For accessing materials posted on the first version of the site. Links to archived pages have been added to the original text.

“About” this portal, circa 2015:

The most pressing questions at this early point in the project are about the nature of humanities data: How (or should) partial information about a book be included with the data set of specific, known editions in that collection? (See the archived Chronology and Geography, Lacunae, as well as Ariosto & Tasso.) Can a database recreate knowledge making practices in the late Renaissance? (See the archived Galileo’s Database.)

The project also recognizes the important value of Galileo as a historical figure involved in the intersection of technology with culture, new methodologies and scholarly tradition, and the successes and challenges of working in multiple disciplines. In short, Galileo makes frequent cameos in digital humanities scholarship (see the archived Galileo in Digital Humanities Scholarship).

The early modern English book trade has benefited from more extensive study of its relatively organized and documented community of printers, publishers, book-sellers, and patrons. While much great research has been undertaken on the Italian context for book culture, my project hopes to offer preliminary observations and suggest new, fruitful avenues for exploration. Looking at his library is also an opportunity to explore the claims of Galileo’s exceptionalism as well as arguments about the catalysts for paradigm shift. Underlying all of this is the recognition that adopting new representational and analytical technologies defined the early modern period and so a better understanding of one might better inform our approach to the other. (See the archived Rationale section and subpages.)

This version of the project already represented a significant change from its original conceptualization. The changes are outlined below, and the future of the project is partially anticipated by the section on Galileo’s Database.

Comparison of the original “Galileo’s Library” project outline with what is represented on the current website.