13710 - Geography (1) (A-L)

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide a solid understanding of key concepts, origins, and the development of Human Geography as fields of study. Students will learn to analyze social phenomena from a spatial perspective, utilizing the methodologies of political, economic, and urban geography, as well as cartography. They will also develop the ability to critically analyze atlases and literary and historical sources to study territory and acquire geographical information in the digital environment.

Course contents

The course will introduce the key concepts and approaches in Human Geography, also analyzing a series of geographical topics which have a significant impact on contemporary society.

The course comprises five parts:

The first will introduce to general geographical theories and their historical evolution, to history of cartography and critical cartography. This part will introduce some key concepts in contemporary geography, such as scale, space and place, landscape.

The second part is dedicated to urban geography, starting from an introduction to forma urbis historical evolution, then discussing the socio-spatial dimension of contemporary urban transformations.

The third is dedicated to environmental geographies, with regard to the conceptualization of nature in western though and to ecologic crisis and climate change issues emerged since the last decades of the 20th century

The fourth part will introduce the concepts of political geography, with special reference to the origin and evolution of modern territorial state and the critical analysis of geopolitical theories.

Starting with a critical analysis of the history of exploration and colonization, the last part will analyze the construction of the other and the contemporary geographies of mobilities and tourism.

Readings/Bibliography

ATTENDING STUDENTS

For attending students information about the bibliography will be indicated at the beginning of the course and avaiable on the cloud sharing platform Virtuale. The login password will be communicated at the beginning of the course.

NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS

To prepare for their exam, students who did not attend the lectures are required to study the following two readings:

1) C. Minca (cura di), Appunti di geografia, Padova, Cedam, 2022

2) Choose one between:

• K. Schlögel, Leggere il tempo nello spazio. Saggi di storia e geopolitica, Milano, Bruno Mondadori, 2009
  
• F. Choay, Le città: utopia e realtà, Torino, Einaudi, 2000
• G.M. Salerno, Per una critica dell’economia turistica. Venezia tra museificazione e turistificazione, Macerata, Quodlibet, 2020.

Power point presentations and bibliography on cloud sharing platform Virtuale is related to attending students programme.

Teaching methods

The course is largely based on frontal teaching/lectures. During the first class the lecturer will provide detailed instructions on how the course is organised, the content, the readings and the exam.

Students who intend to take the exam as 'attending students' are expected to attend no less than 75% of the lectures.

Assessment methods

The assessment consists of a written exam with three open questions.

There are different sets of question for attending and non attending students.

The examination (one and half hour) takes place in a computer science laboratory, using the online platform EOL. To attend the exam, students' personal password is required to get access to computers and online platform. 

Attending students will be asked questions focussed on the materials discussed in class and on the relevant list of readings.

Non-attending students will be asked questions focussed on topics and subjects treated in the textbook and the other readings.

The assessment will consider:

1) the level of knowledge and critical understanding of the content addressed in the questions;

2) the strength of the argument and the capacity to identify links between the main topics discussed in the responses;

3) the use of the appropriate terminology.

I will assess with excellence grades the evidence of your acquisition of an exhaustive view of all the themes addressed and the capacity of dealing critically with them, in addition to the mobilization of a good written expression and correct use of specific terminology.

A mnemonic knowledge of the themes, accompanied by the capacity of analysis and synthesis expressed in appropriate language, will lead to average/good grades.

Lacunas in the key contents, and/or inappropriate language, in the context of a basic knowledge of the course's themes, will lead to grades that will not exceed the pass-mark (18 or so).

Lacunas, inappropriate language, lack of understanding of the course's materials will be assessed negatively. In case of fail grade, you will need to repeat the exam.

For attending students, active participation in class with questions and critical remarks will be appreciated.

The results will be notified by email.

Throughout the year, the following rounds of examinations are offered:

- March 2026 (for all students)

- April 2026 (for all students)

- June 2026 (for all students)

- September 2026 (for all students)

- December 2026 (students from the past year)

- January 2027 (students from the past year)

Teaching tools

Power point presentations and bibliography on cloud sharing platform Virtuale is related to attending students programme.

Power point presentations

Cartography

Cloud sharing platform

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 Matteo Proto