85491 - Geography of The Euro-Mediterranean Region

Academic Year 2019/2020

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Ravenna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in International Cooperation on Human Rights and Intercultural Heritage (cod. 9237)

Learning outcomes

The course aims at providing students a comprehensive vision of the role played by the Euro-Mediterranean area as a whole, following the different stages of its evolution. Specific attention will be paid to the peculiar mixing up of politics, space, cultures, and technics, which generated an original long-standing model whose today's crisis and mutation are keys to understand the global issues at stake. By the end of the course, students have basic knowledge, fundamental references concerning the topics at issue, and critical skills, put into historical perspective, about the main geographical models concerning the relationship between environment, landscape, and urban civilization in Mediterranean and Eurasia.

Course contents

COURSE OUTLINE

BEFORE THE COURSE STARTS

BEFORE THE OPENING CLASS EVERY ATTENDING STUDENT IS EXPECTED TO SIGN UP TO IOL PLATFORM (https://iol.unibo.it/) IN ORDER TO TAKE ACTIVELY PART TO CLASSWORK, DOWNLOADING TEACHING MATERIALS AND JOINING COLLECTIVE TESTS.

EVERY ATTENDING STUDENT IS EXPECTED TO CHECK REGULARLY HIS INSTITUTIONAL MAIL ADDRESS TOO, BECAUSE ANY OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION ABOUT THE COURSE WILL BE EXCLUSIVELY POSTED THROUGH IT.

ON THE OPENING CLASS

ALL ATTENDING STUDENTS WILL BE DRAWN IN STUDY GROUPS OF MAX 3, EACH GROUP WITH ONE OF THE OF THE FOLLOWING COURSE’S TOPICS ASSIGNED:

  1. Edges of the Euro-Mediterranean Region
  2. Euro-Mediterranean Cities as Islands
  3. The Discrete Charm of Networks
  4. Belonging: From States to Nets
  5. Shifting Scales
  6. Spatial Dynamics of Capital
  7. Mobility
  8. Inequality/Sustainability
  9. Down to Earth: Complexity and the Globe
  10. The Double Life of Housing



DURING THE COURSE

ATTENDING STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO READ THE TEXTS OR PREPARING SCHEDULED MATERIALS BEFORE EACH CLASS, IN ORDER TO JOIN THE DISCUSSION PROPERLY. THE LAST FOUR CLASSES WILL BE DEVOTED TO STUDENTS’ PRESENTATIONS TO BE ASSESSED AS PART OF THE FINAL GRADE.

A MID-TERM TEST IS SCHEDULED.


EVERY CLASS (SAVE FOR THE ONE DEVOTED TO THE MID-TERM TEST AND THE LAST FOUR ONES) WILL BE SPLIT IN TWO PARTS

1. THE FIRST PART DEDICATED TO THE PRESENTATION OF THE SCHEDULED TOPIC;
2. FOLLOWED BY A COLLECTIVE DISCUSSION ON IT LED BY THE STUDY GROUP HAVING THAT SUBJECT MATTER ASSIGNED, IN THE SECOND PART.



EVERY STUDY GROUP IS ALSO EXPECTED TO GIVE A PRESENTATION ABOUT ITS ASSIGNED TOPIC DURING ONE OF THE LAST FOUR CLASSES.


THE ORGANISATION OF THE CLASSWORK THROUGHOUT THE COURSE IS THEN AS FOLLOWS:

Class 1: Opening class, introduction to the course, study groups’ draw and relative topic pairing.

Classes 2-15: a first round of lectures and class discussions about the course’s topics.

Class 16: mid-term test concerning only the theoretical and methodological issues presented in classes 2-15.

Classes 17-26: final round of lectures about course’s topics.

Classes 27-30: study groups’ presentations.


Final interview: at periodical exam dates attending students will be able to finalise their grading during an interview involving only the theoretical and methodological issues presented during the course.

 

CLASSES' TOPICS

Class 1.
Topic: Introduction to the course’s topics, groups’ formation, mid-term test, final examination, etc.


Class 2. Euro-mediterranean region and Anthropocene
Compulsory readings: Courseware on IOL.

