The Emergence of a Tradition: Technical Writing in the English Renaissance, 1475-1640 [Hardcover]

Examining books on different topics as these appeared during the Renaissance allows us to see developments in the use of graphics, the shift from orality to textuality, the expansion of knowledge, and rise of literacy, particularly among middle-class women readers, who were an important audience for many of these books. Changes in English Renaissance technical books provide a new, and as yet largely unexplored means of viewing the Renaissance and the dramatic changes that emerged during the 1475-1640 period, the first years of English printing.Chapter 1In Search of Our Past
 The purpose of this book is to show that early English technical writing anticipates many of the same issues important to modern technical writing: writers were aware of the comprehension levels of their intended readers; many technical books were designed for ease of use. That is, they exemplified good page design as well as a structure and a style that would enhance the readability and usability of the information. Increasing use of graphics and visual aids to convey information enable modern researchers to track the shift from orality to textuality and from textuality to visual presentation as a means of conveying methods of performing work. English Renaissance technical books show the triumph of textual instruction over oral instruction.

Chapter 2The Rise of Technical Writing in the English Renaissance
 This chapter summarizes historical events that nurtured the growth of technical writing in the English Renaissance: the growth of wealth, the growth of knowledge, the advent of printing,  the rise of humanism. The chapter also surveys examples of technical books produced throughout the Renaissancemedical books, books on farming and animal husbandry, books on gardening, books on household management and cooking, books on recreation, books on military science and navigation in addition to a variety of how to books covering technologies imlã/