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Medieval Studies—Encyclopedias & Subject Dictionaries

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Online reference sources

While the major biographical collections are listed elsewhere, most of the dictionaries and encyclopedias below often include extensive biographical information. Because religion is so much part and parcel of medieval history and culture, religion encyclopedias containing extensive material of general historical interest are found in this section. Not listed are the various print editions of the great national encyclopedias shelved in the Info Center, Larousse, Britannica, Meyers, Enciclopedia Italiana, etc., which are often enormously useful.

• Dictionary of the Middle Ages. 13 v. 1982-1988. D114.D5, Info Center. A basic English-language reference work.
• Enciclopedia dell'arte medievale. 12 v. Roma : Istituto della Enciclopedia italiana, c1991-2002.
• Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages / edited by André Vauchez in conjunction with Barrie Dobson and Michael Lapidge ; English translation by Adrian Walford. 2 v. D114 .E53, Info Center.
• Handbuch der europaeischen Geschichte. Hrsg. von Theodor Schieder. 1976-. D101 .H3, Lane Rm. Vol.1 covers the end of the Ancient world through the 11th century, vol.2 the late Middle Ages, the early chapters of vol.3 treat the transformations of church & state in the 15th and 16th centuries. Each volume includes a thorough person and subject index. Similar to the CMH in its chronological arrangement, encyclopedic articles and extensive bibliographies.
• Lexikon des Mittelalters. 1977-1998. D101.5 .L49, Lane Rm. Articles include a bibliography of primary and secondary works.
• The New Cambridge Medieval History. 1995-. D117 .N48, Lane Rm.; Stack. The new edition of: The Cambridge Medieval History. 8.v., 1911-1936, D117.C3 plus map supplements, which are still shelved in the Lane Rm. An encyclopedic survey from a traditional political historical viewpoint with substantial bibliographies. There is a new edition of the the Reformation volume (1990) of The New Cambridge Modern History, (1957, D208.C162); v.1 covers the The Renaissance: 1493-1520. Volumes 1-3 of the The Cambridge Economic History of Europe, 1966-, HC240.C3, survey the period from the beginning of the Middle Ages through the 15th century. Some volumes have revised editions as its vol. 2: Trade and industry in the Middle Ages. The Cambridge illustrated history of the Middle Ages (edited by Robert Fossier) emphasizes contemporary social and economic historical approaches.
• The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Reformation. 4 v. BR302 .8 .O93, Info Center. Covers most aspects of 16th century history. Reformation--Encyclopedias. Reformation--Biography--Encyclopedias. Theology, Doctrinal--Europe--History--16th century--Encyclopedias. Europe--Church history--16th century--Encyclopedias.

There are numerous other scholarly encyclopedias useful to the medievalist. Among the most important:

• Medieval Islamic civilization: an encyclopedia / Josef W. Meri, editor. DS36.85.M434 2006 Green Stacks.
• The encyclopaedia of Islam. 2nd. ed. DS37 .E523, Lane Rm.; Info Center. "Crusades"
• The encyclopaedia of Islam. 3 rd ed. In progress.
• The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. 3 v. 1991. DF521.O93, Info Center.
• Kulturhistorisk leksikon for nordisk middelalder fra vikingetid til reformationstid. 22 v.,1956-1978. Illustrated; bibliography; period 700-1500. Articles in Danish, Norwegian or Swedish.
• Reallexikon der Byzantinistik. 1969-. DF501 .R38, Lane Rm. Publication suspended temporarily after Reihe A, Bd. I, Hefte 1-5. A-Abendland und Byzanz (Literatur und Sprache).
• Reallexikon der germanischen Altertumskunde. 4 v. 1911-1919. DD51 .H6, Lane Rm. Also deals with the middle ages. This basic reference work is being re-edited in a new and enlarged form:
• Reallexikon der germanischen Altertumskunde. 2. völlig neu bearb. und stark erw. Aufl. unter Mitwirkung zahlreicher Fachgelehrter. Hrsg. von Herbert Jankuhn. 1973-. DD51 .R42, Lanr Rm. Extends to the period of Charlemagne, and for Scandinavian and Viking subjects the eleventh century. Many maps and ills., full bibliography, numerous contributors from several countries.
• Reallexikon fur Antike und Christentum. 1950-. BR130.5R4, Lane Rm. An encyclopedia of the transition from the Ancient to the early Christian world to the end of the sixth century. Coverage extends as late as the ninth century in the case of the Carolingian Renaissance.
• Reallexikon für Antike und Christentum ... Supplement / bergründet von Franz Joseph Dölger ... et al. ; Redaktion F.J. Dölger. 1985-. Many articles reprinted from Jahrbuch für Antike und Christentum.