 

Class 3.
Topic: Geography’s tools I. Complexity, the experience of curvature, and nonlinear processes.
Compulsory readings: Courseware on IOL.

 

Class 4

Topic: Geography’s tools II. The concept of limit.
Compulsory readings: Courseware on IOL.

 

Class 5.
Topic: Geography’s tools III. Scales
Compulsory readings: Courseware on IOL.

 

Class 6.
Topic: Origins of Euro-Mediterranean region
Compulsory readings: J. Gottmann, Orbits: The ancient Mediterranean tradition of urban networks, «Ekistiks», vol. 53, 1986, n. 316-317, pp. 4-10.

Class 7.
Topic: An edging sense of boundary. Citizenship and identity.
Compulsory readings: I. Malkin, A Small Greek World: Networks in the Ancient Mediterranean, Published to Oxford Scholarship Online: January 2012 DOI: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199734818.001.0001, Introduction: Networks and History, DOI:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199734818.003.0001.

Class 8.
Topic: The new urban civilization and the secularization of culture. The Communes.
Compulsory readings: M. Neve (2018), Geography of European Medieval Urbanism, on IOL.

Class 9.
Topic: Long standing networks of Euro-Mediterranean region: Saharan networks.
Compulsory readings: A. M. Medici (2018), A sea change in the Mediterranean: The fall of Saharan networks (18th-20th c.), in Ulrich van Loyen, and Andrea Benedetti (eds.), The idea of the Mediterranean as a Source of cultural Criticism. The Mediterranean Area between Myth, Literature and Anthropology, in cooperation with Shilan Fuad Hussain, Mimesis International, Milan, 2018.

Class 10.
Topic: Colonialism and Columbian exchange.
Compulsory readings: Alfred W. Crosby (1973), The Columbian exchange : biological and cultural consequences of 1492, Westport (Conn.) : Greenwood Press, ch. 3.

Class 11.
Topic: Cartographic production of nation-state: Governing with maps.
Compulsory readings: J. Crampton (2010), Mapping : A Critical Introduction to Cartography and GIS, Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell, ch. 6.

Class 12.
Topic: Cartographic production of nation-state II: Thematic maps and the notion of «race».
Compulsory readings: J. Crampton (2010), Mapping : A Critical Introduction to Cartography and GIS, Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell, ch.11.

Class 13.
Topic: Cartographic production of nation-state III.
Compulsory readings: J.C. Scott (1998), Seeing Like a State, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, ch. 1.

Class 14.
Topic: Cartographic production of nation-state IV.
Compulsory readings: J.C. Scott (1998), Seeing Like a State, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, ch. 1.

Class 15.
Topic: Summing up and discussing the topics to prepare the mid-term test.

Class 16.
MID-TERM TEST

Class 17.
Topic: Spatial dynamics of capitalism I.
Compulsory readings: G. Arrighi (2007), Adam Smith in Beijing. Lineages of the Twenty-First Century, London and New York: Verso, ch. 8.

Class 18.
Topic: Spatial dynamics of capitalism II.
Compulsory readings: G. Arrighi (2007), Adam Smith in Beijing. Lineages of the Twenty-First Century, London and New York: Verso, ch. 9.

Class 19.
Topic: Local/global I.
Chr. Bonneuil and J.-B. Fressoz, The Shock of the Anthropocene London: Verso, 2016, ch. 1.

Class 20.
Topic: Local/global II.
Chr. Bonneuil and J.-B. Fressoz, The Shock of the Anthropocene London: Verso, 2016, ch. 2.

Class 21.
Topic: Deculturation and deterritorialisation.
Compulsory readings: D. Hoerder, Cultures in Contact (Comparative and International Working-Class History), Durham & London: Duke University Press, 2011, par. 1.1.

Class 22.
Topic: The Double Life of Housing.
Compulsory readings: Courseware on IOL.

Class 23.
Topic: Mobility.
Compulsory readings: D. Hoerder, Cultures in Contact (Comparative and International Working-Class History), Durham & London: Duke University Press, 2011, parr. 1.2 and 1.3.

Class 24.
Topic: Networks.
Compulsory readings: K. Easterling, Extrastatecraft: The Power of Infrastructure Space, London: Verso, 2014, Introduction.

