The History Department
Subject: Knowledge and Play in the late Middle ages in Western Europe.
Advisor: Dr. Ayelet Even-Ezra.
Abstract: Between the 12th and the 14th centuries, a profound metamorphosis took place in the shaping of knowledge and thought in Western Europe. Throughout this period, a variety of knowledge domains, ranging from astronomy and mathematics to political science, were integrated into board games, amusing narratives, and grotesque illustrations. This transition was not solely focused on improving information accessibility; rather, it represented a cognitive revolution that shaped the knowledge and thought processes of those who were actively engaged in it.
In my doctoral research, I intend to delve into this world of playful knowledge of the late Middle Ages and examine how this gamification shaped the consciousness of the people of that era and the knowledge they produced. This research seeks to unravel what was the concept of playfulness, what were the historical conditions under which it flourished and how it influenced the knowledge and its dissemination in this period. To address these inquiries, I intend to scrutinize a diverse array of sources like astronomical board games, rhymed poetry about philosophy within romances, and animal fables who treat the education of rulers.