Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Periods of History of the Vatican City Library

Hello all!

This is my 3rd blog post! 

This week I have been focusing on the time periods of the Vatican City Library and what this meant and the changes that took place.  I have also included a list of questions I want answered that have popped up since researching the history of these time periods.

There are 5 distinct periods the Vatican City Library has met; they are listed on this website here:

http://theborgias.wetpaint.com/page/The+Vatican+Library

They are:

Pre-lateran= initial days of the library with the earliest days of the Church

Lateran= Until the 13th century with the reign of Pope Boniface VII

Avignon= Growth in book collection, the Papacy returning to Rome, collections and records were from popes in residence in southern France in Avignon.

Pre-Vatican= 1370-1446 the Library is scattered, parts in Rome and France

Vatican= 1446 onwards - Library places new collection and home.

I have a few questions I want answered through my research in these time periods.


1. What is the importance and impact of Pope Boniface VII for him to have an entire time period during his reign? (Lateran) What was his contribution to the Vatican Library?

2. Why do they call it the Vatican Library when it wasn't based in the Vatican in the first place until the Vatican time period? Are these based on the collections that were moved to and fro from different locations? (Avignon, Rome)

3. What is the significance of Avignon?

4. Are there any estimated dates for the Pre Lateran, Lateran and Avignon time periods?

5. What was the Library called when it wasn't the Vatican collection?

I am researching these questions as we speak; the internet is a nice treasure trove however I believe that certain books and their sources will be an easier navigated way of finding this specific information.

With this research, I also intend to lay out and define the terms of these distinct time periods. That is:

1. Why are they called these periods?
2. Who were the people who set these special dates and time frames in the first place?

3. Are there any discrepancies or arguments over these periods/can we call it an official part of history?
4. Where was the evidence collected from to suggest these 5 different time periods.


I have included a video which highlights my next blog post of the advancement and future of the Vatican City. It highlights the implications of it's new Art museums and exhibitions and it's new project for Internet mainstream awareness under the headline "The Vatican Library Project: Accessible Worldwide".




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This has been the toughest of my research thus far this week. Books and sources as well as the internet are scarce on information findings of the distinct periods of the Vatican City Library. I had to find out on my own that these periods don't list the Vatican Library itself at some points, but rather it's collections that were housed only until the Vatican Era! The library moved places before settling in at the Vatican City at the last distinct time period!

The questions I have listed here will be answered. For now, I have been pouring over the website I listed in search of answers. I will be heading to my local library and then the Melbourne City Library for any answers to my questions, especially about who the Pope Boniface VII was as he sounds very interesting!


Sources:

Video
Marshad, N. (2010) The Vatican Library Project: Accessible Worldwide. [video online] Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYvLhD8YHL0&feature=player_embedded [Accessed: 18 September 2012]. 



Website for 5 eras/time period information
Theborgias.wetpaint.com (1990) The Vatican Library - The Borgias Fan Wiki. [online] Available at: http://theborgias.wetpaint.com/page/The+Vatican+Library [Accessed: 18 September 2012].


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