75769 - Archaeology of the Late Antique and Byzantine Mediterranean

Academic Year 2021/2022

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Archaeology and Cultures of the Ancient World (cod. 8855)

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

The first lessons will provide basic notions of late antique archaeology.


MODULE A: Archaeology of the late antique and Byzantine world: urbanism, architecture, sculpture, productive aspects.
MODULE B: Archaeology of living in the Late Antique period. Domus, villae, praetoria, episcopia. Living like emperors: the villa of Piazza Armerina.

Readings/Bibliography

 

PART A (attending students): I. Baldini Lippolis, L'architettura residenziale nelle città tardoantiche, Roma 2005; M. David, Archeologia della Tarda antichità, Milano 2021, pp. 61-68, 70-72, 81-87, 95-103, 112-114, 119-124.

PART A (non attending students): R. Krautheimer, Architettura paleocristiana e bizantina, Torino 1986, pp. 7-26, 33-68; 233-286; I. Baldini Lippolis, L'architettura residenziale nelle città tardoantiche, Roma 2005; M. David, Archeologia della Tarda antichità, Milano 2021, pp. 61-68, 70-72, 81-87, 95-103, 112-114, 119-124.

PART B (attending students): I. Baldini, Atletismo femminile e ideologia aristocratica nel programma decorativo della Villa di Piazza Armerina, in Atti del XIII Colloquio AISCOM, Tivoli 2007, pp. 347-354; I. Baldini, Palatia, praetoria ed episcopia: alcune osservazioni, in P. Pensabene, C. Sfameni (a cura di), La villa restaurata e i nuovi studi sull’edilizia tardoantica, Bari 2014, pp. 163-170; P. Pensabene, P. Barresi, I mosaici e le pitture della Villa del Casale: un linguaggio per immagini e Il contributo degli scavi 2004-2014 alla storia della Villa del Casale di Piazza Armerina tra IV e XII secolo, in P. Pensabene, P. Barresi, e Piazza Armerina, villa del Casale. Scavi e studi nel decennio 2004-2014, Roma 2019, pp. 5-84 e 711-757; C. Sfameni, Tra culto e arredo. Ricerche sulle sculture mitologiche in età tardoantica, Roma 2020, pp. 11-30; I. Baldini, I piatti argentei di Cesena: aristocratici a banchetto, in I. Baldini, A.L. Morelli (eds.), Beni da conservare. Forme di tesaurizzazione in età romana e medievale, Collana “Ornamenta” 7, Bologna 2020, 7-38.

PART B (non attending students): I. Baldini Lippolis, La domus tardoantica. Forme e rappresentazioni dello spazio domestico nelle città del Mediterraneo, Bologna 2001, pp. 29-90; I. Baldini, Atletismo femminile e ideologia aristocratica nel programma decorativo della Villa di Piazza Armerina, in Atti del XIII Colloquio AISCOM, Tivoli 2007, pp. 347-354; I. Baldini, Palatia, praetoria ed episcopia: alcune osservazioni, in P. Pensabene, C. Sfameni (a cura di), La villa restaurata e i nuovi studi sull’edilizia tardoantica, Bari 2014, pp. pp. 163-170; P. Pensabene, P. Barresi, I mosaici e le pitture della Villa del Casale: un linguaggio per immagini e Il contributo degli scavi 2004-2014 alla storia della Villa del Casale di Piazza Armerina tra IV e XII secolo, in P. Pensabene, P. Barresi, e Piazza Armerina, villa del Casale. Scavi e studi nel decennio 2004-2014, Roma 2019, pp. 5-84 e 711-757; C. Sfameni, Tra culto e arredo. Ricerche sulle sculture mitologiche in età tardoantica, Roma 2020, pp. 11-30; I. Baldini, I piatti argentei di Cesena: aristocratici a banchetto, in I. Baldini, A.L. Morelli (eds.), Beni da conservare. Forme di tesaurizzazione in età romana e medievale, Collana “Ornamenta” 7, Bologna 2020, 7-38.

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

ppt downloadable

Links to further information

https://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/isabella.baldini/didattica/programma/2020/323137

Office hours

See the website of Isabella Baldini

SDGs

Quality education

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.