Religion & Church History

As mentioned, there is extensive historical material in several important religion reference works. The Lane Room has the English version of Herzog's 3rd ed of Realencyclopaedie fuer protestantische Theologie und Kirche: The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, 13 v., 1908-14, BR95.S43. Contemporaneous with Schaff-Herzog is Hastings (ed.), Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics, 12v. and index, 1908-1927, which is both scholarly and represents a liberal Protestant viewpoint. We also have the revised Herzog: TRE Theologische Realencyclopaedie, v.1-, 1977-, BR95.T4. Scholarly from a Protestant viewpoint with excellent bibliography of secondary literature and sources. Another important reference work is RGG4 Die Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart: Handwoerterbuch fuer Theologie und Religionswissenschaft, 4th ed., 8 v., 1998-2007, BL31.R42 Lane Rm.

• The Coptic Encyclopedia. 8 v. 1991. BX130 .5 .C66, Lane Rm.
• Crusades: An Encyclopdia. 4 vol. 2006. Table of contents only [Link]
• Encyclopedia of monasticism / editor, William M. Johnston.2 v. 2000. BL631 .J85, Info Center.
• The Encyclopedia of Religion. 17 v. 1986. BL31 .E46, Info Center. Macmillan Reference. Eliade's introduction sets the tone for its approach by emphasizing the influential work of Francis Yates on hermetic and mystical Western religious tradition. Signed articles and bibliographies. Emphasizes sociological and anthropological approaches; cf. Dizionario degli istituto di perfezione . . ., 1974-, BX2420.D58. There is a new edition edited by Lindsey Jones:
• Jones et al. 2005. Encyclopedia of religion. 15 v. BL31 .E57, Info Center.
• Lexikon fuer Theologie und Kirche. 3. völlig neu bearb. Aufl.12 v. 1993. BR95.L48, Lane Rm.
• Levillain. 2002. The papacy: an encyclopedia. 3 v. BX955.2 .D53, Lane Rm. Trans. of Dictionnaire historique de la papauté.
• The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 3 ed., 1997, BR95.O8, Info Center. For ready reference.

The great set of Catholic encyclopedias published by Letouzey in Paris:

• Baudrillart. 1919-. Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques. BR35.B3, Lane Rm. This is a fundamental work for historians.
• Cabrol. 1907-1953. Dictionnaire d'archéologie chrétienne et de liturgie. 15 v. BR95.C2, Lane Rm.
• Dictionnaire de droit canonique. 7 v. 1935-1964. BX1936.D5, Lane Rm.
• Dictionnaire de théologie catholique. 15 v. 1909-1950. BX841.D5, Lane Rm. Includes much historical material. Other theology dictionaries.
• Dictionnaire de la Bible. 5 v. 1912. BS440.V691, Lane Rm. 13 volumes of supplements.

Other Catholic works:

• Dictionnaire de spiritualité, ascetique et mystique doctrine et histoire. 17 v. Paris, Beauchesne, 1937-1995. BX841 .D48, Lane Rm.
• Dizionario degli istituti di perfezione. 10 v. 1974-. BX2420 .D58, Lane Rm. Covers the history, sociology and psychology of the religious life. Reflects the attempt to represent a modern sociological and anthropological approach to religion and culture. Subject (LC): Monasticism and religious orders--Dictionaries.
• The New Catholic Encyclopedia. 15. v. . 2003. BX841 .C25, Info Center. The 1908 Catholic Encyclopedia is still useful, as is the Enciclopedia cattolica, 12 v., 1949--all are in Gen Ref.

Early Church to c.800

• Augustinus-lexikon. 1986-. BR65 .A9 .A93, Lane Rm.
• Dizionario patristico e di antichita cristiane, 2 v., 1983, BR66.5.D58; this excellent dictionary represents the contributions of an international panel of experts. Editions of works are listed for individuals and all articles include references to recent secondary works. Coverage generally extends through the 6th century. Translated into English with an updated bibliography as Encyclopedia of the Early Church, 2 v., 1992, BR66.5.D5813 Lane Rm.
• Encyclopedia of Early Christianity, 2nd ed. 1997, BR162.2.E53 IC. Includes brief bibliographic references.
• Dictionary of Christian Antiquities. 2 v. 1875. BR130 .5 .S6, Lane Rm. Fine work covering church history in a broad sense from the time of the apostles to Charlemagne. A companion work:
• Dictionary of Christian Biography. 4 v. 1877. BR95 .S65.

National Churches

• Diccionario de historia eclesiastica de Espana, 5 v incl. suppl., 1972-, BR1022.D5. A scholary work covering both Iberia and a number of topics involving the western church generally.
• A Dictionary of English Church History, 1912, BX5007.O5. Old but good, includes episcopal lists.

Theology

• Dictionnaire de théologie catholique, 15 v., 1909-1950, BX841.D5. Includes much historical material. Supplemental volume of tables.
• Sacramentum mundi, 6 v., 1968, BR95.S23 IC. A theological encyclopodedia including relatively extensive references for a popularizing work. Volume 6 includes a subject index. Catholic. The older 3 vol.:
• A Catholic Dictionary of Theology, 1961, BR95.C27, also remains useful. Both contain substantial historical material.
• The Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, 2nd ed., 2001, BR95.E87 IC, covers similar ground from a Protestant viewpoint and in condensed form.
• Lexikon fuer Theologie und Kirche. 3. völlig neu bearb. Aufl.12 v. 1993. BR95.L48, Lane Rm.

