00932 - Contemporary History (M-Z)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will acquire an outline of modern history, with a special attention to the social, cultural and political transformations, and the awareness of the complexity and problematic nature of the periodization principles. The student will also acquire a good knowledge of an important theme of the modern era, especially in relation to the historiography debate and the multiplicity of the sources. The student is able to analyze in an autonomous way documents, sources, and authors belonging to the contemporary World.

Course contents

INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE

When does contemporary history begins?

environmental history issues

J McNeill Something new under the sun

American revolution. Contradictions of its 'liberty'

French Revolution

Risorgimento objects - a material history of politics in the first half of the 19th Century

1848-9 revolutions

nationalisms

food and banal nationalism

gender, family and nation in the long 19th century

social classes. strategies and models

globalisation and colonialism

racism - Human beings on display

the West conquering the world

WWI

Italian fascism

fascism nazism authoritarian regimes

Reading Italian history through the history of pasta

Soviet Union I

Stalinism

WWII

After WWII - India

Western democracies and cold war

postcolonial worlds

conclusions

Readings/Bibliography

Attending students (students who have attended 75% of the classes)

A deep knowledge of the general textbook (Banti) and of monographs is requested

Basic textbook: Alberto Mario Banti, L’età contemporanea. Dalle rivoluzioni settecentesche all’imperialismo, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2009 or other editions, chapters: from 1 to 9 included; 12;17;18;20;21;24

Alberto Mario Banti, L’età contemporanea. Dalla Grande guerra a oggi, Rom-Bari, Laterza, 2009 or other editions chapters 1, 2,3, 4, 5,7, 8, 9,10,11,12.

+

Monographs:

One of the following volumes or groups of volumes:

1 - Guido Abbattista, "Umanità in mostra. Esposizioni etniche e invenzioni esotiche in Italia (1880-1940)", Trieste, EUT Edizioni Università di Trieste, 2013, pp. 613. Open access https://www.openstarts.units.it/handle/10077/9484

2- John R. McNeill, Qualcosa di nuovo sotto il sole: storia dell'ambiente nel XX secolo, Torino: Einaudi, 2002 or any other ecdition.

3 - E. Francia, Oggetti risorgimentali. Una storia materiale della politica nel primo Ottocento, Roma, Carocci, 2021 (together with Ilaria Porciani, Famiglia e nazione nel lungo Ottocento in “Passato e Presente” (scaricabile attraverso le risorse di rete di UNIBO SBA) e Ilaria Porciani, Mappe mentali, confini e politiche: dal nazionalismo al sovranismo in Massimo Montanari ( a cura di) Cucina politica, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2020, pp. 96 - 112.

4-A. De Bernardi, Il paese dei maccheroni. Storia sociale della pasta, Roma, Donzelli, 2019

5 Lorenzo Kamel Napoleone e Muhammad'Ali, Mondadori, 2021

NON ATTENDING STUDENTS WILL ADD ONE OF THE FOLLOWING BOOKS:

Amitav Ghosh, La grande cecità (ANY EDITON).

E. Leed, Terra di nessuno. Esperienza bellica e identità personale nella prima guerra mondiale, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2014

G.L. Mosse, Le guerre mondiali. Dalla tragedia al mito dei caduti, Laterza 2018

Teaching methods

frontal lessons

Assessment methods

oral exam

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, as befits a university examination, especially in a humanistic subject.

Teaching tools

internet for historians

Office hours

See the website of Ilaria Porciani