B8010 - RELIGIONI E SISTEMI GLOBALI (1)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students acquire the knowledge necessary to analyze the formation of religious systems from a global historical perspective obtained through a study of both historical contexts and texts and materials related to relevant themes. They are able to understand the typology of primary sources and able to identify the conceptual categories prevalent in contemporary critical studies. They possess the basic tools to analyze phenomena such as the formation, diffusion and institutionalization of religious systems in different eras and in dialogue and/or conflict with each other. In oral communication they have good ability to read and critically understand the basic bibliography in relation to the topics covered in the course and are able to use the specialized terminology of the religious studies.

Course contents

European Expansion, Christianity, and the Comparative Study of Religions

During the early modern period (1492–1780), a series of profound political, social, and religious transformations confronted Europeans with an increasingly complex religious landscape. The fragmentation of Western Christendom, the expulsion of Jews and Muslims from Spain, European expansion, and encounters with new worlds fostered the emergence of a comparative sensibility that transformed the ways in which religions were observed, described, and interpreted.

The course will address the following topics:

• Humanism and the Protestant Reformation: the many forms of Christianity.
• The expulsion of Jews and Muslims from Spain and the crisis of Iberian religious pluralism.
• Christianity, missions, and the New World.
• Travellers and missionaries in Asia.
• A still little-known continent: sub-Saharan Africa.
• The emergence of a comparative sensibility in the study of religions.

For attending students, a detailed syllabus, including the course schedule, required readings, and examination materials, will be available on Virtuale.

Readings/Bibliography

For attending students, a detailed list of course materials and required readings will be available in the course syllabus on Virtuale.

Non attending students

2 books from the list:

Natalie Zemon Davis, La doppia vita di Leone Africano (Roma: Laterza, 2008)

Natalie Zemon Davis, Donne ai margini. Tre vite del XVII secolo (Roma: Laterza, 2001)

Carlo Ginzburg, Storia notturna. Una decifrazione del sabba (Milano: Adelphi, 2017 5a edizione)

Cristiana Facchini, Infamanti dicerie (Bologna: EDB, 2014)

Carmen Bernard, Serge Gruzinski, Della idolatria. Un'archeologia delle scienze religiose (Torino: Einaudi, 1995)

Robert Po-chia Hsia, Un gesuita nella città proibita. Matteo Ricci, 1552-1610 (Bologna: Il Mulino, 2022)

John H. Elliott, Imperi dell’Atlantico America britannica e America spagnola, 1492-1830 (Torino: Einaudi, 2017)

Tzvetan Todorov, La conquista dell'America. Il problema dell'altro (Einaudi: Torino, qualsiasi edizione)

Anthony Pagden, La caduta dell'uomo naturale. L'indiano d'America e le origini dell'etnologia comparata (Torino: Einaudi, qualsiasi edizione)

Adriano Prosperi, Missionari. Dalle Indie remote alle indie interne (Roma: Laterza, 2024)

Thomas Kaufmann, I redenti e i dannati. Una storia della Riforma (Torino: Einaudi, 2018)

Nicholas Terpstra, Purezza e fede. Esuli religiosi nell'Europa moderna (Bologna: Il Mulino, 2020)

Teaching methods

lectures based on seminar methodology.

Text reading, analysis of iconographic sources, films and documentaries.

Students are invited to actively participate in the lectures with the presentation of a text in the bibliography.

Assessment methods

A student who attends at least 75% of the lectures is considered to be attending.

Oral test.

The evaluation takes into account the soundness of preparation, analytical and synthetic skills, clarity of exposition and the ability to use appropriate terminology.

- The achievement of a comprehensive and synthetic view of the topics covered, combined with the ability to critically analyze them and the use of precise and appropriate language will be evaluated with grades 28-30L.

- Fair but not in-depth knowledge of the subject matter, limited ability to synthesize and analyze, and the use of imprecise language will be assessed with grades from 24-27.

- Poor knowledge of course topics, use of imprecise terminology, and lack of familiarity with the course bibliography will result in grades from 18-23.

During the academic year, six exam sessions are scheduled, generally in the following months: January, February, May, June, September, and December, for all students.

Teaching tools

Powerpoint; Visual Aid; Documentaries and Films; Primary Sources.

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 Cristiana Facchini