The course presents the main features of political, social, economic, cultural and religious history of the Middle Ages. The aim is to let the students acquire knowledge of the different European and Mediterranean civilizations of that period, and properly situate the latter between antiquity and early modern times.
The following list of publications is assigned exclusively to students attending the course for at least two-thirds of lessons. Only for part-time and Erasmus students attendance is not required. The teacher will assign another list of publications to those who will exceed 6 class absences.
1. ZORZI A., Manuale di storia medievale, editore UTET Università, varie ristampe
To be studied entirely. The following parts can be just read, before and after having studied the book:
- snodo I, capitoli 1 e 2
- snodo XIV, capitolo 30
2. ONE OF THE FOLLOWING (FREE CHOICE):
1. GASPARRI S., LA ROCCA C., Tempi barbarici. L’Europa occidentale tra antichità e Medioevo (300-900), editore Carocci, varie ristampe
2. RAVEGNANI G., L’età di Giustiniano, editore Carocci, varie ristampe; IN ADDITION TO THAT: L’Italia mediterranea e gli incontri di civiltà, editore Laterza, varie ristampe, just the essay by M. GALLINA, pp. 5-94
3. BARBERO A., Carlo Magno. Un padre dell’Europa, editore Laterza, varie ristampe
4. LAPIDUS I.M., Storia delle società islamiche, vol. I, Le origini dell’Islam. Secoli VI-XIII, editore Einaudi, varie ristampe
5. ALBERTONI G., Vassalli, feudi, feudalesimo, editore Carocci, varie ristampe
6. PROVERO L., L’Italia dei poteri locali. Secoli X-XII, editore Carocci, varie ristampe
7. PARAVICINI BAGLIANI A., Il trono di Pietro. L’universalità del papato da Alessandro III a Bonifacio VIII, editore Carocci, varie ristampe
8. FRANCESCHI F., TADDEI I., Le città italiane nel Medioevo. XII-XIV secolo, editore Il Mulino, varie ristampe
9. DELLE DONNE F., La porta del sapere. Cultura alla corte di Federico II di Svevia, editore Carocci, varie ristampe
10. ABULAFIA D., I regni del Mediterraneo occidentale dal 1200 al 1500. La lotta per il dominio, editore Laterza, varie ristampe
The teacher will help students, during the office hours, in choosing the text, if needed.
PLEASE NOTE
Students are required to bring texts with them at the exam session.
Learning Objectives
1. Knowledge:
- acquiring knowledge of the features of medieval history;
- acquiring knowledge of the main historical processes, phenomena and events of medieval history.
2. Competence:
- acquiring knowledge of the specific terminology of history and medieval history;
- getting aware of the complexity of that period and of its historical sources;
- acquiring ability in interacting critically with topics and issues of medieval history.
3. Complementary skills:
- participating actively and critically to the lessons.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of the Medieval history at high school level.
Basic knowledge of the European geography
Teaching Methods
Lectures.
Further information
Attendance is required for at least two-thirds of lessons. No provisions and specific exams for non-attending students, except for the part-time ones, who are required to contact the teacher in order to arrange a specific list of publications.
Type of Assessment
Oral exam.
The exam will consist of some questions, with the aim of verifying the understanding and knowledge, by the student, of the historical processes and most important phenomena of the Middle Ages. It will be paid particular attention to the knowledge of the texts assigned, to the ability in logical organisation of discourse and to the proper use of language (including the specific terminology), as well as to the capacity of situating phenomena in time and space.
Course program
The course will present the main phenomena, processes and events of medieval history, by focussing of people (individuals and groups), functions, ideas, places and times. The following topics will be discussed: the idea of Middle Ages; the transformation of the Roman world; the spreading of Christianity; the barbarian kingdoms; the Byzantine empire; Islam; the Carolingian Europe; local power between 10th and 12th c.; the demographic and economic growth between 11th and 13th c.; the reformation of the Church; new forms of religiosity; the political and territorial recomposition of the late Middle Ages; the feudal monarchies; the communes; the crisis of the 14th c.; the formation of states.