11379 - Medieval History

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the students will be able to appreciate the value of historical knowledge for the understanding of the present, and to distinguish the objectivity of the facts that make up history from the subjectivity of every form of its interpretation and narrative (historiography). They will understand the meaning, forms and essential value of the sources and will be able to conduct research through their use; - they will be aware of the limits and partiality of the term "Middle Ages "; they will be able to identify the great legacies of the medieval period, for instance in the evolution of the relationship between humanity and the environment , in the diffusion, in the interweaving and conflicts of the great monotheistic religions; in the formation of European nations; in the development of technology; in the sedimentation of the architectural and historical-artistic heritage of the European continent, of Italy and its cities. Finally, they will be able to recognize and respect the imprints and legacies of the different cultures that remain in our societies

Course contents

The subject of the course is the history of medieval cities, used as a 'lens' to focus on the main themes qualifying the Middle Ages. Indeed, the development of urban organisms, especially in Italy, lends itself in an exemplary manner to framing and defining the essential lines of the long medieval era.

Knowledge of the evolution of cities will concern:

1. the 'city of stone', i.e. the material structures, such as public and private buildings, infrastructures and public works, urban systems (road layout, allotments...)

2. the 'city of men', i.e. institutions, political bodies, local legislation, economic and demographic dynamics, culture and religion.

The course will give students the opportunity to approach medieval history from the well-known and concrete context of historical cities, whose original shapes and characters mostly date back to medieval times.

The learning outcomes of the course are:

- through the study of the history of cities, getting to know the themes that qualify the Middle Ages, such as the crisis of the Roman Empire, the spread of Christianity, the barbarian invasions and the Roman-Germanic kingdoms, the Islamic civilization, Carolingian Europe, local powers, the recovery of the eleventh and twelfth centuries, the age of municipalities , the religious movements, the characteristics of the fourteenth century, Italy as regional states;

- learning the specific vocabulary of the discipline;

- understanding the phenomena that qualify the abovementioned themes and establishing a connection among them;

- formulating conceptual summaries and critical judgments.

Readings/Bibliography

During the course, students will carry out - in groups or individually - the teaching activities proposed by the lecturer (commentaries on documents, texts or videos and reasoned and original reports on the topics dealt with in lectures; the modalities of the course will be explained in detail during the first lecture):

F. Bocchi, M. Ghizzoni, R. Smurra, Storia delle città italiane dal Tardoantico al primo Rinascimento, Torino, UTET Libreria, 2002

For all the other students:

F. Bocchi, M. Ghizzoni, R. Smurra, Storia delle città italiane dal Tardoantico al primo Rinascimento, Torino, UTET Libreria, 2002

and ONE volume of your choice from the following:

F. Senatore, Medioevo. Istruzioni per l'uso, Milano, Bruno Mondadori, 2022 (3rd edition)

M. Gazzini (a cura di), Il falso e la storia. Invenzioni, errori, imposture dal medioevo alla società digitale, Milano, Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli, 2020

A. Barbero, Barbari. Immigrati, profughi, deportati nell’impero romano, Bari, Laterza, 2008

G. Milani, I Comuni italiani, Bari, Laterza, 2005

I. Lazzarini, L’Italia degli stati territoriali. Secoli III-XV, Bari, Laterza, 2003

To support exam preparation, students who are unable to attend the lectures will find teaching materials on the online teaching platform - VIRTUALE, that are useful for a better understanding of the topics covered in the compulsory text and the bibliography to be used for the exam. The lecturer is available, in addition to office hours, for personalised meetings to guide study and preparation for the exam.

Erasmus and Overseas students must contact the teacher to agree on a exam program, dedicated to specific aspects of the course (also in relation to any previous knowledge of the medieval age and the history of Italian cities). The examination will take place in Italian.

Teaching methods

Lectures, collective discussions, analysis and commentary on documentary and iconographic sources. 

COMPATIBLY WITH THE RESOURCES MADE AVAILABLE BY THE DEPARTMENT, TWO GUIDED TOURS OF THE CITIES OF BOLOGNA AND FLORENCE ARE PLANNED

Assessment methods

Students who, during the course, carry out the teaching activities proposed by the lecturer, must take a final oral test that will focus on the contents of the volume indicated in the bibliography.

For all the other students, the final exam consists of an oral test that will focus on the topics set out in the two texts indicated in the bibliography.

The evaluation will be expressed in 30ths.

During the oral test, the verification of learning will cover the disciplinary knowledge, critical and methodological skills acquired by the student.

The organic vision of the disciplinary contents and their critical analysis, the expressive mastery and possession of the specific vocabulary will lead to an evaluation of 30-30L; he preparation on a large number of topics covered in the course combined with the ability to make autonomous choices of critical analysis and the mastery of the specific vocabulary will lead to an evaluation of 29-27; the mostly mechanical and / or mnemonic knowledge of the subject, together with the skills of synthesis and analysis not articulated and / or a correct but not always appropriate vocabulary will lead to an evaluation of 23-26; the minimal and partial knowledge of the disciplinary contents and a non-specific vocabulary will lead to an evaluation of 18-22.

Students with different skills and special needs are requested to contact the teacher in order to identify - as far as possible - compensating strategies or tools to support the teaching.

Teaching tools

The teaching materials (.ppt files summarising the contents of the lessons, pdf files of sources and in-depth readings) will be available on the online teaching platform - VIRTUALE.

Office hours

See the website of Manuela Ghizzoni