28955 - History of Medieval Europe (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student acquires the required knowledge to orient himself in the history of Europe and Mediterranean basin and the critical skills useful to operate in complex theoretical frameworks, even in terms of historical memory in contemporary culture. The student will be able also to face usefully the connections of historical studies with other human sciences. At the end of the course, the student gains in-depth critical knowledge of the main lines of the formation of Europe through the interaction between historical phenomena and spatial definitions, the most up-to-date historiographical and scientifical debate. Is able to apply specific tools and source analysis, and to critically evaluate different culture. Is able to communicate effectively in written and / or oral form.

Course contents

The wealth of the state: fiscal assests in the Early Middle Ages.

The collapse of the Roman Empire structures determined, at different times in the reigns of the barbarian West, the end of the tax collection system that had been the base of its organization. Public assets or, rather, the properties of the royal fisc, became the only way to funding the kingdoms and their political, military, administrative structures.

The course aims to deal with the problem of the economic bases of royal power, since the very notion of "public good". Will be examined the forms of management of these assets, the networks related to such management, the ways and the results of malversation, the strategies put in place by the rulers to overcome this problem.

Readings/Bibliography

Attending students will have specific readings in order to prepare their own papers.

Not attending students will have a written and an oral test.

Written test will be based on S. Gasparri, M.C. La Rocca, Tempi barbarici. L'Europa occidentale tra antichità e Medioevo (300-900), Roma, Carocci, 2012.

For the oral test, not attending students will study a book, chosen in this list:

• W. Pohl, Le origini etniche dell'Europa: barbari e romani tra antichità e Medioevo, Roma, Viella, 2011.
• B. Jussen, I Franchi, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2015.
• P. Delogu, Mito di una città meridionale, Napoli, Liguori, 1977.
• I. Barbiera. Memorie sepolte. Tombe e identità nell'alto medioevo (secoli V-VIII). Roma, Carocci, 2012.
• Tesori. Forme di accumulazione della ricchezza nell'alto medioevo (secoli V-XI) , a cura di Sauro Gelichi e Cristina La Rocca, Roma, Viella, 2004.

Teaching methods

The course will have a seminar format and will be structured along 10 lessons of three hours each. It 'requires a regular attendance and an active involvement of the students.
Readings will be propose to understand the topic in its complexity, on a European dimension. Readings will be compulsory made during the course, in order to ensure a good collective discussion of the contents.

Assessment methods

Attending students will prepare a paper that will be the only final test of the course. Final assessment will be based both on the completeness and accuracy of the work, both on the ability to expose critically the topics.

Not attending students will take a written test followed by an oral test: the two tests can be taken in the same scheduled exam date but it's also possible to take the oral test in a succeeding scheduled exam date .

To access the oral exam, students need to have taken the written test and to have passed it with a score of minimum 18/30.

The written test will verify the knowledge gained in the manual and consists of six open-ended questions wich requires answers correct and concise (each with a score from 0 to 5). The best possible result is 30/30.

The oral exam will be a free conversation to verify the knowledge of the book chosen.

The maximum score assigned for the oral test is 30/30.

For the evaluation, it will be taken into account: property of language; understanding of the issues discussed; ability to propose connections between the various topics.

The final score will be the average between the result of the written test and the oral test. The words of praise can be added at the discretion of the teacher.

Teaching tools

AMS Campus, the repository of learning materials of the University of Bologna, will be used for the distribution of didactic materials: power points, pdf file of sources and readings.

 

Office hours

See the website of Tiziana Lazzari