14431 - Economic History of the Middle Ages (1)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students should acquire a basic knowledge of the economic history of European Middle Ages, also considered in its social and cultural implications. They should read critical texts and data, and communicate in oral and written form on the subject of the discipline using a specific terminology.

Course contents

Economic and social frames in the Middle Ages.

Landscapes, society and rural economy

The course illustrates the relationship between economic and productive reality and the forms of social organization along a chronological period extended from the first centuries of the Middle Ages to the 14th century. The main forms of associated life in the countryside, such as monasteries, manors and villages, and the peculiarities of urban society will be illustrated. Production relationship in the countryside and cities and their evolution over time will also be examined, along with various forms of trade and markets.

Readings/Bibliography

For the preparation of the written test:

B. Andreolli - M. Montanari, L'azienda curtens in Italia, Bologna, Clueb, 1982.

For the preparation of the oral test:

- attending students will have to review the lessons and a readings file that will be indicated during the course

- non-attendants will carry, in addition to the volume of Andreolli-Montanari used for the written test, the following text: G. Rao, Paesaggi dell'Italia medievale, Roma, Carocci, 2016.

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons.

Assessment methods

Written test + oral test.

The written test of Economic History of the Middle Ages is held in conjunction with that of Social History of the Middle Ages (Integrated Course of Economic and Social History of the Middle Ages, 12 credits). It consists of six open questions, two of which have broader content, each evaluated with a score of 0 to 9. The other four are shorter and synthetic, each scored with a score of 0 to 3. The maximum possible result is 30/30. To gain access to the oral exam a score of at least 18/30 in the written test must have been obtained.

The oral examination takes place with a free conversation on course topics (books in the program + readings and papers presented in class, or, for non-attendants, additional readings). The score given in the oral test is 30/30. In the evaluation will be involved: ownership of the language, understanding of the topics discussed, ability to propose connections between the various themes.

The final exam score will be from the average between the result of the written test and the result of the oral test. At the discretion of the teacher, a mention of praise may be added.

Similar procedure will be followed for the 6 credits exam (single course of Economic History of the Middle Ages). In this case, the questions for the written test will be three instead of six, one more general (0-18) and two more synthetic (0-6 points each).

Evaluation criteria and degrees. The achievement by the student of a full critical knowledge of the topics taught in the course and mastery of the specific language will be evaluated with excellence marks. A mnemonic knowledge of the matter and synthesis and analysis skills articulated in a language not always appropriate will lead to discrete evaluations. Inappropriate formative and/or inappropriate language will lead to just sufficient marks. Serious formative errors, inappropriate language, lack of orientation within the bibliographic materials provided by the course will be negatively evaluated.

Teaching tools

Literary and iconographic documents will be read and commented, with the help of projections.

Office hours

See the website of Massimo Montanari