Last Test

paleography

the study of ancient and historical handwriting

script

a particular style or system of handwriting

uncial

a rounded script commonly used from the 4th to 8th centuries, especially in Latin and Greek manuscripts

half-uncial

a script developed from uncial with more minuscule (lowercase-like) features

minuscule

a script using smaller, more connected letters; contrasts with majuscule scripts like uncial

majuscule

scripts composed entirely of capital (uppercase) letters

Caroline Minuscule

A clear uniform script developed in the 8th-9th centuries during Charlemagne’s reign

gothic script

a dense, angular script that developed in the 12th century and dominated the later Middle Ages.

codicology

the study of books as physical objects, especially manuscripts

rustic capitals

an early majuscule script used mainly for formal Roman writing from the 1st to 6th centuries

square capitals

a formal roman script used for inscriptions and some manuscripts

insular script

scripts developed in the British Isles, especially in Ireland and Anglo-Saxon England

beneventan script

a distinctive script used in southern italy from the 8th to the 13th century

chancery script

a formal script developed in the papal chancery in the later middle ages

humanist script

a revival of caroline minuscule during the Renaissance forming the basis of modern Roman typefaces

ligature

two or more letters joined into a single written unit

recto/verso

the front (recto) and back (verso) or a golio

ascender

the part of a letter that extends above the main body

descender

the part of a letter that extends below the line

ductus

the direction, order, and manner in which the strokes of a letter ae made

catchword

the word written at the bottom of a folio to anticipate the next page’s text

exemplar

the original text from which a manuscript copy is made

colophon

a note at the end of a manuscript giving information about its production

parchment

writing material made from animal skin, commonly used in medieval manuscripts

palimpsest

a manuscript in which the original writing has been scraped or washed off and overwritten

quire

a gathering of folded sheets of parchment or paper in a manuscript

incipit

the opening words of a manuscript or section

gloss

an explanatory note or translation added in the margins or between the lines of a manuscript

codex

a book made of folded sheets bound together, replacing scrolls in late antiquity

siglum

a letter or symbol used to represent a manuscript in scholarly reference

roman capitals and roman rustic

1st century BCE - 4th century CE; used in inscriptions and early codices

uncial

4th-8th century; rounded majuscule script for christian text

roman half uncial

5th-9th century; transitional toward minuscule forms

insular majuscule & minuscule

6th-9th century; developed in Ireland and Britain; highly decorative

luxeuil minuscule

7th-8th century; national hand; agresitum

caroline minuscule

8th-12th century; legibly and widely adopted across the carolingian empire; model for humanist script

gothic script

12th-16th century; dense, angular, textura/bastarda

chancery script

14th-16th century; developed for official documents; more regular and legible

humanist script

15th century onward; revival of caroline minuscule, basis for modern Roman type

italic & secretary hands

used in renaissance humanist and administrative writing

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gothic bastarda

gothic textura

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carolingian minuscule

luxeuil minuscule

insular minuscule

insuulaar majuscule

artificial uncial

uncial

roman rustic