability.

💡Gutenberg Bible

The Gutenberg Bible, printed in 1456, was one of the first major books produced using the printing press. The video uses the Gutenberg Bible as an example to illustrate the shift from hand-crafted manuscripts to mass-produced books, marking a significant technological advancement in the history of book production.

💡Illumination

Illumination refers to the decorative application of gold or silver to a manuscript, often in the form of intricate designs and illustrations. The video explains that this process was a key aspect of illuminated manuscripts, contributing to their visual appeal and status as valuable and revered objects.

💡Parchment

Parchment is a writing material made from processed animal hides, used extensively before the widespread adoption of paper. The video mentions that parchment was used for writing surfaces before paper was accepted in Europe, highlighting the materials' historical importance in the creation of manuscripts.

💡Christian Scripture

Christian scripture was a common subject for illuminated manuscripts, reflecting the religious context and purpose of these books. The video notes that these manuscripts were often on Christian themes, with the 'Book of Kells' being an example of a manuscript containing the four gospels of the New Testament.

💡Professional Bookmakers

As literacy rates improved and the demand for books increased, the production of manuscripts expanded beyond monasteries to include professional bookmakers. The video discusses this shift, indicating a change in the industry of book production and the growing importance of books in medieval European society.

Highlights

The shape of modern books is influenced by medieval illuminated manuscripts.

Illuminated manuscripts are hand-written books decorated with precious materials like gold or silver.

These manuscripts were created between circa 500 and 1600 CE, with production declining after the invention of the printing press.

Initially, people were sceptical about printed books, preferring handmade works.

Handmade books often focused on Christian scripture, but also included works of ancient writers like Virgil.

Muslim artisans also used the technique to decorate books, though 'illuminated manuscripts' typically refers to European Christian works.

Illuminated manuscripts were expensive and only affordable to the wealthy.

Production of illuminated manuscripts initially by monks, later commercialized due to increased demand.

The 'Book of Hours' was the most popular type of book during the time.

Before paper, Europeans used parchment made from animal hides for writing surfaces.

Vellum, made from calf skin, was a high-quality material favored by monks for writing.

Monks worked in scriptoria, rooms designed for book production, including writing, illustrating, and illuminating.

The modern book shape, longer than wide, began with medieval European monks who cut vellum pages to this shape.

Monks used quill pens and natural ink colors for writing and illumination.

The 'Book of Kells', an illuminated manuscript of the Christian New Testament, is highly praised for its grandeur and detail.

Literacy in Europe improved by the 13th century, leading to professional bookmakers and an increase in demand for scribes.

Johannes Gutenberg's invention of the printing press in circa 1440 CE revolutionized book production.

The printing press made books more accessible but initially faced resistance from those preferring handmade books.

The skill of illuminating was eventually forgotten as printed books became the norm.

Transcripts

Did you know that the shape of books today  is due to medieval illuminated manuscripts?

Hello and welcome to World History  Encyclopedia! My name is Kelly and  

today's video is all about the handmade  medieval illuminated manuscripts.  

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check it out via the pop-up in the top corner of  the screen or via the Patreon link down below.

Illuminated manuscripts are hand-written  books that are highly decorated in precious  

materials like gold or silver. The use of metallic  materials like gold and silver is what gives these  

texts their name 'illuminated', as they reflect  the light. They were created between circa 500  

and 1600 CE, and their production declined with  the invention of the European printing press in  

circa 1440 CE by Johannes Gutenberg. Although at  first people were sceptical about printed books  

and preferred the old way of handmade works,  eventually they became the more popular and  

cheaper option, which marked the end of the  handmade book and illuminated manuscripts  

specifically. These handmade books were often  on Christian scripture, but some early examples  

have survived such as the works of ancient writers  like the Roman poet, Virgil. Muslim artisans also  

created books using the same technique to ornately  decorate their books. But the term 'illuminated  

manuscripts' usually only refers to works produced  in Europe on Christian themes. Illuminated  

manuscripts were expensive to purchase, which  means only those with plenty of money could afford  

them. Illuminated manuscripts were initially  only created by monks in abbeys, but as the  

demand increased and they became more popular,  the production of them became commercialised.  

"The book of Hours", a Christian devotional of  prayers, was the most popular type of book, given  

that more "Book of Hours" texts have survived  than any other works produced during the time.

What did they write on? Well, although paper  was invented in China during the Han Dynasty  

in circa 105 CE and introduced to the Arab world  in the 7th century by Chinese merchants, Europeans  

wouldn't accept it until the 11th century because  they associated it with non-Christian peoples.  

Before the use of paper, the people of Asia Minor  created writing surfaces out of animal hides.  

The hides of animals like sheep and goats were  soaked in water, the hair was scraped off,  

it was stretched on a wooden frame to dry and  then bleached in lime. The finished product of  

the detailed process was parchment. Parchment  made out of calf skin is called 'vellum' and  

became popular since it was a high-quality  surface for writing on than any others.  

Monks in the abbeys favoured vellum and it became  the standard material for their works. Because  

papyrus and paper was used by pagan writers in  the past and the so-called heathens in the east,  

the use of these materials was discouraged and was  considered 'unchristian' by the medieval church.

As books became more popular, their production  expanded from the abbeys to secular merchants,  

and they were sold in stalls and stores.  Between the 5th and the 13th centuries,  

books were only produced by monasteries. In  the 6th century CE, Saint Benedict made it a  

requirement that every Benedictine monastery had  to have a library, and these books sometimes were  

brought with the monks who came to live there,  but most would have been produced on-site.  

