66782 - History of Medieval Europe (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will know the essential characteristics of the political-institutional and socio-economic history of mediaeval Europe, with the help of various testimonies . Students will gain skills methodology in organizing autonomous research.

Course contents

The Middle Ages and the origins of Europe

The course aims to illustrate the early-medieval period by questioning the nineteenth-century interpretations that saw the "Barbarians" or as invaders and destroyers of Roman civilization or as founders of many European nations. It will therefore offer a reinterpretation of a medieval age in the light of new tools (archaeological, linguistic, anthropological and gender studies) in a complex and dense content that will take into account the period between the impact of the great migrations of peoples on the world and on Roman civilization up to the construction of the Frank Empire of Charlemagne.

Readings/Bibliography

S. Gasparri, C. La Rocca, Tempi barbarici. L’Europa occidentale tra antichità e medioevo (300-900), Roma, Carocci Editore, 2012

Teaching methods

Lectures

Seminars and critical analysis of documents

Assessment methods

This exam is an oral exam through which the critical and methodological abilities acquired by the student during the course will be evaluated; the student will be invited to discuss the issues addressed during the course. The following abilities will be evaluated positively: a student's ability to familiarize him/herself with bibliographical material and sources with the aim of selecting information from the literature that can be used to illustrate  aspects and areas of culture pertaining to the discipline.

The ability to reach a critical and systematic vision of the discipline and the ability to demonstrate the possession of a descriptive command and of appropriate  field-specific language will be rewarded with a mark of excellence.

A mechanical and/or mnemonic knowledge of the language, a superficial ability to synthesize and analyse information, and/or a language that is correct but not always appropriate will lead to  a moderate mark; knowledge gaps and/or inappropriate language – albeit in a context of minimal knowledge of the material required for the exam – will not lead to a pass mark.

Knowledge gaps, inappropriate language and a lack of familiarity with the bibliographical material provided during the course  will not receive a pass mark.

Office hours

See the website of Paolo Pirillo