Literature and History Episode 108: Isidore of Seville
Feb 15, 2025
Dive into the fascinating world of Isidore of Seville, a pivotal figure of Late Antiquity who created the monumental 'Etymologies,' a crucial medieval encyclopedia. Discover his role in the cultural shift from Arianism to Catholicism among the Visigoths and the challenges of Visigothic Spain. Explore Isidore's contributions to punctuation that shaped written communication and his intriguing reflections on myth and geography. Enjoy a blend of humor and knowledge as we examine the historical journey of language, science, and theology through Isidore's influential works.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
A Book Second Only To The Bible
- Isidore's Etymologies became, after the Bible, the most copied Latin book for nearly a millennium.
- Over a thousand manuscripts survive, showing unmatched medieval circulation.
Etymologies: Practical Organization Over Novelty
- The Etymologies runs about 20 books and emphasizes Latin word origins more than original research.
- Isidore arranged topics for readability and practical use rather than novelty.
Visigothic Spain United By Luvigild
- King Luvigild reasserted Visigothic control and annexed the northwest, consolidating nearly all of Iberia by 586.
- His rule set the stage for the later Catholic Visigothic kingdom.