MEDLUNI · Vernacular Literature and Medieval Universities. The Birth of a New Transnational Literary Identity (France and Italy, 1220-1399)

The rise of universities during the Middle Ages represented a major shaping factor leading to a paramount intellectual and cultural shift at a European scale, changing the way to communicate, to learn, and to think. MEDLUNI’s purpose is to shed a light on how medieval universities shaped a European literary identity during their rise and growth between 1220 and 1399. This goal will be pursued by investigating representative case studies across France and Italy, where medieval universities became the core and the cradle of a new vernacular literary tradition, establishing innovative paradigms in writing and spreading texts and knowledge.The scope of the project will be, on the one hand, to analyse how authors, texts and manuscripts began moving – more frequently and further away – from one university to the other, leading to the creation of literary networks all around Europe. On the other hand, I will aim at outlining how vernacular literature had been influenced by a range of international literary markers related to universities: new topics, disciplines, and styles.A deep transformation had been occurring, that still needs to be examined thoroughly and systematically by romance philologists. In addition, MEDLUNI will propose a replicable analytical model that would be applicable to other literary traditions.Aiming at filling a scientific and disciplinary gap, MEDLUNI will also settle a new scientific network between Università Ca’ Foscari and University of Fribourg, that represent two hubs of excellence and methodological innovation in the field of Romance philology. While my previous international and scientific experience would allow me to lead MEDLUNI proficiently, the MSCA-Global Fellowship would give me the paramount chance to act – for the first time – as a Principal Investigator, which would represent a key feature and a leap forward to my professional path.