11779 - Medieval History (1)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student is able of a critic analysis about themes concerning history and structures of the Middle Ages by means of reflection about historiographer and documental sources; he knows, besides, chief themes, events and phenomenons of medieval world. He is able to place specific problems in wider contexts an to value with scientific judgements the results of acquired notions. He is able to orient himself into time and space, and has principal instruments for information and research and research on line too. He reads historiographer texts in another language besides italian and is able to communicate orally using subject's technical terminology. The student shows a good knowledge of chief themes, events and phenomenons of roman world.

Course contents

The program is divided in two parts. First part is general or institutional; second part is monographic. First part studies, in the space of ten hours, tools and methods of medievistic historiographer. We shall make also practical exercises. Then will follow twenty hours dedicated to medieval history, in Europe and in Italy, with critical and bibliographical adjournments. The arguments will be: the decline and fall of the Roman Empire, the arrival of barbarian peoples, the Cristianity, islamic civilization, carolingian world, Holy Roman Empire, the growth of XI and XII centuries, the birth of national state, urban and communal civilization in Italy, religious movements, crisis of fourteenth century, new settlements of fifteenth century. Second part (entitled "Christianity and Islam: Western and Eastern Crusades") focusses the complex relation, cultural also, between two religious expressions in Holy Land and, especially, in Spain.

Readings/Bibliography

Institutional part: P. DELOGU, Introduzione allo studio della storia medievale, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2003 (only chapters I, II, IV). The study of these chapters is necessary for a first didactic and methodological approach to Middle Age through a good handbook of medieval history; books recommended: G: PICCINNI, I mille anni del Medioevo, Milano, Edizioni Bruno Mondadori, 1999; or G. VITOLO, Medioevo. I caratteri originali di un'età di transizione, Milano, Sansoni, 2000; or M. MONTANARI, Storia medievale, in collaborazione con G. Albertoni, T. Lazzari, G. Milani, Roma-Bari, Edizioni Laterza, 2002.  Monographical part: Christianity and Islam: Western and Eastern Crusades .  Texts: D. ABULAFIA, I regni del Mediterraneo occidentale dal 1200 al 1500. La lotta per il dominio , Traduzione di Flavia De Luca, Roma-Bari, Editori Laterza, 1999 (Tit. ed ediz. origg.: The Western Mediterranean Kingdoms 1200-1500. The Struggle for Dominion, Addison Wesley Longman Limited, London 1997) the attention will be dedicated particularly to the chapters II, IV and V. All the students who don't attend lessons must study, at their choice, one of the two following books: F. CARDINI,  In Terrasanta. Pellegrini italiani fra Medioevo e prima Età Moderna, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2002; A. MAALOUF, Le Crociate viste dagli Arabi, Torino, SEI, 2005 (rist.).  LESSONS WILL START ON MONDAY 3 OCTOBER 2011; monday h. 11-13 Hall "Fumagalli" DPM; wednesday h. 11-13 Hall "Fumagalli" DPM; Friday h. 13-15 Hall "Fumagalli" DPM.

Teaching methods

The teacher will make frontal lessons.

Assessment methods

Basic inspection will be a personal examination with an oral conversation. The teacher will make some questions about both points of the programme.

Teaching tools

As direct help for didactics there are essential and traditional tools. As indirect help the use of pc will be useful.

Office hours

See the website of Leardo Mascanzoni