Scribal networks

Visualizing 12th century Cistercian book production through network analysis

Abstract

This paper tests the application of network analysis for the visualization and analysis of palaeographical data. In recent years the 12^th century scriptoria of the Austrian Cistercian monasteries of Heiligenkreuz, Zwettl and Baumgartenberg have been thoroughly investigated. A vast amount of data on scribes and their contributions to various manuscripts has been published in analog publications as well as online on the website www.scriptoria.at run by Alois Haidinger. The presentation of the data mainly in the form of lists makes it difficult for researchers to appreciate the possibilities this groundbreaking work provides. For this paper the data is instead presented as networks of manuscripts and networks of scribes within and between the monasteries. These networks highlight the development and interconnectedness of 12^th century Cistercian book production, point out potential research questions and can disseminating the results to a wider audience.