C9284 - CIVILTÀ BIZANTINA E ITALIA MEDIEVALE E UMANISTICA

Learning outcomes

The aim of the Course is to equip student with the critical tools (reading sources, critical discussion, bibliography) to deepen their understanding of Italian civilization in the Middle Ages and the Humanism, enriched by the contribution of Byzantine civilization. At the end of the Course, students will possess skills to broaden and refine their historical-critical approach to the knowledge of the Italian historical-artistic and cultural heritage, identifying examples proper of the Byzantine tradition that are abundant throughout the territory, from the Upper Adriatic Arch region to the South projected towards the Eastern Mediterranean.

Course contents

I. First Part: in general

Main lines of the history of Eastern-Roman Empire, with a particular attention of his last two centuries (XIV-XV Century); geography; civilization; periodization; events, characters; literature for the knowledge of importance of italian byzantine cultural Heritage; political ideology.

2. Second Part: Byzantium and Florence

An interesting case of surviving of the byzantine component in ideological and artistic italian background, between memory and trades relationship: Florence, "new Athens" (end of XIV - first half of XV Century).

Readings/Bibliography

1. For concerning Part I., in general, is important to read an historical Atlas and a manual: G. OSTROGORSKY, Storia dell'impero bizantino, Torino, Einaudi, many times redited, but are available also C. MANGO (Roma-Bari, Laterza, every edition), A.P. KAZHDAN (Roma-Bari, Laterza, every edition), R.-J. LILIE (Roma, Newton Compton, 2017), J.J. NORWICH (Milano, Mondadori).

For history of political ideology: A. CARILE, Materiali di storia bizantina, Bologna, Lo Sacarabeo, 1994; ID., Immagine e realtà nel mondo bizantino, Bologna, Lo Sacarbeo, 2000; ID., Teologia politica bizantina, Spoleto, Fondazione Centro italiano di studi sull'alto Medioevo, 2008.

2. For concerning the particular themes, titles of books and materials shall be indicate during the lessions. For a firt approach, generally speaking, see G. RAVEGNANI, Andare per l'Italia bizantina, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2016, G. VESPIGNANI, La memoria negata. Bisanzio e l'Europa, Spoleto, Fondazione CISAM, 2016; A Companion to Byzantine Italy, ed. by S. COSENTINO, Leiden-Boston, Brill Publ.

For Second Part, G. VESPIGNANI, Bisanzio e Firenze, Spoleto, Fondazione CISAM, 2022.

All books indicated are easy to found in the Libraries of the Campus of Ravenna, as well as in the libraries of Bologna On the contrary, shall be fourished during the lessions.

Teaching methods

Teaching methods consists in indicate teaching material and bibliography. Shall be invited italian or strangers experts for conferences or seminar lessions: students are invited to partecipate.

Assessment methods

Assessment methods consists in an oral verify 1) about basic knowledge of the institutional programme and of the themes developed during lessons; 2) about capacities of connecting severals arguments developed during the lessons; 3) about knowledge of all thousand years of Byzantine civilization in their connections with an historical development; 4) about discussing capacities and critical methods of the student; 5) and, finally, about oral capacity of argumenting logically and methodologically of the student.

Final assessment depend by following notes: 1) negative valuation: low knoledge and capacity of understanding problems and their connections; 2) sufficient evaluation: sufficient basic knoledge, but low capacity of connecting each others the historical problems; 3) good evaluation: good capacity to understand historical problmes and knoledge of institutional program; 4) excelent evaluation: complete knowledge of the institutional program, capacity od connecting historical problems properly and methodology of using several matherial received during lessons.

For assessment purposes, the use of AI is prohibited. Any use constitutes a violation of academic integrity.

Teaching tools

Teaching tools consists in programm of the lessions and material of study examinated.

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 Giorgio Vespignani