Medieval Scribes: From Monastic Copyists to Female Entrepreneurs

The article explores the diverse roles of scribes in the medieval period, from monk-scribes in monasteries to courtier scribes like Geoffrey Chaucer and professional scribes such as Christine de Pizan. Monks and nuns copied religious texts as an act of devotion, often adding humorous marginalia. Chaucer, a courtier, wrote in Middle English, elevating the vernacular. Christine de Pizan, widowed at 25, ran a scriptorium of female scribes, producing manuscripts for court commissions. The article also covers the transition from parchment to paper, noting that Japanese author Murasaki Shikibu used washi (mulberry bark paper) for The Tale of Genji (1021). Papermaking reached Europe via the Silk Road, where rag paper eventually replaced parchment. With the printing press in the 15th century, scribal work declined but continues today in calligraphy for certificates and invitations.