75893 - History of Institutions and Cultural Heritage in the Middle Ages

Learning outcomes

Aim of this course is to provide the student with a patrimony of knowledge and abilities, able to lead him to understand (with the help of written sources) the formation of the cultural Heritage and of the monumental and documental patrimony in Italy, Europe and the Whole Mediterranean area. At the end of the course, students must acquire deep knowledge of the political-institutional processes and of the socio-institutional interactions which shaped medieval Europe in its particular identity and historical memory, and they must be able to apply this knowledge to a specific urban or territorial area or to a specific archival and librarian context and to understand the cultural Heritage of an institution. They must be able to communicate the results of a bibliographical research or of a critical analysis of written sources, and to approach the study of new topics on the basis of the knowledge acquired during the course.

Course contents

The Romano-Germanic Empire from Charlemagne to Frederick Barbarossa (eighth to twelfth century). A Sacral and Itinerant Kingship, Ruling by Consensus.

Differently from the Byzantine Empire, which was a seamless continuation of the Late Roman Empire, the Romano-Germanic Empire (then known as Holy Roman Empire) was an entirely medieval invention since the Roman coronation of Charlemagne by Pope Leone III on Christmas, 800. The anointing and crowning ritual made the Romano-Germanic emperor a sacral figure, mediating between heaven and earth. The absence of a capital city and the lack of a system of central administration were compensated with an itinerant kingship, whereby the ruler carried out his political functions and symbolic representations of governing by periodically or constantly travelling throughout the areas of his dominion. Far from being an autocrat, the medieval emperor shared his power with bishops, abbots and lay aristocracies through ongoing negotiation, on the basis of consensual rule. This course focuses on these three main distinguishing features – sacral, itinerant and consensual kingship – in order to analyse the Romano-Germanic Empire during the Carolingian, Ottonian, Salian and early Staufen period (eighth to twelfth century). A special attention is devoted to medieval symbolic communication, on the basis of the analysis of seals in imperial charters and book illuminations portraying kings and emperors (Herrscherbilder) in liturgical manuscripts.

Readings/Bibliography

Attending students will be assessed on:

1) the contents of the lessons;

2) R. Bordone, G. Sergi, Dieci secoli di medioevo, Torino: Einaudi, 2009, pp. 5-197; 

3) S. Manganaro, Cristo e gli Ottoni. Una indagine sulle 'immagini di autorità e di preghiera', le altre fonti iconografiche, le insegne e le fonti scritte, in Cristo e il potere. Teologia, antropologia e politica, a cura di L. Andreani, A. Paravicini Bagliani, Firenze: Edizioni del Galluzzo/SISMEL, 2017, pp. 53-79.

Non-attending students will be assessed on:

1) R. Bordone, G. Sergi, Dieci secoli di medioevo, Torino: Einaudi, 2009, pp. 5-197;

2) S. Manganaro, Cristo e gli Ottoni. Una indagine sulle 'immagini di autorità e di preghiera', le altre fonti iconografiche, le insegne e le fonti scritte, in Cristo e il potere. Teologia, antropologia e politica, a cura di L. Andreani, A. Paravicini Bagliani, Firenze: Edizioni del Galluzzo/SISMEL, 2017, pp. 53-79.

3) S. Weinfurter, Canossa. Il disincanto del mondo, trad. it. Bologna: Il Mulino, 2014.

Attending as well as non-attending students need to know that a basic knowledge of medieval history is not compulsory to attend this course.

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons.

The traditional lecture format is integrated by slides with maps, images, and texts.

Some lessons are specifically devoted to analyse written and iconographic medieval sources, both of them strictly connected to the main topic that lies at the heart of this course. In order to enhance both documentary and book materials, the sources that have been selected are imperial charters and book illuminations in liturgical manuscripts. Texts in these sources are provided in original (Latin) as well as in translation (Italian).

These materials are uploaded on the online platform Virtuale (https://virtuale.unibo.it/).

Assessment methods

The final exam, to be held at the end of the course, is oral. It consists of an assessment of the knowledge and skills acquired during the course. This final oral exam is the main assessment method.

A written test, to be held approximately halfway through the course, will be scheduled, covering the topics of the lessons already delivered at that date. In the event of a positive assessment (>18), the latter defines the departure point at the final oral exam, which is expected to confirm or improve the preliminary grade of the written test. In the event of a negative assessment (<18), or in case of absence, the final oral exam becomes the unique assessment method

The assessment concerns how well students know and understand the topics discussed during the course and in the recommended readings. A special relevance is given to the ability of the students to correctly analyse, critically re-elaborate and properly explain these topics, adopting a logical-argumentative type of speech, an appropriate methodology and the specialised language of the discipline.

Class attendance is highly recommended.

A clear and intensive engagement with the course topics and materials - including simple questions, critical observations, requests of clarification or further explanations - is deeply appreciated and can change the final mark.

Teaching tools

- Projection (with comments) of maps, displaying the main places (archbishoprics and bishoprics, monasteries and abbeys, locations to summon diets and synods) and the strategic geopolitical spaces (core areas, peripheric areas, transit areas) of the Romano-Germanic Empire, with special reference to the routes of the royal/imperial iter.

- Projection (with comments) of medieval sources, particularly seals in imperial charters and book illuminations in liturgical manuscripts. The aims is to detect textual and material elements, which allow to understand strategies, ends and audience of medieval symbolic communication.

Please note that initiatives suggested or organised by the professor (educational visits, seminars, book presentations, etc.) are to be considered as a supplementary part of the course and are therefore recognised at the exam.

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A message for students with disabilities (whether permanent or temporary), SLD, ADHD or other special educational needs related to learning disorders.

Those who need special strategies to compensate their disorders are kindly requested to contact the professor, in order to be referred to the colleagues in charge and get proper advice and instructions.

Please see also: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Manganaro