75769 - Archaeology of the Late Antique and Byzantine Mediterranean

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, through the analysis of specific topics relating to Late antique and Byzantine archaeology in relation to the society and the culture of the period, the students know the methodology and the content. They know how to set up a research with an appropriate method. They know how to use different sources - archaeological, epigraphic and literary - and a proper scientific bibliography.

Course contents

Lessons start on 30/01/2019

Wed 11-13, Thu-Fry 9-11. Aula Gualandi, SGM

The first two lessons will introduce a preliminary bibliography to Late Antique Archeology and Art.

PART A: Archaeology of Byzantine Italy. The module aims to analyze Late Antique and Byzantine society in Italy through the archaeological sources.
PART B: Some significant examples will be examined and discussed, especially considering the archaeological documentation in Italy ((an optional educational trip to Sicily co-financed by the Disci will be carried out as a supplementary activity).

Readings/Bibliography

PART A (attending students): R. Farioli Campanati, La cultura artistica nelle regioni bizantine in Italia, in I Bizantini in Italia, Milano 1982, pp. 139-426; E. Zanini, Le Italie bizantine, Bari 1999, pp. 107-217; S. Cosentino, Storia dell'Italia bizantina. Da Giustiniano ai Normanni (secc. VI-XI), Bologna 2009, pp. 19-61; I. Baldini, Concealing social space: monumental architecture and building typologies, in A Companion to Byzantine Italy, Leiden 2018 (in stampa: il contributo verrà distribuito agli studenti alla fine del corso).

PART A (non attending students) R. Farioli Campanati, La cultura artistica nelle regioni bizantine in Italia, in I Bizantini in Italia, Milano 1982, pp. 139-426; E. Zanini, Le Italie bizantine, Bari 1999; S. Cosentino, Storia dell'Italia bizantina. Da Giustiniano ai Normanni (secc. VI-XI), Bologna 2009, pp. 19-61; I. Baldini, Concealing social space: monumental architecture and building typologies, in A Companion to Byzantine Italy, Leiden 2018 (in stampa: il contributo verrà messo a disposizione degli studenti alla fine del corso)

PART B (attendants students): a critical presentation of a site or a monument chosen by the student (the topic and the bibliography will be agreed with the teacher during the course).

PART B (non attendants students): I. Baldini, Appunti per lo studio dell’oreficeria tardoantica e altomedievale, in I. Baldini, M.T. Guaitoli, Oreficeria antica e medievale. Tecniche, produzioni e società, Bologna 2009, pp. 103-125; I. Baldini, J. Pinar, Osservazioni sul Tesoro di Reggio Emilia, in M. Rotili e C. Ebanista, Ipsam Nolam Barbari vastaverunt, Cimitile 2010, pp. 113-128; I. Baldini, Half-Crescent Earrings in Sicily and Southern Italy, in F. Daim, J. Drauschke , Byzanz- Das Römerreich im Mittelalter, 1, Welt der Ideen, Mainz 2010, pp. 235-255; I. Baldini, Sicily and Southern Italy: use and production in the Byzantine koiné, in C. Entwistle e N. Adam, ‘Intelligible Beauty’: recent research on Byzantine Jewellery, London 2010, pp. 123-132; I. Baldini, Z. Nowak, Ceti artigiani e modi di produzione nell'oreficeria protobizantina, in I. Baldini, A.M. Morelli,Ornamenta 4, Luoghi, artigiani e modi di produzione nell'oreficeria antica, Bologna 2012, pp. 253-276; I. Baldini, Gioielli e oggetti in metallo prezioso, in A. Molinari-L. Spera-R. Santangeli Valenzani, L’archeologia della produzione a Roma (secoli V-XV), Bari 2015, 411-425; I. Baldini, R. Schiaffino, Suppellettile in bronzo di età tardoantica in Sicilia e Sardegna: produzione, uso e committenza, in Atti dell’XI Congresso Nazionale di Archeologia Cristiana, Cagliari 2016, pp. 307-316; I. Baldini, Il tempo a tavola nel tesoro di argenterie da Classe, in I. Baldini, A.L. Morelli, Ornamenta 6, Tempo e preziosi.Tecniche di datazione per l’oreficeria tardoantica e medievale, Bologna 2017, pp. 171-192.

Teaching methods

Students will be involved in the discussion of the topics.

A journey in Sicily is foreseen, with a contribution of DISCI.

Assessment methods

The exam includes an oral interview, during which the student will discuss the issues dealt with. The candidate shall demonstrate an adequate knowledge of the main issues. The interview will be at the same time an opportunity to assess the candidates' ability to orient themselves within the content of the discipline. Any doubts about the characteristics of the test can be resolved, before the exam, by being present during other students' exams.

Top marks will be awarded to students displaying an overall understanding of the topics discussed during the course, combined with a critical approach to the material and a confident and effective use of the appropriate terminology.
Average marks will be awarded to students who have memorized the main points of the material and is able to summarize them satisfactorily and provide an effective critical commentary while failing to display a complete command of the appropriate terminology.
Students will be deemed to have failed the exam if they display significant errors in his understanding and failure to grasp the overall outlines of the subject, together with a poor command of the appropriate terminology.

It may be useful to attend - as spectators - the exam sessions, which are public.

Teaching tools

Photocopies, ppt. A journey in Sicily is foreseen, with a contribution of DISCI.

Links to further information

http://www.unibo.it/docenti/isabella.baldini

Office hours

See the website of Isabella Baldini