11379 - Medieval History

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students have a general knowledge of the medieval Age and understand its various components and the latest trends in historiography, obtained through a selection of texts and sources related to the most relevant key themes for the study of the Middle Ages. Students will be able to formulate problems and to understand the different types of the main sources; they will be able to identify the conceptual categories prevailing in contemporary critical reflection. In oral communication they have good reading skills and critical understanding of the basic bibliography in relation to the issues analysed during the course. They can read historiographical texts in at least one language beyond Italian and they are able to communicate in oral form using the technical terminology of the discipline.

Course contents

A) History of Middle Ages (40 h,), Vth-XVth centuries: decline and fall of the Roman Empire; Roman-barbarian kingdoms; Byzantine Empire; The rise of Islamic culture;Church and Empire in Europe; Heretical movements; Urban civilization; National States; Crusades; Crisis of the XIVth century; XVth century

B) The Lombard Kingdom (20 h.)

Readings/Bibliography

ATTENDING STUDENTS
Modulo A:

A book choice between

 

• 1. F. Cardini, M. Montesano, Storia medievale, Milano 2019 or
  2. A. Zorzi, Manuale di Storia medievale, Torino 2016
  
  
• Fonti medievali. Un'antologia, a c. di T. di Carpegna Falconieri, A. Feniello, C. Grasso, Roma 2017

Modulo B:

• C. Azzara, I Longobardi, Bologna 2015
• S. Gasparri, Italia longobarda. Il regno, i Franchi, il papato, Roma 2012

STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO CONSULT THE SLIDES PUBLISHED ON IOL

NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS

Modulo A

• A book choice between

1. F. Cardini, M. Montesano, Storia medievale, Milano 2019 or
2. A. Zorzi, Manuale di Storia medievale, Torino 2016

READING OF THE FOLLOWING BOOKS

• Fonti medievali. Un'antologia, a c. di T. di Carpegna Falconieri, A. Feniello, C. Grasso, Roma 2017
• M. Bloch, Apologia della storia o mestiere di storico, Torino 2009
• Carlo M. Cipolla, Allegro ma non troppo, Bologna 1988
• S. Conrad, Storia globale. Un'introduzione, Roma 2015
• G. Sergi, L'idea di Medioevo fra storia e senso comune, Roma 2005

Modulo B

Two of the following books:

• C. Azzara, I Longobardi, Bologna 2015
• S. Gasparri, Italia longobarda. Il regno, i Franchi, il papato, Roma 2012
• P. Geary, Il mito delle nazioni. Le origini medievali dell'Europa, Roma 2016
• K. Harper, Il destino di Roma, Torino 2017

STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO CONSULT THE SLIDES PUBLISHED ON IOL

 

Teaching methods

Frontal lectures

Assessment methods

The final exam will be an oral one, with questions aimed to verify the student's knowledge of the themes discussing during frontal lectures (only for attending students) as well as those treated in the program's texts.

Non-attending students will have to take an oral final exam about the themes treated in the program's texts.

The assessment will concentrate particularly on the skill displayed by the student in handling the sources and material in the exam bibliography and his ability to find and use information and examples to illustrate and correlate the various themes and problems addressed in the course.

The assessment will thus examine the student's:

- factual knowledge of the subject;
- ability to summarise and analyse themes and concepts;
- familiarity with the terminology associated with the subject and his ability to use it effectively.

Top marks will be awarded to a student displaying an overall understanding of the topics discussed during the lectures, combined with a critical approach to the material and a confident and effective use of the appropriate terminology.
Average marks will be awarded to a student who has memorized the main points of the material and is able to summarise them satisfactorily and provide an effective critical commentary, while failing to display a complete command of the appropriate terminology.
A student will be deemed to have failed the exam if he displays significant errors in his understanding and failure to grasp the overall outlines of the subject, together with a poor command of the appropriate terminology.

Teaching tools

We will use power point slides with images and maps. Various examples of historical sources will be used and discussed.

Office hours

See the website of Francesca Roversi Monaco