Class 25.
Topic: The Mediterranean city.
Compulsory readings: R. Cattedra, F. Governa, and M. Memoli, “Città/Cities.” In Mediterranean Lexicon/Lessico Mediterraneo (Geo-Italy 5), edited by Paolo Giaccaria and Maria Paradiso, Rome: Società Geografica Italiana, 2012, pp. 39-54.

Class 26.
Topic: Smart cities?
Compulsory readings: M. Neve, "Would Urban Cultural Heritage Be Smart?", Revista de Comunicaçao e Linguagens, 48, pp. 163 - 190.

Class 27.
Topic: Students’ presentations (instructions for presentations will be made available on IOL)

Class 28.
Topic: Students’ presentations

Class 29.
Topic: Students’ presentations

Class 30.
Topic: Conclusions, overall summary, and discussion.

Readings/Bibliography

READINGS FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS ARE PROVIDED AS COMPULSORY CLASSWORK FOR EACH CLASS IN THE SYLLABUS.

 

 

Compulsory readings for the final exam for students NON ATTENDING classes

1. F. Farinelli, Blinding Polyphemus: Geography and the Models of the World, trans. by Ch. Chalmers, London: Seagulls Books, 2018;
2. J. Gottmann, Orbits: The ancient Mediterranean tradition of urban networks, «Ekistiks», vol. 53, 1986, n. 316-317, pp. 4-10;
3. I. Malkin, A Small Greek World: Networks in the Ancient Mediterranean, Published to Oxford Scholarship Online: January 2012 DOI: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199734818.001.0001, Introduction: Networks and History, DOI:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199734818.003.0001;/
4. J. Abu-Lughod (1988), The shape of the world system in the thirteenth century, «Studies in Comparative International Development», Winter 1987–88, Volume 22, Issue 4, pp 3-25;
5. A. M. Medici (2018), A sea change in the Mediterranean: The fall of Saharan networks (18th-20th c.), in Ulrich van Loyen, and Andrea Benedetti (eds.), The idea of the Mediterranean as a Source of cultural Criticism. The Mediterranean Area between Myth, Literature and Anthropology, in cooperation with Shilan Fuad Hussain, Mimesis International, Milan, 2018;
6. Alfred W. Crosby, The Columbian exchange : biological and cultural consequences of 1492, Westport (Conn.) : Greenwood Press, 1973, ch. 3;
7. J. Crampton, Mapping : A Critical Introduction to Cartography and GIS, Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell, 2'10, chrs. 6 and 11;
8. J.C. Scott, Seeing Like a State, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1998, ch. 1;
9. G. Arrighi, Adam Smith in Beijing. Lineages of the Twenty-First Century, London and New York: Verso, 2007, chrs. 8-9;
10. Olivier, Roy, Holy ignorance: When religion and culture part ways. Translated by Ros Schwartz. New York: Oxford University Press, 2013, Introduction;
11. Y. Courbage & E. Todd, A Convergence of Civilizations : The Transformation of Muslim Societies Around the World, New York: Columbia University Press, 2011, chrs. 1-3;
12. D. Hoerder, Cultures in Contact (Comparative and International Working-Class History), Durham & London: Duke University Press, 2011, parr. 1.1, 1.2, 1.3;
13. K. Easterling, Extrastatecraft: The Power of Infrastructure Space, London: Verso, 2014, Introduction.
14. R. Cattedra, F. Governa, and M. Memoli, “Città/Cities.” In Mediterranean Lexicon/Lessico Mediterraneo (Geo-Italy 5), edited by Paolo Giaccaria and Maria Paradiso, Rome: Società Geografica Italiana, 2011, pp. 39-54;
15. M. Neve, Would Urban Cultural Heritage Be Smart?, «Revista de Comunicaçao e Linguagens», 48, 2018, pp. 163 - 190;
16. Chr. Bonneuil and J.-B. Fressoz, The Shock of the Anthropocene, London: Verso, 2016, chrs. 1-2.

Teaching methods

Course will be taught through a mixture of formal lectures and discussion classes. Its aim will be to facilitate interaction between the lecturer and students and to stimulate debate among students.
Class attendance is critical to take advantage of a way of learning not feasible through homework, and it turns out to be crucial in order for the student to adequately satisfy exam requirements.

