75893 - History of Institutions and Cultural Heritage in the Middle Ages

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide the student with a patrimony of knowledge and abilities, able to lead him to understand (with the help of written sources) the formation of the cultural Heritage and of the monumental and documental patrimony, in Italy, Europe and the Whole Mediterranean area. At the end of the course, students must acquire deep knowledge of the political-institutional processes and of the socio-institutional interactions which shaped medieval Europe in its particular identity and historical memory, and they must be able to apply this knowledge to a specific urban or territorial area or to a specific archival and librarian context and to understand the cultural Heritage of an institution. They must be able to communicate the results of a bibliographical research or of a critical analysis of written sources, and to approach the study of new topics on the basis of the knowledge acquired during the course.

Course contents

The course focuses on the 11th to the 15th century, with a focus on Late Middle Ages (13th-14th century) concerning the urban civilization of Central-Northern Italy.

The course is divided into two parts:

• the first one examines communal institutions, urban society, economic and manufacturing activities, new forms of religiosity, lay and ecclesiastical building, both public and private, which developed in Italian urban centers;
• the second part addresses the phenomenon of fashion and its impact on the political, economic, and social spheres during the first two centuries of its beginning (13th-14th century). Through various case studies and documentary sources of different natures (account books, statutes, inventories of goods), the development of the textile and leather production sectors is presented, as well as the role and values that garments had in people's lives and in the economy of the cities.

Readings/Bibliography

The course presupposes a general knowledge of medieval history.

Students who have not previously taken a course in Medieval History may acquire the basic knowledge using the handtbook of L. Provero, M. Vallerani, Storia medievale, Firenze: Le Monnier, 2022².

Students are required to study the following volumes:

1. Medioevo che crea. Innovare, inventare, sperimentare nell'Italia dei secoli X-XIV, eds. by F. Franceschi, P. Nanni, G. Piccinni, Roma-Bari: Laterza, 2025 (according to a selection of topics indicated during the lessons);
2. Quantum valet. I valori della moda nei secoli XIII-XIV, a cura di E. Tosi Brandi, Roma: Viella, 2025 (excluding non-Italian cases).

In addition to the aforementioned books, non-attending students have to study this volume:

• E. Tosi Brandi, L'arte del sarto nel Medioevo. Quando la moda diventa un mestiere, Bologna: il Mulino, 2017.

Teaching methods

Lectures and seminars.

During the lectures a selection of sources will be presented, read and discussed in order to deepen certain themes and learn about the cultural heritage produced in the Middle Ages.

Assessment methods

The final assessment consists of an oral examination focusing on the issued addressed during the lessons and analyzed in the aforementioned recommended books. The assessment concerns a detailed knowledge of the contents of the course, the ability to expose them through an appropriate and scientific vocabulary, and argumentative and critical skills to understand the sources. Participation in seminars and conferences in the field of medieval studies indicated by the lecturer during the course are also assessed positively. 

The assessment will thus examine the student's:

- factual knowledge of the topics;

- ability to summarise and analyse themes and concepts;

- familiarity with the terminology associated with the topics and the ability to use it effectively.

Top marks will be awarded to a student displaying an overall understanding of the topics discussed during the lectures, combined with a critical approach to the material and a confident and effective use of the appropriate terminology.

Average marks will be awarded to a student who has memorized the main points of the course and is able to summarise them satisfactorily, while failing to display a complete command of the appropriate terminology.

Minimal and correct knowledge of the contents of the module, yet with lack of significant details and deficiencies in the use of the appropriate terminology will lead to barely sufficient marks.

A student will be deemed to have failed the exam if he/she displays significant errors in his/her understanding and fails to present the overall outlines of the subject, together with a poor command of the appropriate terminology.

Teaching tools

Lectures will be supported by a PowerPoint with images, graphics and maps.

The teaching materials (sources and PowerPoint) will be accessible on the Virtuale platform (virtuale.unibo.it).

Please note that initiatives suggested or organised by the professor (educational visits, seminars, book presentations, etc.) are to be considered as a supplementary part of the course and are therefore recognised at the exam.

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Students with disabilities or specific learning disorders (DSA) needing compensatory tools will be able to communicate their needs to the Teacher in order to be addressed to the referents and agree on the adoption of the most appropriate measures.

https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it/per-studenti

Office hours

See the website of Elisa Tosi Brandi