Geographical Descriptions of Spain in Latin Medieval Encyclopaedias: From Isidore of Seville to Vincent of Beauvais (VII-XIII c.)

The Etymologies, the work of Isidore of Seville (Isidorus Hispalensis; Hispalis – Seville) is one of the most important medieval encyclopaedias and plays an important role in medieval culture. Isidore, who included a moving and lofty praise of his homeland (Laus Spaniae) in the introduction to History of Goths, Wandals and Swebs (see below) also included some facts about Spain in the Etymologies, which, however, had a geographical character (“smaller” pieces of information concerning Spain, apart from this one, can be found in the Etymologies). It is therefore worth taking up the issue – given that medieval encyclopaedists were to a great extent compilers abundantly drawing on their “encyclopaedic predecessors” – of the description of Spain depicted in such a popular work, a description presenting the homeland of such a respected author, which was included (and to what extent) in encyclopaedias created after the Etymologies. Was this description taken into account, shortened or extended, especially in the encyclopaedias produced in the XIIIth century – the Latin works “articulating” the magnificence of the development of medieval encyclopaedism? In other words, it is worth returning to the question whether the picture of Spain drawn by Isidore in the Etymologies turned out to become a lasting element in the picture of the World in the Middle Ages which was popularized by other encyclopaedias.