Observations and context
Hildegard was born and lived in the Holy Roman Empire (Germany).
She was strongly influenced by her teacher, the anchorite Jutta von Sponheim. Hildegard, in turn, passed on a similar model of mentoring and leadership to her disciples, including the noblewoman Richardis von Stade.
She was a contemporary of the nun and abbess Hitda von Meschede, who illustrated a gospel book known as the "Gospels of Abbess Hitda of Meschede" or the "Codex Hitda", a work produced in Cologne and one of the most outstanding works of this city-school; she was also a contemporary of Elizabeth of Schönau, a German Benedictine mystic, and Christina of Markyate, an Anglo-Saxon mystic.
According to Gerda Lerner, "they were followed by the Beguine mystics Marie of Oignies, Hadewijch of Antwerp, Mechthild of Magdeburg and the extraordinary nuns of Helfta, whose mysticism reached its peak in the late 13th century. The 14th century brought the emergence of women's mysticism in Holland, Germany, England, France and Italy. With the spread of witch-hunting and the beginning of the Reformation there was a sharp drop in the number of women saints, followed by a steady decline." Margareta and Christina of Ebner, Bridget of Sweden (14th century) or her daughter St. Catherine of Sweden are just a few of the long list of mystics who excelled throughout the Middle Ages.
Hildegard von Bingen can also be considered a precedent for future great mystics such as St. Catherine of Siena or St. Teresa of Avila.
The 12th century was full of brilliant female creators. Hildegard's contemporaries include the philosopher and abbess Héloïse of Paraclete; Herrad of Landsberg; the great writer of the Lais, Mary of France; the Andalusian poets Hafsa al Rakuniyya or Nazhum ibn Al Qalai, among others; trobairitz such as the Countess of Die or Azalais of Porcairagues, among others; Anna Komnene, Byzantine princess and author of The Alexiad; Trota of Salerno, the great medieval scientist; Elisava, the embroiderer and Romanesque artist; Eleanor of Aquitaine, the great queen; Claricia, illustrator, and Guda of Weissfauen, illuminator of manuscripts and miniaturist, are some of the outstanding figures of this century. We should also highlight the influence Hildegard left among the Benedictine nuns of Gerona, who wove the Tapestry of Creation, one of the jewels of Romanesque art, inspired by her theological ideas.
Description
Students will learn how to use a Latin dictionary by looking up the suggested words. They will also interpret the symbols that the dictionary uses for Ecclesiastical Latin entries. In doing so, they will understand the broad use of Latin through the entire history of the Western culture. They will also do some research on the ethymology of some Christian words. Lastly, they will search for information about one of the people that Hildegard corresponded with.
Answer
Documents