00929 - Modern History

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student acquires general knowledge of the themes and problems related to the Early Modern age (mid-fifteenth-mid-nineteenth century), as well as the awareness of the periodization criteria. He/she has particular knowledge of a broad internal theme of the early modern age, also in relation to the historiographical debate and the diversity and multiplicity of original sources. He is able to recognize the complexity of each historiographic construction by analyzing historical documents and authors and is able to frame the main historical problems according to the development of the historiographical debate.

Course contents

The course features a lesson part dedicated to the fundamental issues of the modern era. The modern state and its birth; the religious crisis (reform, counter-reform); discoveries and explorations in the New World and in Asia; monarchies and absolutism; social organisation, conflictual dynamics (European wars and military campaigns) and practices of tolerance; enlightened despotism and revolution.

A ropart of the course, more monographic, will be dedicated to the analysis of issues concerning concerning social and gender history in the early modern age. Extensive reflections will be made on the role of women in the exercise of power between forms of inclusion and marginalisation. An equally specific focus will concern the history of the family and marriage, sexualities and their disciplining through the historiographic category of masculinity.

Classroom attendance is advisable.

Readings/Bibliography

(A)

For the institutional part, attendance and study of the material the professor uploads on the teaching page is sufficient. As a support and extensive study (especially for those who do not have the opportunity to attend) it is necessary to prepare themselves on one of the early modern history textbooks indicated here:

Renata Ago, Vittorio Vidotto, Modern History, Rome-Bari, Laterza, 2004 or Carlo Capra, Modern History (1492-1848), Florence, Le Monnier, 2004 (study up to 1815).

The institutional part is completed with nine essays of the Introduction to modern history, edited by M. Bellabarba - V. Lavenia, Bologna, il Mulino, 2023, second edition, here indicated: chapters I, III, IV, VI, XIII, XVII, XVIII, XX, XXX).

• (B)

• Along with the set handbook, one text of your choice is to be added (both attending and non-attending students) from among:

• • Ottavia Niccoli, Rinascimento anticlericale: infamia, propaganda e satira in Italia tra Quattro e Cinquecento, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2005;
  • Adriano Prosperi, Dare l'anima: storia di un infanticidio, Torino, Einaudi, 2005;
  • Ottavia Niccoli, Vedere con gli occhi del cuore. Alle origini del potere delle immagini, Bari-Roma, Laterza, 2011;
  • Marina Caffiero, Storia degli ebrei nell'Italia moderna. Dal Rinascimento alla Restaurazione, Roma, Carocci, 2014;
  • Elisa Novi Chavarria, Accogliere e curare. Ospedali e culture delle nazioni nella Monarchia ispanica (secc. XVI-XVII), Roma, Viella, 2020;
  • David Salomoni, Magellano: il primo viaggio intorno al mondo, Bari-Roma, Laterza, 2022;
  • Pasquale Palmieri, L'eroe criminale: giustizia, politica e comunicazione nel XVIII secolo, Bologna, il Mulino, 2022;
  • Lucio Biasiori, Rinascimento sotterraneo. Inquisizione e popolo nella Firenze del Cinquecento, Roma, Officina Libraria, 2023;
  • Giovanni Ricci, Rinascimento conteso. Francia e Italia, un'amicizia ambigua, Bologna, il Mulino, 2024;
  • Adriano Prosperi, Missionari. Dalle Indie remote alle Indie interne, Bari-Roma, Laterza, 2024.
  • Giovanna Fiume, Mediterraneo corsaro: storie di schiavi, pirati e rinnegati in età moderna, Roma, Carocci, 2025.
  • Giulia Calvi, Vestire il mondo. Una storia globale di abiti, corpi, immaginari, Bologna, il Mulino, 2025.

(C)

Two volumes of your choice (Three for the non-attenders), for the monographic part, chosen from among:

• • Daniela Lombardi, Storia del matrimonio dal Medioevo a oggi, Bologna, il Mulino, 2008;
  • Marco Cavina, Nozze di sangue: storia della violenza coniugale, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2011;
  • Anna Bellavitis, Il lavoro delle donne nelle città dell'Europa moderna, Roma, Viella, 2016
  • Nadia Maria Filippini, Generare, partorire, nascere. Una storia dall’antichità alla provetta, Roma, Viella, 2017;
  • Fernanda Alfieri, Vincenzo Lagioia (a cura), Infami macchie. Sessualità maschili e indisciplina in età moderna, Roma, Viella, 2018;
  • Cinque saggi a scelta da Vincenzo Lagioia, Maria Pia Paoli, Rossella Rinaldi (a cura), La fama delle donne. Pratiche femminili e società tra Medioevo ed Età moderna, Roma, Viella, 2020 e cinque saggi a scelta da Vincenzo Lagioia, Marina Montesano e Francesca Roversi Monaco, Intorno ai margini. Identità, stereotipi e rappresentazione del femminile tra Medioevo ed Età moderna, Roma, Viella, 2025;
  • Marina Caffiero, Alessia Lirosi (a cura di), Donne e Inquisizione, Roma, Edizione di Storia e Letteratura, 2020;
  • Tommaso Scaramella, Un doge infame. Sodomia e nonconformismo sessuale a Venezia nel Settecento, Venezia, Marsilio, 2021;
  • Daniela Lombardi, Madri nubili e padri incerti: secoli XVI-XIX, Roma, Viella, 2024;
  • Simona Feci, L'acquetta di Giulia: mogli avvelenatrici e mariti violenti nella Roma del Seicento, Roma, Viella, 2024.
  
  

 

Teaching methods

Lectures in face and seminar activities remotely and / or in the classroom

Assessment methods

The examination will be oral and the students will prepare by choosing the texts indicated in the Bibliography. For the non-attending students there is one extra text to read in point C).

At the beginning of the course, the programme of the (non-obligatory) seminar activity supplementing the course will be presented. Attendance at six appointments out of a total of eight makes it possible to substitute one volume from point C).

For all students, it is possible to take the examination in two parts, always in oral mode: necessarily first the institutional part and then the monographic part.

The exam will assess the student's command of the material studied in the course. The student will be judged on his ability to summarise and critically discuss topics raised in the course, making use of the exam bibliography and the course tools provided.

The assessment will thus consider the student's:
- knowledge and understanding of the topics covered;
- 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.

Students with disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

 It is advisable to contact the competent University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it ) in good time: it will be its task to propose any adjustments to the students concerned, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the professor for approval, who will also assess the appropriateness in relation to the teaching objectives.

 

Teaching tools

As a teaching aid the lecturer will use Power Point presentations that will be available in the section dedicated to the Materials. There will be lectures and visits to libraries and sites of historical interest in the city of Ravenna. To refine the historiographical research online instruments will be presented along with updates relevant to enhancing the preparation.

Office hours

See the website of Vincenzo Lagioia