10702 - Archaeology of Late Antiquity

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide, within the framework of the general competences of the archaeological sciences, the basic orientation tools for the knowledge of the artistic and craft productions of the late antique world, with particular regard to historical dynamics, commercial exchanges and cultural intertwining. At the end of the course, the student meditated on the notion of the complexity of the problem of cultural and material expressions relating to the Mediterranean context between the Severan and the post-Justinian age.

Course contents

The course first of all deals with the problems related to the theory and practice of archaeological methods. The course is developed in three modules. The introductory module deals with the main problems of the matter. The links and relations between Archaeology of Late Antiquity, Christian Archeology and Medieval Archeology are therefore highlighted. The decisive themes for the understanding of Late Antiquity are examined: chronological limits, internal chronological partitions, geographical space, relations between the Roman Empire and the Persian Empire, chronological extension of the Roman Empire. The value of keywords such as decline, transformation, innovation and continuity is explained. In the second institutional module about fifty monuments, artefacts and sites essential for the knowledge of Late Antiquity are presented. In the third monographic module the topics relating to the archeology of Ravenna and its territory are studied in depth. All the elements necessary for orientation in the material and virtual places of the research are provided at the same time.

Readings/Bibliography

J. ENGEMANN, Roma: lo splendore del tramonto, Milano, Jaca book, 2014

M. DAVID, Ravenna eterna, dagli Etruschi ai Veneziani, Milano, Jaca book, 2013

Gli studenti non frequentanti sono invitati a concordare con il docente il programma d'esame.

Teaching methods

Frontal and online lessons with projection of images or didactic films and classroom examination of information tools such as models and bibliographic documents.

Assessment methods

Oral examination.

Teaching tools

Guided visits to monuments, meetings with archaeologists, seminars, etc.

Office hours

See the website of Max Victor David