B5212 - History of University in the Middle Ages (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be familiar with the history of European universities in the Middle Ages in relation to their social, economic, political and cultural context, and will have a thorough knowledge of the historiographical debate and the different methodological and thematic approaches. They will be able to approach texts and data critically, communicate using specific terminology, and assess the relevance of historical memory and the role of the historian in promoting a critical and scholarly approach.

Course contents

The course will explore the fundamental stages in the origins and institutional development of medieval universities, examining issues related to teaching methods, the disciplines taught, the student body, the figure of the doctors (doctores), and the role of political powers in relation to the Studia generalia. In particular, and by way of example, special attention will be given to the history and characteristics of the Studium of Bologna and its role in the European development of medieval university institutions.

Main topics covered:

• The system of knowledge and higher education in the Middle Ages
• The birth of universities: Bologna
• The birth of universities: Paris
• The students' universitates: the "Bolognese model"
• Universities and public authorities
• The university students
• The teachers: role and status of the doctores
• University teaching
• The university book
• The final exam and the degree
• University medicine in the Middle Ages

Readings/Bibliography

Past knowledge: For those who did not support the course of medieval history, it is recommended to read a handbook, at least the section about the Late Middle Ages: eg., A. Zorzi, Manuale di storia medievale, Torino 2016, pp. 273-368.

ATTENDING STUDENTS (those who attend AT LEAST 12 lessons):

1. Lecture materials
2. P. Rosso, Le università nell'Italia medievale. Cultura, società e politica (secoli XII-XV), Carocci, Rome, 2021.
3. One essay of your choice from the following (available on Virtuale):

• 3a) J. Verger, L'università di Parigi, in Le Università dell'Europa. 1. La nascita della università, a c. di G.P. Brizzi e J. Verger, Silvana Editoriale, Cinisello Balsamo, 1990, pp. 119-149
• 3b) R. Evans, Le università di Oxford e Cambridge, in Le Università dell'Europa. 1. La nascita della università, a c. di G.P. Brizzi e J. Verger, Silvana Editoriale, Cinisello Balsamo, 1990, pp. 151-191
• 3c) R.C. Schwinges, Le università nei territori dell’Impero, in Le Università dell'Europa. 1. La nascita della università, a c. di G.P. Brizzi e J. Verger, Silvana Editoriale, Cinisello Balsamo, 1990, pp. 221-255

 

NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS:

1. P. Rosso, Le università nell'Italia medievale. Cultura, società e politica (secoli XII-XV), Carocci, Roma, 2021
2. 5 essays of your choice: 1 from group A + 4 from group B (from 4 different subsets). The essays are all available on virtuale.unibo.it
   

A

• A1) J. Verger, L'università di Parigi, in Le Università dell'Europa. 1. La nascita della università, a c. di G.P. Brizzi e J. Verger, Silvana Editoriale, Cinisello Balsamo, 1990, pp. 119-149
• A2) R. Evans, Le università di Oxford e Cambridge, in Le Università dell'Europa. 1. La nascita della università, a c. di G.P. Brizzi e J. Verger, Silvana Editoriale, Cinisello Balsamo, 1990, pp. 151-191
• A3) R.C. Schwinges, Le università nei territori dell’Impero, in Le Università dell'Europa. 1. La nascita della università, a c. di G.P. Brizzi e J. Verger, Silvana Editoriale, Cinisello Balsamo, 1990, pp. 221-255

B

• B1)

1. F. Roversi Monaco, Il gran fatto che dovrà commemorarsi: l'Alma Mater Studiorum e l'Ottavo Centenario della sua fondazione. Medioevo, memoria e identità a Bologna dopo l'Unità d'Italia, in Medievalismi italiani (secoli XIX-XXI), a cura di T. di Carpegna Falconieri e R. Facchini, Roma 2018, pp. 149-162
2. A. Padovani, Alle origini dell'università di Bologna: L'insegnamento di Irnerio, in "Bulletin of Medieval Canon Law", 33 (2016), pp. 13-25
3. B. Pio, Lo Studium e il Papato tra XIV e XV secolo, in Politica e ‘Studium’: nuove prospettive e ricerche, Bologna, 2005 (Studi e memorie per la storia dell’Università di Bologna, n.s. X), pp. 157-182

• B2)

1. C. Frova, Maestri, in Storia delle università in Italia, a cura di G.P. Brizzi, P. Del Negro, A. Romano, Messina 2007, vol. II, pp. 5-36
2. T. Kouamé, Ex communi consensu omnium magistrorum. Enjeux et fonctionnement des congregationes dans les universités de type parisien (XIIIe-XVe siècle), in Opinion, conseil et délibération en France et en Espagne, VIe-XVIe siècle (Univ. Bordeaux 3/Univ. d’Orléans), Pessac 2006, p. 223-252
3. T. Duranti, Il collegio dei dottori di medicina di Bologna: università, professioni e ruolo sociale in un organismo oligarchico della fine del medioevo, in "Annali di Storia delle università italiane", XIII/2 (2017), pp. 151-176