Other Religions

• The encyclopaedia of Islam. DS37 .E523, Lane Rm.; Info Center.
• Encyclopedia Judaica. 2nd ed., 16 v. 2007. DS102 .8 .E52.

Shorter Works general & specialized

including dictionaries/encyclopedias by Garland, Greenwood Press, Routledge, Scribner and other serial reference book publishers:

• Atlas of Medieval Europe. 1983. G1791 .M3, Info Center. A topical survey with relatively few maps but a good basic bibliography.
• Animali simbolici : alle origini del bestiario cristiano / a cura di Maria Pia Ciccarese. 2002-.
• Dictionary of Medieval Civilization. 1984.
• Dictionary of Medieval Knighthood and Chivalry. 2 v. 1988 CR4505 .B76, Info Center. A wide- ranging dictionary of concepts, terms, and biography relevant to the world of the medieval knight. Useful, with references.
• Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Heraldry. 1969. CR13 .F7. Many other related works are in the "CR" section of the reference collections.
• Encyclopedia of the Vatican and papacy / edited by Frank J. Coppa. 1999. Lane Rm.
• L'État du monde en 1492. 1992. D220 .F73, Lane Rm. Almanac type of work; some references.
• Historical dictionary of late medieval England, 1272-1485 / edited by Ronald H. Fritze and William B. Robison. 2002. DA175 .H56, Info Center.
• The history of science and religion in the western tradition: an encyclopedia / Gary B. Ferngren, general editor. 2000. BL245 .H57, Lane Rm.
• Holy Roman Empire: A Dictionary Handbook. 1980. DD84 .Z66, Info Center. Signed articles, references.
• Medieval England: an encyclopedia. 1998. DA129 .M43, Info Center.
• Medieval France: an encyclopedia. 1995. DC33 .2 .M44, Info Center.
• Medieval Iberia: an encyclopedia / E. Michael Gerli, editor ; associate editors, Samuel G. Armistead. 2003. DP99 .M33, Info Center.
• Medieval Italy: an encyclopedia / Christopher Kleinhenz, editor. 2 v. 2004.
• Medieval Jewish civilization : an encyclopedia / Norman Roth, editor. 2003. DS124 .M386, Lane Rm.
• Medieval Scandinavia: an encyclopedia / Phillip Pulsiano, editor. DL30 .M43, Lane Rm.
• Medieval science, technology, and medicine: an encyclopedia / Thomas Glick. 2005.
• Plantagenet Encyclopedia. 1990. DA225 .P54.
• Trade, travel, and exploration in the Middle Ages : an encyclopedia / editors, John Block Friedman.
• Women and gender in medieval Europe: an encyclopedia / Margaret Schaus, editor. 2004.
• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Medieval Civilization. 1980. CB353 .G7.

Renaissance

• A Concise encyclopaedia of the Italian Renaissance / edited by J.R. Hale. 1981. DG445 .C66, Info Center. Covers Italy c.1320-1600, signed articles with short bibliographic notes, glossary of Italian terms, tables of succession. Useful.
• Encyclopedia of the Renaissance / Paul F. Grendler, editor in chief. 6 v. 1999. CB361 .E52, Info Center. Scribner's published in association with the Renaissance Society of America.
• Encyclopedia of the Renaissance and the Reformation / Thomas G. Bergin, consulting editor ; Jennifer Speake, general editor. 2004. CB359 .B47, Info Center.
• The Oxford dictionary of the Renaissance / Gordon Campbell. 2003. Info Center.

Terminology

• Bien. 1971-. Historisches Wörterbuch der Philosophie. Unter Mitwirkung von mehr als 700 Fachgelehrten, in Verbindung mit Guenther Bien [et al.] Voellig neubearb. Ausg. des Woerterbuchs der philosophischen Begriffe von Rudolf Eisler. Lane Rm.
• Bumpus. 1910. Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Terms; being a history and explanation of certain terms used in architecture, ecclesiology, liturgiology, music, ritual, cathedral constitution, etc
• Meyer. 1966. Clavis Mediaevalis: kleines Woerterbuch der Ma Forschung. D114.M4. Latin & German index.
• Fuchs & Raab. 1972. Woerterbuch zur Geschichte. 2 v. D9 .S8. Introduction to the technical language of the historian. Pays attention to sources and to the ecclesiastical, social and economic history of the Middle Ages.
• Purvis. 1962. Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Terms. BR95 .P8, Info Center. No bibliographical references, and tends not to include little used or antiquated terms. Try Bumpus, above; Theologisches Lexikon, 1981, BR95.T48; and Glossary of Ecclesiastical Terms, 1872, BR96.5.S5.
• Ueding. 1992-. Historisches Wörterbuch der Rhetorik / herausgegeben von Gert Ueding ; Redaktion, Gregor Kalivoda, Franz-Hubert Robling. Lane Rm.

Last modified: November 11, 2009