07080 - Economic and Social History of the Middle Ages

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will have a basic knowledge of the social and economic history of medieval Europe, including its institutional and cultural implications. They will recognise interrelations among historical phenomena and processes, and differences of spatio-temporal scale. They will be able to read and comment critically on texts and data, as well as to speak and write on related topics using proper terminology. Students will acquire a critical methodological approach and apply models of interpretation to social and institutional processes, identifying the relevant sources.

Course contents

The course aims to examine the main themes of medieval social and economic history, through the analysis and comparison of particularly significant case studies and the exegesis of key sources (in Italian translation or in Latin with Italian translation).

The first part of the course will focus on the fundamental features of social history in the medieval period, examined also in connection with economic developments. The second part will explore topics related to the spread of castles and the rise of seigneurial powers during the 9th to 12th centuries, as well as the militarization of rural and urban elites.

The main topics covered will include:

• the dissolution of the late Roman economic system

• migration and ethnogenesis of the barbarian peoples

• society during the Lombard era: aristocracy, rural and urban elites

• society during the Carolingian era: aristocracy, rural and urban elites

• serfs and free people

• aristocracy and the kingdom in the 10th century

• the development of local powers (11th–12th centuries)

• castle-building and feudalization (incastellamento)

• economic growth and social mobility in the central Middle Ages (10th–12th centuries)

• inside the seigneuries: seigneurial powers in the countryside

• the age of knights: rural and urban milites

Readings/Bibliography

Attending students

• topics and sources analysed in the lectures (the ppts will be available on line)
• S. Gasparri, Italia longobarda. Il regno, i Franchi, il papato, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2012(only pp. 3-73)
• S. Gasparri, C. La Rocca, Tempi barbarici. L’Europa occidentale tra antichità e medioevo (300-900), Roma, Carocci, 2012 (only pp. 214-313)
  
• S. Carocci, Signori e signorie, in Storia d’Europa e del Mediterraneo, vol. VIII, Il Medioevo (secoli V-XV). Popoli, poteri, dinamiche, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2006, pp. 409-448 (available on Virtuale)
• L. Provero, L’Italia dei poteri locali (secoli X-XII), Roma, Carocci, 1998 (only pp. 21-150)

Non attending students

• S. Gasparri, Italia longobarda. Il regno, i Franchi, il papato, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2012(only pp. 3-73)
• S. Gasparri, C. La Rocca, Tempi barbarici. L’Europa occidentale tra antichità e medioevo (300-900), Roma, Carocci, 2012 (only Part II, pp. 214-313)
  
• S. Carocci, Signori e signorie, in Storia d’Europa e del Mediterraneo, vol. VIII, Il Medioevo (secoli V-XV). Popoli, poteri, dinamiche, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2006, pp. 409-448
• L. Provero, L’Italia dei poteri locali (secoli X-XII), Roma, Carocci, 1998 (only pp. 21-150)

Two books on your choice from the following list:

1. G. Albertoni, Vassalli, feudi, feudalesimo, Roma, Carocci
2. A. Barbero, Carlo Magno. Un padre dell'Europa, Roma-Bari, Laterza
3. P. Galloni, Il cervo e il lupo. Caccia e cultura nobiliare nel Medioevo, Roma-Bari, Laterza
4. S. Gasparri, Voci dei secoli oscuri. Un percorso nelle fonti dell'alto medioevo, Roma, Carocci
5. S. Gasparri, Rituali di potere nell'Europa altomedievale. La Corona Ferrea e altre storie, Salerno editrice
6. T. Lazzari, Le donne nell'alto Medioevo, Milano-Torino 2010 (scaricabile da https://unibo.academia.edu/TizianaLazzari )
7. J.-C. Maire Vigueur, Cavalieri e cittadini. Guerra, conflitti e società nell'Italia comunale, Bologna, Il Mulino
8. L. Provero, Contadini e potere nel Medioevo, Roma, Carocci
9. A.A. Settia, Castelli medievali, Bologna, Il Mulino

 

Teaching methods

Lectures, with exposition of topics and readings of documents (in italian translation or original language – Latin -accompanied by an Italian translation).

Assessment methods

Students who attend at least 75% of the lessons are considered to be attending.

At least seven exam dates are scheduled during the academic year for all students in the months of: January, February, May, June, July, September, and December.

Attending students:

With regard to the 6 CFU examination, the exam consists of an oral discussion relating to the texts in the syllabus and the content of the lectures.

As regards the 12 CFU exam, you will be given the choice of taking the entire syllabus (module 1+2) in the oral exam, or splitting the syllabus into two parts: in this case, you will take a written exam on module 1 (on a date to be decided, but in any case during the final week of lectures) and then an oral interview on module 2. In this case, the syllabus for the written test on module 1 will be as follows: material relating to module 1 uploaded onto the virtual space + Gasparri + Gasparri-La Rocca. The syllabus of module 2 will be as follows: material relating to module 2 uploaded on the virtual space + Carocci + Provero.

The choice of dividing the programme into two parts is strongly recommended.

Non-attending students:

The exam consists of an oral discussion related to the texts in the programme.

Are evaluated: the property of language, the understanding of the topics discussed, the ability to propose connections between different themes.

The vote is expressed in 30/30. At discretion of the teacher, a mention of “lode” can be added.

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

Reproductions or editions of the sources analysed in class will be made available to the students. At the end of each lesson, the corresponding power point will be uploaded to 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 Maria Elena Cortese