Transforming the Medieval World: Uses of Pragmatic Literacy in the Middle Ages (a CD-ROM and Book)

Even before the invention of the printing press the written text became essential both for the intellectual development and the everyday activities of people. In various different fields and regions, the Sonderforschungsbereich 231 at Munster, has analyzed these processes. The results of this work have gained an international reputation. SFB 231 "Pragmatic Literacy in the Middle Ages" completed its 13-year program of research in December 1999. During this period, 15 different workgroups analyzed the changes taking place from a society based almost exclusively on oral communication to a culture which relies decisively on the written word. The European-wide phenomenon is examined mainly for Germany, Italy, the Low Countries, England and France. The aim is to use the opportunities offered by this new medium to explain for each of the examples given the complex findings of the SFB's research. An electronic medium is appropriate because it offers the possibility of combining pictures, graphs, charts, texts and verbal explanations. Sixteen different genres or milieux are demonstrated on this CD-ROM.