The monks who made books were known as scriptores  and the room in which they made the books was a  

scriptorium. The scriptorium was a large room  with wooden chairs and tables that angled up  

so they would hold the manuscript pages,  and the monks didn't just write the  

books but were a part of every step - from  processing the vellum, to copying the text,  

to the final touches of illustration and  illumination. There would be a supervisor  

in the room who would distribute the pages at  the beginning of the day. Monks only worked on  

the manuscripts during the day because it was a  bit risky to have fire so close in the evening,  

and the supervisor would maintain the rule  of silence for the entirety of the day.  

Often, a monk wouldn't work on one page until  it was done but swap with others in the room.  

The modern shape of books being longer than they  are wide began with the monks in medieval Europe  

who cut their vellum pages to that shape.  After cutting their pages, they would rule  

lines for writing and leave blank spaces for  illustrations, then the text would be written  

in between the ruled lines, often in black ink,  then another monk would proofread it for errors,  

then perhaps a third monk would add in titles  with red or blue ink, and then it would be  

passed on to the illuminator who would add the  colour, the images and the gold illumination.  

They wrote with quill pens and ink colours were  produced by grinding and boiling natural chemicals  

and plants. If this room of silence doesn't sound  very fun, well you wouldn't be the first person  

to think that. A scriptore or monk was expected  to turn up rain, hail or shine, no matter their  

state of health or whether they were interested  in the particular project. In fact, there are  

many comments and remarks written on various pages  that made clear some of the monks weren't exactly  

thrilled with their job with some in the margins,  including: "This page was not copied slowly".  

"I don't feel well today". "This parchment is  certainly hairy" and "Three fingers write, but  

the entire body toils. Just as the sailor yearns  for port, the writer longs for the last line."

The earliest European work to have coloured  illustrations and decorated capital letters at  

the beginning of each page is the seven pages of  the fourth century CE text "Vergilius Augusteus."  

Although it doesn't have any illumination, the  decorative capital letters and illustrations  

both became practices that define an illuminated  manuscript, so it deserves a special mention.  

Moving to the next century, we have an illuminated  edition of Homer's work of the "Iliad",  

titled the "Ambrosian Iliad", which was  most likely completed in Constantinople.  

The sixth century illuminated manuscript  titled the "Saint Augustine Gospels",  

shows many similarities to the "Ambrosian Iliad"  and seems to have been influenced by it. One of  

the most impressive early illuminated  manuscripts dates to the 6th century,  

has purple-dyed vellum pages and is both written  and illustrated in silver and gold ink. This  

is the "Codex Argenteus" or "Silver Book"  which is a gothic translation of the Bible,  

and is commonly understood to have been produced  for the Gothic King Theodoric the Great in Italy.

It was between the 7th and the 16th centuries that  the greatest examples of illuminated manuscripts  

were created, since by then, the basics of  illustration and decoration had been perfected.  

The best known and probably the quintessential  illuminated manuscript dates from circa 800 and  

is known as the "Book of Kells". The "Book  of Kells" was produced by the monks of Saint  

Columba's order of Iona in Scotland somewhere, but  a precise location isn't known, although there are  

many theories about its composition, which place  its creation in places like the island of Iona,  

Kells in Ireland or Lindisfarne in Britain. What  is quite probable is that it was made in Iona and  

then brought to Kells to keep it safe from Viking  raiders who struck Iona in 795, not long after  

their raid of the Lindisfarne Priory. In 806,  68 monks were killed in a Viking raid in Iona,  

and the survivors abandoned the abbey and  moved to Kells, and it's at this time that  

the "Book of Kells" probably travelled with  them and was then completed in Ireland. The  

"Book of Kells" is an illuminated manuscript of  the four gospels of the Christian New Testament  

and is highly praised for its grandeur,  intricacy, detail and high quality illustrations.

Literacy in Europe had greatly  improved by the 13th century  

and the higher demand for books meant the  introduction of professional bookmakers.  

Since the 9th century in Britain and France,  literature produced in the vernacular  

was encouraged, and this greater demand for books  meant a greater demand for scribes. Since girls  

weren't taught Latin as often as boys - Latin was  the traditional language illuminated manuscripts  

were written in - women started to become scribes  and they wrote their books in the vernacular.  

Nunneries began to produce books. Notations were  left by women in the margins and one manuscript  

ended with a request that the reader pray for  the scribe with the feminine pronoun used.  

In circa 1440 CE, Johannes Gutenberg invented the  European printing press, and the first Bible - a  

Latin Bible, was printed in 1456 and is known as  the Gutenberg Bible. A book comprising 400 pages,  

rather than taking at least six months to  produce, could now be printed in less than a week.  

People fearing new things, of course, rejected the  printing press and opted for "real books". People  

didn't want cheap imitations of manuscripts,  and so, printers went to great lengths to make  

printed books look more like the handmade ones  with leather binding and gold gild on the covers.  

Illustrators were even hired to provide images.  These measures helped make the European people  

more receptive to the new books, and although  illuminated manuscripts were still commissioned  

through the early years of the 1600s, the quantity  and quality was inferior to the works produced  

before the printing press. Eventually, the skill  of illuminating was forgotten as the printed book  

became popular and the illuminated manuscript,  which was eventually produced as a valuable  

item only for the very wealthy, became even more  scarce and eventually were no longer produced.  

Have you ever seen an illuminated manuscript like  the "Book of Kells"? Let us know what you thought  

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