The Diversity of Medieval Reading Materials: Beyond Religious Texts

While literacy rates in medieval times were relatively low, surprisingly, a portion of the population did engage in reading. This engagement wasn't limited to religious texts. Books in various genres and subgenres provided entertainment, education, and enlightenment. This article delves into the diversity of medieval reading materials beyond religious texts.

Religious Texts

Religious books played a significant role in the lives of the medieval population. These texts were essential for spiritual and moral guidance. Here are the types of religious texts commonly read:

Scriptures: Collections of religious writings, such as the Bible. Hagiographies: Descriptions of a saint's life or lives of saints. Gospels: Illuminated books on the life of Christ. Psalters: Collections of psalms. Hours: Illuminated prayer books. Breviaries: Service books that were used in religious services. Sermons: Oration by a preacher. Canticles: Collections of songs of praise.

While some of these texts were richly decorated, they were often large and expensive, making them accessible only to the wealthy or religious institutions like abbeys.

Non-Religious Literary Genres

In addition to religious texts, medieval readers were interested in a wide range of non-religious literary genres, including:

Satires

Satires were humorous criticism of social and religious institutions. Some of the most popular during the medieval period included:

Goliardic poetry: Satirical critique of the church. Satirical ballads: Burlesque or grotesque ballads. Fables: Satirical prose of anthropomorphized animals. Mock epics: Parodies of epic poetry.

Legends and Ballads

Legends and ballads provided insight into the lives and actions of historic and fictional figures. Some popular ballads included:

Poins the Fox: A fable. Gest of Robin Hood: A heroic poem.

These works often featured miniatures, making them visually appealing and accessible to a wider audience, including low-literate peasants.

Tales and Epics

Tales and epics offered prose stories and narratives. Famous examples include:

Tales: Prose stories of connected events. Geographical and topographical texts: Itineraries and travelogues. For instance, Marco Polo's travelogue, The Book of the Marvels of the World.

These texts provided both entertainment and information about the world, making them widely read among the population.

Literary Compendia

Compendia were collections of treatises on various subjects. Well-to-do individuals and nobles often had access to these works, which often included:

Legal texts: Including customary laws, statutes, and bulls. Treatises: Formal and systematic written discourse on subjects like agriculture, hunting, medicine, politics, philosophy, arms, and warfare.

These books were both large and ornately decorated, making them expensive and often unaffordable for commoners. However, some abbeys and monasteries maintained these texts for broader circulation.

Miscellaneous Works

Miscellaneous works included:

Armorial Rolls: Collections of coats of arms. Cookbooks: Recipes and culinary wisdom from medieval kitchens. Surveys: Detailed records of land and resources.

These works were important for their practical, often legal, and educational purposes.

Conclusion

While religious texts held a position of importance in medieval society, they were far from the only type of reading material available. The wide range of literary genres and subjects offered by medieval writing allowed for engagement beyond religious life. Works like satire, legend, epic, and treatises provided entertainment, education, and a window into the world of the medieval reader.