00932 - Contemporary History

Learning outcomes

Students acquire the knowledge of contemporary history's general lines, according to social, cultural and political transformations, and the awareness of the complexity of the periodization criteria.

They point out the main topics of contemporary age, including historiography and sources of the discipline.

At the end of the course students are able to place the main events in a global and long-term perspective. They are able to discuss the major issues of the historiographical research. They learn historical analysis' limits and perspectives, reading "classic" historical works; they are completely aware of the historical turning points. Social and cultural debate of complex categories, languages and concepts in a comparative approach have to be konwn.

The students are able to choose between readings proposed according to their abilities and inclinations. They can read texts in at least one language besides Italian and they are able to communicate in oral and written exam using an appropriate technical terminology.

 

Course contents

The course presents, in thirty monographic lessons, the basic topics of XIX-XX century history, from the point of view of événements and historiography.

Readings/Bibliography

1) R.Balzani, "L'argomentazione storica", vol. II (capp. 4-15) e III (tutto), Milano, La Nuova Italia - Rizzoli Education, 2018

2) Raffaele Romanelli, Ottocento. Lezioni di storia contemporanea, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2011;

3) Patrizia Dogliani, Il fascismo degli italiani, Torino, Utet, 2008

or, for attending students:

1) R.Balzani, "L'argomentazione storica", vol. II (capp. 4-15) e III (tutto), Milano, La Nuova Italia - Rizzoli Education, 2018

2) Selected bibliography communicated during the course

Teaching methods

Lectures

Assessment methods

Written exam. The exam includes three open-ended questions dedicated to attendings and three open questions resered to non-attendings.

The exam consists in a written paper covering the texts outlined in the programme; it aims to assess students’ critical skills and their ability to analyse key phenomena of the contemporary world.

Thorough in-depth knowledge of the topics covered in the course, together with analytical and critical skills and command of the specific language, will qualify for top marks (30-30L).

A good grasp of the topics covered in the course, together with good critical analysis and command of the specific language, will qualify for high marks (27-29).

A more mechanical and less articulate grasp, and/or correct use of language though not always appropriate, will qualify for a medium-range mark (23-26).

Weak analytical capacity and frequently inappropriate language – together with some knowledge of exam material – will receive a pass mark or little more (18-22).

Mistakes of spelling and syntax (by native Italian students) will be heavily penalized.

Teaching tools

A PPT will be at disposal in the teaching material on the website with the lessons discussed during the course.

Office hours

See the website of Roberto Balzani