11379 - Medieval History

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student is able of a critic analysis about themes concerning history and structures of the Middle Ages by means of reflection about historiographer and documental sources; he knows, besides, chief themes, events and phenomenons of medieval world. He is able to place specific problems in wider contexts and to value with scientific judgements the results of acquired notions. He is able to orient himself into time and space, and has principal instruments for information and research on line too. He reads historiograpgher texts in another language besides italian and is able to communicate orally using subjct's technical terminology. The student shows a good knowledge of chief themes, events and phenomenons of roman world.

Course contents

In the first part of the course the following general topics will be discussed:

1. The concept of Middle Ages
2. The downfall of the Roman Empire
3. Late Antiquity
4. Byzantium
5. The arabs and the Islamic civilization
6. The Carolingian empire
7. Peoples of the north
8. Church, empire, and religious life in the XI-XII centuries
9. Urban resurgence and civic autonomies
10. The crusades
11. Heresies and the mendicant orders
12. The Mongols
13. The fourteenth century
14. Mediterranean and eurasian reconfigurations at the end of the Middle Ages

Thematic part:

The second, thematic part will discuss the themes of religious alterity and dissent in late-medieval Europe, focusing in particular on the relations between the Church and heresies and on various forms of female participation to the religious life.

Readings/Bibliography

Attending students:

In addition to class notes and teaching materials made available on Virtuale, attending students will prepare the exam on the following texts:

1. Alfio Cortonesi, Il Medioevo. Profilo di un millennio, Roma, Carocci 2021.
2. Paolo Delogu, Introduzione alla storia medievale, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2003, ch. 1, 2 and 4.
3. Marina Montesano, Ai margini del Medioevo. Storia culturale dell’alterità, Roma, Carocci, 2021.

Programme for non attending students (to be agreed in advance with the teacher):

1. Alfio Cortonesi, Il Medioevo. Profilo di un millennio, Roma, Carocci 2021.
2. Paolo Delogu, Introduzione alla storia medievale, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2003, ch. 1 (until p. 32), 2 and 4.
3. Marina Montesano, Ai margini del Medioevo. Storia culturale dell’alterità, Roma, Carocci, 2021.
4. One of the following books:

Didier Lett, Uomini e donne nel Medioevo: storia del genere (secoli 12.-15.), Bologna: Il mulino, 2014

Grado Giovanni Merlo, Eretici ed eresie medievali, Bologna, Il Mulino, 1989

Luigi Russo, I crociati in Terrasanta. Una nuova storia (1095-1291), Roma, Carocci, 2018.

Teaching methods

Frontal lectures, class discussion.

Assessment methods

The course will start on 30 january 2023.

Students who attend at least 75% of the lessons are considered to be attending.

Students are required to attend the course regularly and participate actively in class discussions. Please note that those who will miss more than 8 classes will have to take the exam as non-attending students.

The preparation of the reading materials by attending and non-attending students will be evaluated on the basis of an oral exam. Students will be asked questions aimed to evaluate their knowledge of the bibliography, critical skills, command of the specific language of the discipline, and capacity of re-organizing the acquired information.

Evaluation criteria:

In-depth knowledge of the reading materials, with good analytical and critical skills and command of the specific language will qualify for a good/excellent mark.

Acceptable and more mechanical knowledge of the reading materials, and/or not always appropriate use of the language will lead to a sufficient/fair mark.

Fragmentary knowledge of the reading materials, weak critical skills, and/or insufficient command of the specific language and will lead to a failure or to a pass mark.

Teaching tools

Frontal lectures will be supported by Power Point presentations aimed to show visual and textual materials.

Office hours

See the website of Irene Bueno