A Short History of the Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Have you ever seen an illuminated manuscript like the Book of Kells? Let us know which one and what you thought of it!

[@HistoryfortheAges]

The Getty Museum in CA, had an exhibit of some Illuminated manuscripts a while back.

[@spackretired]

In 2022, the Gospels of Henry the Lion were exhibited again in Wolfenbuettel (dated in 1188). I went there to check it out. For a time it was the most expensive book in the world.

[@mcsprungis9398]

“Just as the sailor yearns for port, the writer yearns for the last line.” That is an incredibly profound quote which I am sure the original writer would be stoked to know has struck a chord with another person hundreds of years in the future. Love the video, you have great energy, subscribed.

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Welcome and thank you so much! We agree that that quote is very profound.

[@zachhawkins2698]

On my 21st birthday one of my best friends and I ventured the long car drive to the Hackley Public Library in Muskegon, Michigan, where is housed to my knowledge one of the two permanently housed facsimiles of the Book of Kells located in the U.S. It was so cool to see the facsimile and the library itself in incredibly beautiful along with the surrounding town area that has what looks like a large Irish heritage. Incredible experience on my 21st birthday! …oh, and topped off with a peach shake from Chick-Fil-A and a root BEER!

[@stevenbrown9275]

I’ve never seen an illuminated manuscript in person, but have spent a lot of time admiring photos of them. Another excellent shirt being worn by Kelly and another great video.

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Thanks for watching Steven!

[@drkatel]

5:57 The notes in the margins are fascinating. Really humanizes the scriptorial monks.

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

We agree. 🙂

[@victoriaolson8985]

I saw the Book of Kells exhibit in Dublin. They have it open to one (same) page for months. It was not a painted page, just writing and some inked lines that I saw. It’s actually a relatively small book, compared to our general assumption that such works were oversized.

[@adamc1966]

Happy New Year Kelly...good to see you again.

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Happy New Year to you, Adam! Thanks for watching.

[@HistoryfortheAges]

Just found your page, I am going to go through some of your videos. I teach History and sometimes look for good content to recommend to my students. I have a several lectures on my channel as well on the Middle Ages, they are more lecture style for my students.

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Hi David, thanks for watching! We hope you find some helpful videos on our channel!

[@enricamartinengo2070]

Wonderful, thanks a lot 🐾🌞☮️💫

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Thanks for watching!

[@storykli5137]

Great overview and breakdown of the process. One question: what's the evidence/source material for the Church not adopting paper merely because it was not from the west? so much of the eastern sciences, technologies, and philosophies were first adopted and introduced and proliferated into the medieval society through the church (monasteries and universities as centers of learning) during this period such as medicine, astronomy, gun powder not to mention coffee that I find it hard to believe they singled out something as harmless as paper as something they wouldn't adopt merely because it wasn't of "Christian" origin...

[@deniseforsythe8965]

Thanks for asking that question because it is the same question that came up in my mind when watching this.

[@Gofaw]

There is no evidence for it, there's over 140 copies of New Testament pages written in papyrii. This channel is stealthily counter signaling Christianity with these sorts of made up facts and the use of CE

[@bi3mw7137]

Especially the reference to female authors ( nuns ) I found very interesting.

[@MrDowntemp0]

Excellent content as always! I enjoy learning here!

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@dalemacinnis3385]

Thank you for the generalized history of Illumination. I am particularly interested in examples of Illuminated books / pages from Finland / Estonia created during the mid 1300 hundreds. Might you be able and willing to point me in that direction?

[@noemidreispiel1481]

I have a copy of The Book of Kells and I pick up it some times to look at the pictures.From Buenos Aires.Argentina.

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Nice! Thanks for watching!

[@Nusrich_06]

Brilliant video! Back in December last year I had the chance to do a viewing of Hereford Cathedral’s Wycliffe Bible, completed in 1420. It isn’t completely illuminated, but there are many floral embellishments in red & blue ink, as well as decorated capitals at the beginnings of each chapter and each book. The first of these, the letter “I” of “in” at the start of Genesis is gilt & fully illuminated though, and was a sight and a half to behold.

[@scurvyjoe269]

I have a copy of the Book of Kells, which has illustrations of the original manuscript’s folios when they were in their former glory. Or you can say what they would look like back then. It even has information about each folio in my copy of the Book of Kells. I also ordered the Book of Durrow on Amazon, and I can’t wait to have it delivered to my home! Also, I can’t wait to see the illustrations in the Book of Durrow as well! I’ll be sure to enjoy it! (These books are just reproduced copies of the illuminated manuscripts. I would never even touch the originals. They are that Heavenly!)

