27280 - Seminars (1) (G.E)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the seminar students will be able to interpret issues related to specific historical phenomena in a diachronic and transversal perspective, thought the elaboration and synthesis of the data coming from the analysis of written records and material sources and from the collective debate originated from the contact with other people. They will be able to formulate autonomously and in an organized way a research path or an intellectual work, using the specific acquired tools with methodological rigour, precision and accuracy.

Course contents

The seminar will train students to analyze, comment on, and contextualize papyrus texts (on papyrus, ostraka, tablet) mostly from Ptolemaic and Graeco-Roman Egypt, and overall from the Mediterranean basin in the Ancient World. At the end of the course, students will be able to understand the potential of and limits of papyri and similar forms of documentation when it comes to writing ancient history. Students will become acquainted with tools and digital infrastructures necessary for research on ancient documents.

The seminar (30 hours) is divided into three sections:

I. An introduction to Papyrology (origins, objects, methodologies, research tools), and guided reading on several texts on papyrus from the Graeco-Roman world (16 to 18 hours).

II. A module (ca. 4 hours) of student group presentations, coordinated by the professor. The students, in groups of, ideally, two to four, will choose themes for their presentations from the topics discussed in class. Students are also welcome to propose other presentation topics relevant to the course, pending the professor's approval.

III. A module (ca. 10 hours) of lectures from UNIBO personnel opr external experts, where topics related to the programme will be discussed.

Readings/Bibliography

1.General Introduction

• R. Bagnall, Reading Papyri, Writing Ancient History, London-New York 1995
• N. Reggiani, Papirologia. La cultura scrittoria dell'Egitto greco-romano. Parma 2019

2. Readings on specific problems:

• J. N. Adams e R. Ast,The Latin of the Thracian Soldier Cutus, «Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik» 218 (2021) 243–64
• G. Cavallo, Donne che leggono, donne che scrivono, in R. Raffaelli (ed.), Vicende e figure femminili in Grecia e a Roma, Ancona 1995, 517–26
• R. Cribiore, Latin Literacy in Egypt, «Kodai» 13-14 (2003-2004), 111–8
• J. Keenan, The Names Flavius and Aurelius as Status Designations in Later Roman Egypt, «Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik» 11 (1973) 33–63
• Y. Le Bohec, L’écrit au sein de l’armée romaine, du Ier au IIIe siècle de notre ère, in Y. Perrin (ed.), Neronia VIII: bibliothèques, livres et culture écrite dans l'empire romain de César à Hadrien, Bruxelles 2010, 192–207
• F. Maltomini, I papiri e la magia antica, «Atene e Roma» 2008, 221–37
• P. Van Minnen, Bookish or Boorish? Literature in the Egyptian Villages in the Fayum in the Graeco-Roman Period, «Journal of Juristic Papyrology» 28 (1988) 98–184

Except for Reggiani's companion, the abovementioned material will be found in Virtuale and in the IOL platform, together with several papers discussed during the course and further material to help with the presentations.

Non-attending students will work on all the texts in this sections (excepting Reggiani's companion) while attending students will only work on those (if any) connected to their presentations.

Teaching methods

The Introduction and the first module (cfr. 'Course contents') will be facilitated by the professor through a series of significant texts, including their relevant bibliography.

The second module will have students present other texts and/or case studies according to the seminar topics, using approved topics granted by the professor. 

The students will be given the prospective time-table of the seminar in the very first lesson; they will immediately be informed should this time-table vary.

Assessment methods

Students who attend at least 25 hours of lessons will be considered attending. For them, the assessment will be based on regular attendance to the classes and their participation within a presentation group at the end of the course. The presentation should take into account, and explicitly refer to, the mandatory readings (see the Readings/Bibliography section, parts 1 and 2).

 

Non-attending students, or attending students who cannot or will not present, will take an oral exam focussing on the texts in the mandatory bibliography (see the 'Readings/Bibliography' section, parts 1 and 2). They will also be responsible for one volume or three articles among those uploaded to Virtuale. Non-attending students MUST COMMUNICATE their choices to the professor BEFORE they take the exam!

 

The assessment will be on a pass/not pass basis and be based on:

• the ability to comment on the texts, i.e. the ability to identify, date, and contextualise the documents.
• mastery of content.
• the ability to synthesise and analyse issues and problems within the texts.
• using language appropriate to the subject matter.

The student's ability to discuss the documents, and to express an organic vision of the themes dealt with in the class, with a good command of expression and specific language will allow them to achieve credit.

Gaps in exposure, inappropriate language, or lack of orientation within the bibliographic materials offered during the course will prevent students from receiving credit.

 

Exam sessions are scheduled for the following months of the academic year, for all students (dates can change pending specific requests from the students or other unforeseen circumstances):

- March
- April
- May
- June

Teaching tools

The lectures will be held using Powerpoint presentations. All texts presented and discussed in class, together with the PDF documents in the 'Readings/Bibliography' section, will be available on IOL and Virtuale.

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 Giulio Iovine