Assessment methods

ATTENDING STUDENTS

The final exam consists of an interview involving only the theoretical and methodological issues presented during the course.

 

NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS

The exam consists of an oral examination on the entire course’s bibliography.

 

FINAL GRADING

Given the importance of class attendance for an appropriate training process there will be two distinct grading scales: for attending and non-attending students.

 

ATTENDING STUDENTS
Active participation and mid-term test count for 30% each of the final grade, while student’s presentation (prepared on one of the class’ topics) and final interview count for 20% each of the final grade.


The achievement of a coherent framework of the course's topics, the application of critical thinking and suitable means of expression will be considered and evaluated with the maximum grading = A (27-30 con lode).
A predominantly mnemonic acquisition of course's contents and discontinuous language and logical skills will be assessed in a grading range from good (B = 24-26) to satisfactory (C = 21-23).
A minimum level of knowledge of the course contents, combined with training gaps or inadequate expression, will get as grade ‘barely passing' (D = 18-20).
The absence of a minimum level of knowledge of the course's contents, combined with inadequate expression and training gaps, will produce a fail (E) grading, even in spite of an assiduous attendance.


NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
Non-attending students’ work will be assessed exclusively on the ground of course's bibliography specifically devoted to them, in order to properly present the contents of the course.

The knowledge of course’s literature, when combined with the achievement of a coherent framework of the course's topics, the application of critical thinking, and suitable means of expression will be considered and evaluated with the maximum grading = A (27-30 con lode).

A predominantly mnemonic acquisition of course's contents along with discontinuous language and logical skills will be assessed in a grading range from good (B = 24-26) to satisfactory (C = 21- 23).
A minimum level of knowledge of the course contents, combined with training gaps or inadequate language and logical skills, will get as grade ‘barely passing' (D = 18-20).
The absence of a minimum level of knowledge of the course contents, combined with inadequate language and logical skills and training gaps, will produce a fail (E) grading.

 

 

AS OF JANUARY 2016, THE LIMIT TO THE NUMBER OF ENTRIES FOR EVERY EXAM'S LIST HAS BEEN REMOVED, SO, ONCE THE LISTS ARE OPEN (15 DAYS BEFORE THE EXAM) YOU MAY REGISTER WITH NO LIMITS. OF COURSE, IF THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ENROLLED EXCEEDS 20, EXAM WILL LAST MORE DAYS. THE NUMBER OF EXAMINATIONS FOR EACH ACADEMIC YEAR IS 6, ACCORDING TO THE MINIMUM NUMBER REQUIRED BY THE TEACHING REGULATION OF THE SCHOOL, TWO FOR EACH PRE-EXAM BREAK. EXAMINATIONS' DATES WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH SEMESTER. THEY ARE NOT ACCEPTED, FOR ANY REASON, REQUESTS FOR EXAMINATIONS IN DIFFERENT YEAR'S PERIODS.


IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NEW EXAMS' SCHEDULE, REARRANGED TO MEETING THE STUDENTS' REQUESTS, THE ORDER OF REGISTRATION TO THE LIST OF EACH EXAM'S DAY WILL NOT BE CHANGED. WHOEVER HAD SPECIFIC REASONS TO TAKE THE EXAM IN A GIVEN DAY (AND CONSIDERING THAT THE EXAMS WILL BE HELD ON MORE DAYS) IS ALLOWED TO CONTACT HIS/HER COLLEAGUES AND ASK FOR SHIFTING THE LIST, PROVIDED THAT THE NUMBER OF EXAMS EXPECTED FOR THAT DAY MUST REMAIN THE SAME.

INFORMATION ABOUT EXAMS AND PROGRAM OF EXAMINATION ARE TO BE FOUND ONLY ON THE DEDICATED WEB PAGES, THROUGH THE TEACHER-STUDENTS' LIST, THROUGH THE PROGRAMME’S TUTOR. OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION ARE TO BE CONSIDERED AS UNRELIABLE AND WILL NOT BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

Teaching tools

Lectures with main topics discussed with students. Multimedia tools.

Office hours

See the website of Mario Angelo Neve

SDGs

Gender equality Decent work and economic growth Sustainable cities Partnerships for the goals

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