Bartholomew Anglicus

Bartholomaeus Anglicus (before 1203–1272), also known as Bartholomew the Englishman and Berthelet, was an early 13th-century scholastic of Paris, a member of the Franciscan order. He was the author of the compendium De proprietatibus rerum ("On the Properties of Things"), dated c.1240, an early forerunner of the encyclopedia and a widely cited book in the Middle Ages. Bartholomew also held senior positions within the church and was appointed Bishop of Łuków in what is now Poland, although he was not consecrated to that position.

Works De proprietatibus rerum

The work De proprietatibus rerum was written at the school of Magdeburg in Saxonia and intended for the use of students and the general public. A critical edition of Trevisa's translation appeared in 1975.

The work was organized in 19 books. The subjects of the books, in order, are God, angels (including demons), the human mind or soul, physiology, of ages (family and domestic life), medicine, the universe and celestial bodies, time, form and matter (elements), air and its forms, water and its forms, earth and its forms including geography, gems, minerals and metals, animals, and color, odor, taste and liquids.

Book 1 De Deo On God and the names of God Book 2 De proprietatibus angelorum On angels, good and bad Book 3 De anima On the soul and reason Book 4 De humani corporis On the bodily humors Book 5 De hominis corpore On the parts of the body Book 6 De state hominis On daily life Book 7 De infirmitatibus On diseases and poisons Book 8 De mundo On earth and the heavenly bodies Book 9 De temporibus On time and motion Book 10 De materia et forma On matter, form and fire Book 11 De aere On the air and weather Book 12 De avibus On birds Book 13 De aqua On water and fishes Book 14 De terra On the earth and its surface Book 15 De regionibus et provinciis On regions and places Book 16 De lapidibus et metallis On rocks, gems and minerals Book 17 De herbis et arboribus On plants and trees Book 18 De animalibus On land animals Book 19 De accidentibus On colours, smells and tastes, substances, measurements, numbers and music