As a glimpse of fifteenth-century Spanish life, the Reportorio de los tiempos, a late medieval/early modern example of the Western almanac tradition, is a valuable text. It represents the scientific, astrological, medical and agricultural views of its day, discussing everything from phlebotomy to feast days; gives explanations for the origin of time and traces the history of time calculation; includes etymologies of key terms; and explores the ecclesiastic calendar, providing a detailed listing of saints and martyrs. In addition to its insights into medieval religion and science, however, the Reportorio is also important for its status as an early Spanish incunable, giving valuable insights into the development of printed texts.
Dr LAURA DELBRUGGE teaches at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.