93585 - Geography of the Mediterranean from the Middle Ages to Contemporary Times

Learning outcomes

The course aims at providing the theoretical-methodological tools necessary to understand the evolution of the Euro-Mediterranean geographical region in historical perspective. The complexity and strong long-term internal connection of this region, in fact, requires an approach that combines the various aspects in a unitary and coherent perspective. At the end of the course, the student has a basic knowledge of the main geographical representation models and the main territorial evolutionary processes that developed in the region between the Middle Ages and the contemporary age.

Course contents

DISCLAIMER:

THERE IS A SINGLE EXAM'S BIBLIOGRAPHY.

NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS NEEDING A CUSTOMIZED SYLLABUS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTACT THE PROFESSOR AT LEAST ONE MONTH BEFORE THE EXAM.

 

Topics:

1. Mediterranean as a model of complexity
2. Mediterranean's edges and scales
3. Cities, networks, communities
4. Mobility

Readings/Bibliography

F. Farinelli, Geografia, Torino, Einaudi, 2003, pp. 62-69; 98-99.

 

F. Farinelli, L’invenzione della Terra, Palermo, Sellerio, 2007, pp. 106-11 and 139-45. Downloadable from https://virtuale.unibo.it/.

F. Farinelli, Per una nuova geografia del Mediterraneo, in L. Bellicini (a cura di), Mediterraneo. Città, territorio, economie alle soglie del XXI secolo, Roma, CRESME, 1995, pp. 121-45. Downloadable from https://virtuale.unibo.it/.

M. Neve, Il disegno dell’Europa, Milano, Mimesis, 2016, capitoli I.4, I.5, parte II, parte III, IV.1.3, IV.2.1, IV.2.2.

Teaching methods

Course will be taught through a mixture of formal lectures, discussion classes and web-based discussion. 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

The exam consists of an oral examination on the entire syllabus. The aim of the interview is to assess the methodological and critical skills acquired by the student. While there is a single bibliography, given the importance of class attendance for an appropriate training process two grading scales are employed: for attending and non-attending students.

Attending students

Attendance and participation count for 15% of the final grade.

In particular, it will be assessed the ability of the student to participate actively in class, also using multimedia and collaborative tools provided within the course; such capacity, if combined with the achievement of a coherent framework of the topics developed during the lessons , the application of critical sense and suitable means of expression will be considered and evaluated with the maximum grading = A (27-30 con lode).

Attendance, if joint to 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).

Attendance, with a minimum level of knowledge of the course contents, combined with training gaps or inadequate language and logical skills, it 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, it will produce a fail (E) grading, even in spite of an assiduous attendance.

Non-attending students

Non-attending students will be assessed primarily on the ability to use literature made available, in order to properly expose the contents of the course. This ability, when combined with the achievement of a coherent framework of the course's themes, the application of critical sense, 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, it 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, it will produce a fail (E) grading.

Teaching tools

Multimedia tools

Office hours

See the website of Mario Angelo Neve