Parisian Scholars in the Early Fourteenth Century: A Social Portrait

by William J. Courtenay

• ISBN13: 9780521025102
• ISBN10: 0521025109
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-04-20
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

This study of the social, geographical and disciplinary composition of the scholarly community at the University of Paris in the early fourteenth century is based on the reconstruction of a remarkable document: the financial record of tax levied on university members in the academic year 1329'1330. Containing the names, financial level and often addresses of the majority of the masters and most prominent students, it is the single richest source for the social history of a medieval university before the late fourteenth century. After a thorough examination of the financial account, the history of such collections, and the case (a rape by a student) that precipitated legal expenses and the need for a collection, the book explores residential patterns, the relationship of students, masters and tutors, social class and levels of wealth, interaction with the royal court and the geographical background of university scholars.

Table of Contents

List of maps and figures

Preface

Introduction: Paris in 1329

Part I. The Recovery and Context of a Document: 1. The computus of 1329-1330

2. Collectae and university finance

3. Precipitating event: the rape of Symonette

Part II. A window in a Lost World: 4. Academic space: the topography of the university community

5. Lodging and residential patterns

6. The sociology of the university community

7. The geographical origins of the university community

Conclusion

Part III. Biographical Register: Appendices

Select bibliography

Indexes.