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Nice, enjoy! And thanks for watching. 🙂

[@VampireHeart518]

That sounds amazing! I was actually wondering WHY (or if) there aren't copies after medieval illuminated manuscripts readily available for purchase

[@REDPANDAZ777]

Interesting history!

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

It is indeed. Thanks for watching!

[@regatta2k]

Wish the channel improves the quality of the Audio by bringing the microphone closer to the presenter. Thanks.

[@LaGrammont27]

Yes I saw the amazing Book of Kells in Ireland, a real treasure. I would also like to see Les Tres Riches Heures du Duc de Berry in Chantilly, and The Book of Hours of Anne de Bretagne at the Bibliotheque Nationale de Paris, which is illustrated with all the medieval flowers in her garden and their uses.

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

They are stunning books indeed. Thanks for watching!

[@paulnovosel9469]

Great work!

[@thefanone]

I really enjoyed this video. Very informative. Way to go team!

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Thanks for watching, we're glad you enjoyed it!

[@hellofditties]

really enjoyed this video :3 the examples were gorgeous. i've never seen one in person but living in london i'm sure there's some nearby...

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching, and hopefully you get a chance to see one in person one day!

[@Banana_man6785]

this is great information! Well done! 👍

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Thank you so much! We're so glad you enjoyed it.

[@richardmahaffey2957]

I saw Illustrated pages in Turkey from the 17th Century according to the seller. While not illuminated manuscripts these were said to be copies of books for students to study.

[@kristoforperkola6923]

Great video. Learned a lot!

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Glad to hear it!

[@domromano4117]

I wish you the best. Thanks

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Thanks! We wish you the best too. 😊

[@jackperson3626]

Thanks!

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Thank you, Jack! We really appreciate it. 😊

[@suzannecooke2055]

Since medieval manuscripts were written on vellum or parchment, would the pigments used also have been used as dyes?

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

For sure. They used pigments like yellow ochre, malachite, turmeric, and azurite. Thanks for watching!

[@parisfrance6483]

Love the video 💯

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Thank you so much. 🙂

[@NP-gb5su]

Ty

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

You're welcome.

[@salligraphy5629]

It should be mentioned that though referring to the Book of Kell’s as an “illuminated” manuscript, it does not contain any gold!

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

That's right. Thanks for watching!

[@nalrader]

I really appreciate that you use CE as opposed to AD in reference to the years most of western civilization has counted years since the supposed birth of Jesus.

[@ramoses5912]

I greatly enjoyed the video, paper (papyrus) was invented in ancient Egypt. 🤔🤔

[@enchampress]

badly wanna see one in real life

[@DiddyWheldon]

Im researching brythfyths manuscript at the minute

[@TreeGa-d1p]

Fantastic fancy index lolipopeyes, sweet information yeah, regards oxbows J ddigo, hugs 🤗😜 aunty carmeelala

[@terrysmith4831]

You just lost me using c.e.

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

We're sorry you feel that way, Terry, but we have been using the BCE/CE dating system for over 10 years now. Here is some more information about why we use it: worldhistory.org/article/1041/the-origin--history-of-the-bcece-dating-system/

[@Gofaw]

Don't ask these spiritual jews which event started the ""common era"" lmao. It will always be Anno Domini

[@Chungustav]

You lost me when you started using C.E. I don't need the anti-Christian signaling

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Thank you for your feedback, but it's not anti-Christian signaling. It's just an alternative dating system that is becoming more prevalent in academic circles.

[@GlendaloughJewellery]

Theres no evidenve Irish monks had access to any previously produced illuminated manuscripts, the book of kells dudnt follow an established tradition. The first illuminated manuscript was An Cathach, produced by Columcille before exiling himself to the scottish island of Iona, forming the first of many monasteries built by irish monks in Scotland, England and Wales. It is a little understood anomaly of history, your video refers to European manuscripts, there wasnt a european manuscript heritage without Ireland and its monks leaving ireland firever to preach and educate throut all Europe. Salzburg in Austria is one of many European cities built on a site first occupied by an Irish monastery. Ireland was known as the centre of learning throughout Europe. The first time the term Europe was used was in reference to Columbanus, calling him Saint of Europe. The English sent their children to be educated freely in irish monasteries. The book of Lindisfarne was produced in a monastery established by Irish monks. "Saxon" monks werent taken seriously unkess they had been educated in Ireland.

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@davina3358]

Funny how the use of papyrus seems "pagan" yet killing animals and using their skin as a paper seems very Christian.

[@Gofaw]

There's over 140 copies of the New Testament written in papyrii. You don't need to talk about subjects you know nothing about

[@warpathh]

Terrible audio. Please think about it.

[@mara3842]

Teachers like this were the reason I hated history all throughout school. This is such an exciting topic yet this is one of the most boring lectures I have ever heard.