75829 - Late Ancient Archaeology (1)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the students will know the definition of Late Antiquity and the issues related to the periodization of this historical period. They have a basic knowledge of the material evidence and are able to recognize the importance of the relationship between objects and contexts; they are well oriented in reading the scientific literature and begin to understand, through a critical reading of the archaeological records, the significance of artefacts, buildings, figurative documents, connecting them to the cultural, social, political and religious phenomena.

Course contents

I period.

The course starts on September 26

Timetable: Wednesday to Friday 9-11, aula Fumagalli

General topics of the archaeology of Late Antiquity. Problems of definition and periodization. Architecture, urbanism, and sculpture. Dynamics of the settlement. Necropolis. Iconography and figurative. Patterns of production and problems of economic and trade exchanges. 

Readings/Bibliography

From Attending students:

General readings. R. Bianchi Bandinelli, s.v.''Spätantike'', in Enciclopedia dell’Arte Antica, vol. VII, 1966, pp. 426-427; A. Grabar, L'arte paleocristiana (200-395) Milano 1980; Id., L'età d'oro di Giustiniano: dalla morte di Teodosio all'Islam, Milano 1980.

Follow up: R. Krautheimer, Architettura paleocristiana e bizantina, Torino 1986, pp. 7-26, 33-68; 233-286 e Glossario; F. Bisconti, V. Fiocchi Nicolai, D. Mazzoleni, Le catacombe cristiane di Roma. Origini, sviluppo, apparati decorativi, documentazione epigrafica, Regesburg 1998, pp. 9-13; E. Concina, Le arti di Bisanzio, Milano 2002, pp. 1-34; I. Baldini Lippolis,L'architettura residenziale nelle città tardoantiche, Roma 2005, pp. 102-136; G. Cantino Wataghin, La città nell’Occidente tardoantico: riflessioni sui modelli di lettura della documentazione archeologica, in Trent’anni di studi sulla Tarda Antichità: bilanci e prospettive, in Studi e testi di Koinonia / 23, Napoli 2009, pp. 61-76; A. Chavarria Arnau, Archeologia delle chiese. Dalle origini all'anno Mille, Roma 2010, pp. 23-213; I. Barbiera, Memorie sepolte. Tombe e identità nell'alto medioevo (secoli V.VIII), Roma 2012, pp. 15-32 e 194-203.

Non attending students:

General readings. R. Bianchi Bandinelli, s.v.''Spätantike'', in Enciclopedia dell’Arte Antica, vol. VII, 1966, pp. 426-427; A. Grabar, L'arte paleocristiana (200-395) Milano 1980; Id., L'età d'oro di Giustiniano: dalla morte di Teodosio all'Islam, Milano 1980.

Follow up: R. Krautheimer, Architettura paleocristiana e bizantina, Torino 1986, pp. 7-26, 33-68; 233-286 e Glossario; F. Bisconti, V. Fiocchi Nicolai, D. Mazzoleni, Le catacombe cristiane di Roma. Origini, sviluppo, apparati decorativi, documentazione epigrafica, Regesburg 1998, pp. 9-13; E. Concina, Le arti di Bisanzio, Milano 2002, pp. 1-34; I. Baldini Lippolis,L'architettura residenziale nelle città tardoantiche, Roma 2005, pp. 102-136; G. Cantino Wataghin, La città nell’Occidente tardoantico: riflessioni sui modelli di lettura della documentazione archeologica,in Studi e testi di Koinonia / 23, Napoli 2009, pp. 61-76; A. Chavarria Arnau, Architettura delle chiese. Dalle origini all'anno Mille, Roma 2010, pp. 23-213; I. Barbiera, Memorie sepolte. Tombe e identità nell'alto medioevo (secoli V.VIII), Roma 2012, pp. 15-32 e 194-203.

 

From march to september 2020 an alternative bibliography is foreseen: 

ATTENZIONE: da marzo a settembre 2020 i testi di esame già indicati potranno essere sostituiti da:

. Bianchi Bandinelli, s.v.''Spätantike'', in Enciclopedia dell’Arte Antica, vol. VII, 1966, pp. 426-427 http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/spaetantike_(Enciclopedia-dell'-Arte-Antica)/ ; José Antonio Iniguez Herrero - Archeologia cristiana (2003, San Paolo). R. Krautheimer, Architettura paleocristiana e bizantina, Torino 1986, pp. 7-26, 33-68; 233-286 e Glossario ed. inglese pp. 1-198 e Glossary; I. Baldini Lippolis, L'architettura residenziale nelle città tardoantiche, Roma 2005; P. Pergola, Le catacombe romane, Roma 1998

Please, contact: isabella.baldini@unibo.it

 

Teaching methods

Lectures with direct involvement of the students (discussion) on the contents.

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.

Links to further information

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

Office hours

See the website of Isabella Baldini