Computer and Information Systems in Latin Paleography Between Research and Didactic Application

Abstract

In this chapter the authors describe how ICT changed the way of approaching research and teaching for today’s paleographers. First of all they report how new technologies changed the cataloging, the studying, and the spreading of information concerning ancient manuscripts all over the world. Next, the results of the experiences they carried out at the Faculty of Humanities are described: the first one concerns the creation of Web resources for teaching paleography; the second one is a database collecting data on women copyists in the Middle Ages; the third one is the practical application of a more general project called by the authors “Open Catalog”; the fourth and last one is an information system concerning the bibliography of ancient manuscripts. Finally, the authors describe how ICT introduced new research methods in paleography and especially how they made possible the creation of learning communities (i.e., learning, studying, and research communities).