Taran Palmstrøm Fenn, a PhD student in intellectual history at the University of Oslo, will explore the environmental narratives within Chronica Majora, the universal chronicle by Matthew Paris (c. 1200–1259). This medieval text chronicles the history of the world from Creation to Paris' lifetime, weaving in accounts of environmental events like storms, floods, droughts, and earthquakes. The seminar will delve into how these natural phenomena are contextualized within historical narratives and integrated into various temporalities and timescales, shedding light on medieval perceptions of nature and its place in human history.

Taran Palmstrøm Fenn is pursuing her PhD in intellectual history at the University of Oslo. With a strong background in European intellectual history, French, and Latin, Fenn is currently in Rome to work on her research project while attending courses in Medieval Latin, paleography, and codicology hosted by the Fédération Internationale des Instituts d’Études Médiévales (FIDEM) at the Norwegian Institute in Rome.

Matthew Paris’ Chronica Majora is a monumental work of medieval historiography. Written by the Benedictine monk of St. Albans Abbey, it records significant events from Creation to the mid-13th century, including Paris' own vivid illustrations and reflections on natural and celestial phenomena. The chronicle remains an essential source for understanding medieval perspectives on nature, history, and the interconnectedness of the two.

https://www.hf.uio.no/dnir/english/research/news-and-events/events/2025/fenn.html