Book of Curiosities (12th-13th centuries) Available online at: https://cosmos.bodley.ox.ac.uk Summary: An illustrated manuscript of a
hitherto unknown Arabic cosmographical treatise, the يKitāb Gharāʾib al-funūn wa-mulaḥ al-ʿuyūn, known as the Book of Curiosities. The
manuscript is a copy, probably made in Egypt in the late 12th or early 13th century, of an anonymous work compiled in the first half of
the 11th century in Egypt. The treatise is extraordinarily important for the history of science, especially for astronomy and
cartography, and contains an unparalleled series of diagrams of the heavens and maps of the earth. Sample Folios/Pages Fol. 5b Fol. 14b
Fol. 19a Fol. 21b Fol. 26b Fol. 36b Fol. 40a Fol. 35b-36a Fol. 42a Fol. 44a
Part II: Research Essay on the Digital Divide Part II: Research Essay In a 2000 word (minimum) essay, examine your chosen manuscript in
terms of both its medieval and modern context: The Medieval Context: Questions and/or Themes to Consider: -How does the manuscript
reflect literate and/or textual communities of the medieval world? -What were some of the functions of texts and/or manuscripts,
particularly yours? -Who had access to your manuscript? Was this typical for the period? Consider how literacy and access to texts
change over the high medieval period 12th-15th centuries. This portion should reflect both your own research into the
background/history of your manuscript and the wider developments of literacy and textuality during the medieval world. The Modern
Context This portion should reflect your interaction with the digital database/resource via which you accessed the manuscript as well
as a wider reflection on the role of literacy in relationship to the "digital age". It should also reflect your analysis and
reflection on some of the resources we’ve examined in relationship to textual communities of the modern world, particularly in contrast
to the medieval world. Questions/Themes to Consider: -Who do you believe is the intended audience for the digital resource of your
manuscript? -How “free” or “complete” is your access to the manuscript? -What elements of it are controlled or expect a certain level
of knowledge? Why/How? -What use do you see the database best serving? In what ways does it fail in providing access or information? –
Explain how your updated manuscript interacts with and reflects modern issues of literate communities and digital accessibility. (as
well as any other elements you were not able to explain fully on your sample page/section/folio from Part I). Consider how these
elements interact with these broader questions: In what ways can the advent of e-reading and digital resources (online books,
encyclopedias, digital resources of museums and libraries) be considered a similar “technological shift” in the access of knowledge,
communication, and cultural heritage? -How do these technologies affect modern literate and/or textual communities? -Consider questions
of accessibility. What communities (if any) are left out of digital resources? -How do digital resources contribute to our access to
cultural heritage or communal knowledge? -Is a “digital” manuscript fundamentally different from a physical one? -Should libraries
and/or museums invest in digitizing their holdings? Why or why not? -What are the problems and potentials of digitizing cultural
heritage & texts? Helpful Resources on the Digital Divide and Digital Heritage (you must use one of these in your bibliography):
Pew Research On E-Readers & Tablets The Digital Divide (The Economist) The New York Times: "New Online Openness Lets Museums
Share Works With the World" UNESCO/UBC Vancouver Declaration: The Memory of the World in the Digital Age: Digitization and
Preservation Formatting: Please provide a word count, footnotes, and a bibliography for your essay component. Your word count (minimum
2000 words) should not count your footnotes or your bibliography. Papers shorter than 2000 words will lose points. You must use a
minimum of 6 sources for the essay, including the digital resource of your manuscript. You may use resources from the class (and you
must use at least one from the section on the modern digital divide); however, you may not rely on non-academic sources, such as online
encyclopedias or personal webpages as part of your bibliography. Failure to use proper source material will result in points off your
final mark.
*** Have a clear thesis for this paper. This essay needs to have a thesis to be completed. **** Must be over 2000 words and therefore,
I chose to do 8 pages of 2200 words. ***** Please do not use words that are hard to understand, just make them clear and concise.
****** Also, please do not forget to include one of the sources that I have provided you under "Helpful Resources on the Digital
Divide and Digital Heritage (you must use one of these in your bibliography)". You have to use one of these for bibliography.
******* Plus do not forget to do proper citations, such as having the right footnotes on the page with the proper name and page. This
is very important. Proper footnotes needs to be implied
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