Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Perreaux, Nicolas
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.12230
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1866916950539501568
author Perreaux, Nicolas
author_facet Perreaux, Nicolas
contents This study examines the evolution of references to grain storage structures in medieval European charters, based on a quantitative and semantic analysis of the digitized CEMA (Cartae Europae Medii Aevi) corpus comprising more than 225,000 documents. The author applies text mining and distributional analysis methods to a lexicon of some forty terms designating storage locations (grangia, horreum, granarium, granica, etc.), cross-referencing these data with references to grain and analyzing their semantic contexts over the long term. The analysis reveals a paradigm shift between the early Middle Ages (decentralized, loosely regulated storage) and the 12th-13th centuries (centralization of storage by the ruling classes). Granaries became instruments of spatial polarization and social control, contributing to the accentuation of social domination in medieval Europe. This evolution was accompanied by a new conceptualization of storage, both material and spiritual.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2509_12230
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Storage places in diplomatic texts (7th-13th centuries). Lexical, semantic, and digital investigation
Perreaux, Nicolas
Digital Libraries
This study examines the evolution of references to grain storage structures in medieval European charters, based on a quantitative and semantic analysis of the digitized CEMA (Cartae Europae Medii Aevi) corpus comprising more than 225,000 documents. The author applies text mining and distributional analysis methods to a lexicon of some forty terms designating storage locations (grangia, horreum, granarium, granica, etc.), cross-referencing these data with references to grain and analyzing their semantic contexts over the long term. The analysis reveals a paradigm shift between the early Middle Ages (decentralized, loosely regulated storage) and the 12th-13th centuries (centralization of storage by the ruling classes). Granaries became instruments of spatial polarization and social control, contributing to the accentuation of social domination in medieval Europe. This evolution was accompanied by a new conceptualization of storage, both material and spiritual.
title Storage places in diplomatic texts (7th-13th centuries). Lexical, semantic, and digital investigation
topic Digital Libraries
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.12230