We achieved several key objectives: we trained new generations of European researchers in using medieval and early modern legal sources and exposed humanities students to advanced digital humanities, providing hands-on experience with new technologies for innovative learning. We promoted interdisciplinary research through collaboration and bridged the gap between theory and practice, transforming theoretical knowledge into practical skills for working with ancient documents. We created the first modern interdisciplinary handbook on medieval legal sources, along with a refined virtual platform for self-learning, enabling students and learners to understand and use ancient legal sources. Additionally, we established a collaborative environment for scholars and professionals, including archivists and paleographers, to share legal humanistic practices. The project also focused on interdisciplinary approaches to historical studies, encouraging dialogue across social, economic, and legal fields, and developed an EU-wide training curriculum that transcended national educational traditions.
In recent decades, interdisciplinary studies in social sciences expanded significantly, often integrating sources from diverse fields, especially in historically oriented research. Medieval and early modern European legal sources are invaluable for understanding cultural heritage, societal rules, and development. These sources, once the domain of legal historians, began to draw interest across disciplines, providing insights into social, economic, institutional, and cultural contexts. Digitization and transcription software made these texts increasingly accessible globally. However, a major challenge persisted: expertise in reading and interpreting these sources dwindled, with reference works often outdated, lacking recent advancements in digital humanities. Specialized training in medieval legal texts—covering language, structure, and context—was scarce, largely dependent on the rare availability of expert mentors, underscoring an urgent need for formalized education in this field. Additionally, FONTES addressed a gap in higher education by integrating digital humanities into its program, enhancing the learning experience and making ancient sources more accessible for educators, researchers, and students alike.