Translating the Middle Ages

This insightful collection, Translating the Middle Ages, explores the multifaceted nature of translation across cultures and time periods.

This collection, Translating the Middle Ages, brings together diverse approaches from literary studies, history, linguistics, and art history, spanning from Late Antiquity to the sixteenth century. It examines the concept of 'translation' in a broad sense, focusing on the adaptation and transmission of cultural inheritance. The essays delve into the practice of textual translation across various languages and mediums, highlighting the evolution of translation from manuscripts to print culture and the creation of lexical databases.

The contributors explore fascinating topics such as the vernacularization of Latin literature in England, France, and Italy, as well as the translation of Greek and Hebrew scientific terms into Arabic. Additionally, the collection addresses the role of Hebrew terms in anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim polemics. By investigating the perspectives and practices of medieval translators, the essays shed light on how figures like Lydgate approached the translation of Greek myths, utilizing mental images and rhetorical devices to enrich their work.

Moreover, Translating the Middle Ages illustrates how translation was instrumental in shaping cultural and political identities, as seen in works like the Fet des Romains and Chester Whitsun Plays. The collection also touches on the papacy's strategic efforts to assert dominance over Byzantium by controlling the translation of Greek texts, demonstrating the profound impact of translation on historical narratives and cultural exchanges.