39134 - "History of Medicine Antropology and Sociology in the Food History"

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course students will be able to discuss and evaluate the important roles fodd has played in human history and to identify and appreciate the relationship between food cultures, health and diseases. In addition students will also gain knowledge on historical development of dietetics since its beginnings in recorded history of medicine.

 

Course contents

In this course, we will investigate the history of food from prehistory to the present day with special focus on the symbolic, cultural, economic, and geopolitical roles of food and drink in world history. Topics include:

- history of food and eating from Prehistoric times to the present;

- food as a site of cultural exchange and as expression and markers of identities;

- food quality and quantity as a factor in determining health and diseases across history

- historical development of tastes and the evolution of fashion

- history of medical theory and diet

 

Readings/Bibliography

Pdfs with the powerpoint presentations of the lectures will be the material to be reviewed for the written exam at the end of the course.

SUGGESTED READINGS:

History of medicine:

Conforti M, Corbellini G, Gazzaniga V- Dalla cura alla scienza- EncycloMedia 2011

Cosmacini G - L'arte lunga. Storia della Medicina dall'Antichità ad oggi. Laterza 2009

Armocida G, Zanobio B - Storia della Medicina – Elsevier Masson 2002

Food in world history:

M. MONTANARI, La fame e l'abbondanza. Storia dell'alimentazione in Europa, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1997

M. HARRIS, Buono da mangiare. Enigmi del gusto e consuetudini alimentari, Torino, Einaudi, 2006

Il cibo e le donne nella cultura e nella storia: prospettive interdisciplinari. a cura di M. G. Muzzarelli e L. Re. Clueb, Bologna 2005

Selezione di articoli proposti e commentati durante il corso.

Teaching methods

Lectures with slides

Class Discussion

Assessment methods

The final exam consists 16 multiple choice questions covering all topics discussed throughout the course. The exam will take approximately 30 minutes. The final grade is the weighted average of the single grade obtained in each modules of the Integrated Course.

Office hours

See the website of Annagiulia Gramenzi