78035 - Archaeology and Art History of Medieval Europe (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student knows in depth the European medieval civilization in the period that involves the rise of the Christian religion and the Middle Ages. Through the examination of a specific theme, analysed in order to illustrate the correct methods of interpretation, the student learns every type of data and possesses the tools to critically deal with the issues related to the period under examination and their historical contextualization. The course gives the possibility to obtain the critical ability to set up and carry out a methodologically correct research using every kind of source.

Course contents

During the course will be presented the main themes and methodologies of Medieval Archaeology in Europe. The lessons will therefore address the ways of city dwelling and farming the countryside since the Early Middle Ages to the Modern age (5^th-15^th c.); Archaeology of craftsman, production and building techniques; the evolution of funerary practices and ritual. In a second section a number of specific insights about the origins and evolution of the European castles and rural settlements will be carried out through the study of material evidence.

Readings/Bibliography

Federico Marazzi (ed.), La città dei monaci. Storia degli spazi che avvicinano a Dio. Jaca Book, Milano, 2015.

Tadhg O'Keeffe, Matthias Untermann, Religious buildings, in James Graham-Campbell (ed.), The Archaeology of Medieval Europe, Vol. 1: The Eighth to Twelfth Centuries AD, Aarhus University Press, Aarhus 2007, pp. 398-419.

Martin Carver, Cathedral and Monasteries, in Martin Carver, Jan Klápštè (eds.), The Archaeology of Medieval Europe, Vol. 2, Twelfth to Sixteenth Centuries, Aarhus University Press, Aarhus 2011, pp. 442-466.

Recommended reading:

Chris Wickam, L'Europa nel Medioevo, Carocci Editore, Roma, 2020.

Enrico Cirelli, Archeologia e cultura materiale nel medioevo, BUP Bononia University Press, Bologna, 2021.

Non attending students:

James Graham-Campbell (ed.), The Archaeology of Medieval Europe, Vol. 1: The Eighth to Twelfth Centuries AD, Aarhus University Press, Aarhus 2007.

Federico Marazzi (ed.), La città dei monaci. Storia degli spazi che avvicinano a Dio. Jaca Book, Milano, 2015.

Martin Carver, Cathedral and Monasteries, in Martin Carver, Jan Klápštè (eds.), The Archaeology of Medieval Europe, Vol. 2, Twelfth to Sixteenth Centuries, Aarhus University Press, Aarhus 2011, pp. 442-466.

Recommended reading:

Chris Wickam, L'Europa nel Medioevo, Carocci Editore, Roma, 2020.

Enrico Cirelli, Archeologia e cultura materiale nel medioevo, BUP Bononia University Press, Bologna, 2021.

Teaching methods

The course is structured in frontal lessons and discussion of the data presented with the students. Visits and seminars will also be offered on the main sites mentioned during the classes.

Assessment methods

Oral exam about the contents of the classes (for attendants) and the recomended readings (for those who will not be able to follow the classes). Learning contents and methods will be evaluated. Lessons and knowledge required for discipline, the demonstration of the possession of an expressive and specific speaking will be evaluated with the highest grade. A mnemonic knowledge of the subject and ability to synthesize and analyze articulated in a correct language, but not always appropriate, will lead to discrete evaluations. Training gaps and / or inappropriate language, albeit in a context of minimal knowledge of the exam material, will lead to grades that will not exceed sufficiency. Training gaps, inappropriate language, lack of orientation within the bibliographic materials foreseen by the course will be evaluated negatively.

Teaching tools

During the lesson, archaeological contexts and themes will be presented through simple ppts and with plans and texts distributed to the classroom and left available to non-attendants on my web page.

Office hours

See the website of Enrico Cirelli