72176 - History of the Italian Landscape

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student is able to analyze the forms and to reconstruct the evolution of Italian landscapes, using the basic vocabulary in critical form (environments, territories, spaces, landscapes, borders, etc.), the bibliographies of reference (repertoires, magazines, paper and online instrumentation), cartographic morphologies (maps, atlases, drawings, sketches, cabres, aerial and satellite photographs). In particular, the student is able to: - move in the grounds of both urban and rural historical topography, recognizing in detail the techniques and aims, the limits and ideological inflections; - read the stratifications of the toponymy, correctly interpreting the names of cities and minor settlements, of streets and squares, of mountains, lakes, and rivers; - elaborate research concerning the evolution of the territory on the basis of samples and comparisons, within which an important role will be occupied by the exegesis of written sources and archaeological data, always to be used according to the characteristics of each individual discipline.

Course contents

The course will focus on the study of medieval landscapes starting from the late ancient period up to the modern age.

A first part of the course will focus on the concept of medieval landscape, focusing on the historical peculiarities of this age, on the historiographical tradition and on the current discussion.

A second part of the course will address some case studies, in order to offer a vision on concrete problems. Two completely different landscapes will be explored: that of the shepherds of the Lessini Mountains (Veronese Prealps) from the Roman to the modern age and the fluvial one of the Po valley in the Middle Ages.

All the case studies will be treated with particular attention to the research methodology, critically discussing the different types of sources (historical, cartographic, archaeological, geomorphological, toponymy, etc.).

Readings/Bibliography

Program for attending students:

Handbooks

R. Rao, I paesaggi dell’Italia medievale, Roma, Carrocci, 2015

Specific study texts

Tracce di antichi pastori negli alti Lessini, a cura di U. Sauro, M. Migliavacca, V. Pavan, F. Saggioro, D. Azzetti, Verona, Editrice La Grafica, 2013 (2 chapters of your choice)

Acque e territorio nel Veneto medievale, a cura di D. Canzian, R. Simonetti, Roma, Viella, 2012 (2 articles of your choice)

 

Program for non-attending students:

Handbooks (mandatory)

R. Rao, I paesaggi dell’Italia medievale, Roma, Carrocci, 2015

Thematic volumes (2 to be chosen among the 4 listed below)

C. Tosco, Il paesaggio storico. Le fonti e i metodi di ricerca, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2007

V. Fumagalli, I paesaggi della paura. Vita e natura nel Medioevo, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2006

E. Turri, Il paesaggio e il silenzio, Marsilio, 2010

P. Camporesi, Le belle contrade. La nascita del paesaggio italiano, Garzanti 1992

Teaching methods

The traditional frontal lesson will be integrated with the reading and analysis of sources of different nature (written documents, historical cartography, aerial photographs, archaeological data, geomorphological sources, etc.).

Attending students will deepen some case studies with the teacher, so as to directly experience the use of the sources and acquire the critical tools for an autonomous analysis of the historical landscape.

Assessment methods

(For attending students)

Individual oral examination aimed at verifying the learning and critical elaboration of the topics addressed during the course.

(For non-attending students)

Individual oral examination aimed at verifying the learning and critical elaboration of the themes developed in the texts of the program.

Teaching tools

Comment and translation of written sources, analysis of cartographic sources, interpretations of aerial or satellite photographs, critical discussion of archaeological and geomorphological data.

Lectures will be held using computer support (power point) and use of web resources.

A first introduction to the use of some programs for the study of landscape (GIS) is planned.

Office hours

See the website of Nicola Mancassola