• B3)

1. D. Jacquart, La scolastica medica, in Storia del pensiero medico occidentale. Antichità e Medioevo, a cura di M.D. Grmek, Roma-Bari 2007, pp. 261-322
2. N.G. Siraisi, Avicenna and the teaching of practical medicine, in Ead., Medicine & the Italian Universities, 1250-1600, Leiden 2001, pp. 63-78
3. T. Duranti, The Origins of the Studium of Medicine of Bologna: a Status Quaestionis, in "CIAN-Revista de Historia de las Universidades", 21/1 (2018), pp. 121-149
   

• B4)

1. S. Bortolami, Gli studenti delle università italiane: numero, mobilità, distribuzione, vita studentesca dalle origini al XV secolo, in Storia delle università in Italia, a cura di G.P. Brizzi, P. Del Negro, A. Romano, Messina 2007, vol. II, pp. 65-107
2. S. Jenkins, Violence between Student Nations in Medieval Oxford, in "Annali di Storia delle università italiane, 1 (2016), pp. 7-25
3. S. Zucchini, Studenti, copisti, cuochi, panettieri. I tedeschi nel collegio studentesco della Domus Sapientiae di Perugia (sec. XV), in "QFIAB" 99 (2019), pp. 151-183

• B5)

1. R. Lambertini, Il sistema formativo degli Studia degli ordini mendicanti: osservazioni a partire dai risultati di recenti indagini, in Die Ordnung der Kommunikation und die Kommunikation der Ordnungen, I, Netzwwerke:Klöster und Orden im Europa des 12. und 13. Jahrhundert, a cura di C. Andenna – K. Herbers – G. Melville, Stuttgart 2016, pp. 135-146
2. R. Greci, Il libro universitario nel Medioevo tra interessi economici e significati simbolici, in Dalla pecia all’e-book. Libri per l’Università: stampa, editoria, circolazione e lettura. Atti del Convegno internazionale di studi. Bologna, 21-25 ottobre 2008 a cura di G.P. Brizzi, M.G. Tavoni, Bologna 2009, pp. 91-101
3. A.I. Pini, Per una storia sociale dell’Università: i bidelli bolognesi nel XIII secolo, in Id., Studio, università e città nel medioevo bolognese, Bologna 2005, pp. 288-323

Teaching methods

Frontal lectures. During the class, some sources, provided in Italian translation, will be used and commented and available on Virtuale.

One class session will include a visit to the Museo Civico Medievale in Bologna.

Assessment methods

Students who attend at least 75% of the lessons are considered to be attending.

The exam is oral. The assessment will be done through a few questions designed to ascertain the knowledge gained in the lessons and topics contained in the books in the program; the property of language and exposure; the ability to make links between the various topics.

Grading criteria

• Gaps in knowledge, inappropriate and/or incorrect language, and lack of familiarity with the materials indicated in the syllabus will be assessed negatively → fail (insufficient);
• Preparation on a very limited number of topics covered in the course and analytical skills that emerge only with the lecturer's assistance, overall correct language → 18-19;
• Preparation on a limited number of topics covered in the course and independent analytical skills only on purely executive matters, correct language → 20-24;
• Preparation on a wide range of topics covered in the course, ability to make independent critical analysis choices, command of specific terminology → 25-29;
• Substantially thorough preparation on the topics covered in the course, ability to make independent choices of critical analysis and connection, full command of specific terminology and capacity for argumentation and self-reflection → 30-30 cum laude.
  

N.B. For Erasmus students, the assessment will take into account study activity carried out in Italian and the ability to express oneself in Italian, though naturally without evaluating linguistic expression to the same standard as for native speakers.

This course (6CFU) is part of the integrated course "HISTORY OF UNIVERSITY AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS (CI) (LM)". If the student has the Integrated Course (12CFU) in his / her study plan, the final grade will be the average of the marks obtained in the two components ("History of the universities in the Middle Ages (1) (LM)" and "Universities and institutions of high culture in the modern age (1) (LM)")

N.B.: Students are reminded that the exams for the two modules of this integrated course must be taken in the same exam session.

 

Exam sessions are scheduled for the following months of the academic year:

- September 2026 (only students from previous academic years)

- November 2026 (only students from previous academic years and 6CFU students)

- January 2027 (for all students)

- March 2027 (for all students)

- May 2027 (for all students)

- July 2027 (for all students)

 

The use of AI is prohibited for assessment purposes. Any use constitutes a violation of academic integrity.

Teaching tools

http://virtuale.unibo.it/

 

 

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

 

Office hours

See the website of Tommaso Duranti