B5168 - History of Women and Gender in the Middle Ages (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to evaluate historiographical trends in relation to the subject studied, to read and interpret both published and unpublished sources, and to contextualise general problems within specific research cases. Students are aware of the concept of 'gender' as a cultural construct and understand the relevance and historicity of concepts linked to society and the family. They can also interpret the language of sources and the categories of historiographical analysis from this perspective.

Course contents

Women's Legal and Economic Capacity in the Middle Ages

Through the analysis of normative and documentary sources, this course—primarily conducted in seminar format—aims to explore the question of women’s economic agency between the early and high Middle Ages.

The use of conceptual tools drawn from gender history will allow students to identify the ways in which social identity was constructed for both men and women within this specific historical context.

Readings/Bibliography

Attending students will work on the course materials (sources, images, powerpoints and readings) that will be made available on the University's teaching platform.

Non-attending students will have to study:

l patrimonio delle regine: beni del fisco e politica regia fra IX e X secolo, [http://www.rmojs.unina.it/index.php/rm/article/view/4788], a cura di T. Lazzari, RM Rivista, 13, 2/2012, disponibile on-line.

Le ricchezze delle donne. Diritti patrimoniali e poteri familiari in Italia (XIII-XIX sec.), a cura di Giulia Calvi e Isabelle Chabot, Torino, Rosenberg & Sellier, 1998, available also in digital support.

Teaching methods

After a few lectures introducing the topic, students will be involved in reading and presenting specialised scientific essays and analysing selected unpublished sources.

Assessment methods

Attending students will prepare a paper of approximately 10 pages (20,000 characters, including spaces) outlining the results of individual or group work set during the lectures.

The paper must be submitted in digital format (Word, Openoffice, pdf) at least 5 days before the date of the call for papers.

Non-attending students will take an oral test to check their learning and understanding of the books on the syllabus.

Evaluation criteria

In the evaluation of both the thesis (frequenting students) and the oral test (non-attending students), account will be taken of the student's ability to find their way around the sources and bibliographical material proposed, to illustrate themes and problems and to be able to link them together.

The following will therefore be assessed:
- The mastery of the contents
- The ability to synthesise and analyse themes and concepts
- The ability to express oneself in language appropriate to the subject matter

The student's attainment of an organic vision of the themes addressed in the lessons together with their critical use, a good mastery of expression and specific language will be assessed with marks of excellence.

A mnemonic knowledge of the subject, together with synthesis and analysis skills articulated in a correct but not always appropriate language, will lead to fair marks.

Formative deficiencies and/or inappropriate language - albeit in the context of minimal knowledge of the examination material - will lead to grades that do not exceed sufficiency.

Formative deficiencies, inappropriate language, lack of orientation within the bibliographical materials offered during the course will lead to negative marks.

Teaching tools

Students with learning disorders and/or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Office hours

See the website of Tiziana Lazzari