Key research themes
1. How did literary and intellectual translation practices shape medieval Spanish literature's cultural and philosophical knowledge?
This theme investigates the multifaceted processes of translation, adaptation, and vernacularization undertaken in medieval Iberia, particularly emphasizing how political, cultural, and religious dynamics influenced the transmission of philosophical, historiographical, and literary knowledge into Castilian and other Iberian vernaculars. The study of translation here encompasses not only linguistic transfer but also hermeneutical rewriting, cultural negotiation, and ideological positioning, which were pivotal in shaping the distinctive character of medieval Spanish literature as a nexus of Christian, Arabic, Jewish, and classical traditions.
2. What roles did Alfonso X and his court play in shaping medieval Spanish illuminated manuscripts and literary culture through synthesis of knowledge and artistic patronage?
This research theme explores the cultural and material production of Alfonso X’s court, focusing on the creation, illumination, and transmission of manuscripts as intersections of scientific, literary, and artistic endeavors. It highlights the collaborative, multi-disciplinary scriptorium environment and its advances in manuscript illumination, the refinement of vernacular literary forms, and the manifestation of political and intellectual objectives through book production. This theme underscores the centrality of royal patronage in advancing medieval Spanish literary culture and material artistry.
3. How do medieval Iberian literary texts negotiate identity, ideology, and historical memory through narrative and historiographical strategies?
This theme examines key literary works and chronicles that articulate medieval Spanish political and cultural identity by engaging with historical events, ideological conflicts, and social hierarchies. It focuses on the narrative construction of power, cultural otherness, and communal memory employing tropes such as translation, loss, and allegory. Special attention is given to how authors like Alfonso X and his contemporaries use literary forms—ranging from epic poetry to dialogues—to express ideological agendas and redefine notions of linguistic and political superiority.