Medieval History
A.Y. 2020/2021
Learning objectives
The aim of the course is to provide the broad outlines of medieval history, as well as the tools necessary to understand the main political, economic, social and religious elements visible during the centuries of the late ancient age to the early Renaissance
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course the student will have acquired the knowledge of the political-institutional, socio-economic and cultural development of Medieval history, from 5th to the 15th centuries. They shall also be able to place the most representative events and figures in their chronological and geographical contexts. The student will be able to use language tools (language properties, correct specific lexicon) to express, in a clear and effective form, concepts of a political, institutional, economic, and religious nature; they will be able to read critically historiographical works and use the main tools, including digital tools, for the research and analysis of sources. These skills will be acquired through a direct and continuous meeting with the instructor in the classroom. The discussion around the proposed sources will be an essential moment of critical reflection and methodological learning. Students opting not to attend the lessons will be able to make use of the educational tools provided by the instructor on Ariel, deepen their knowledge of main topics through special readings with the agreement with the instructor, and of course contact the instructor either by e-mail and during office hours.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
In relation to the possible developments of the health emergency, the teaching will be organized as follows:
- the lessons will follow the main topics of the medieval history textbook, with insights and focus on topics of the monographic course of this academic year;
- all the weekly lessons will be held in sync, at the scheduled time, via the Team platform, instead of the classic face-to-face lesson; during the lesson the students will be able to chat with questions, to which the professor will answer during specific breaks approximately every 20 minutes. We recommend that each student - and in particular those enrolled in the first year - first obtain the Microsoft Teams credentials made available by Unimi; all students are also invited to enroll in the course using the EasyLesson app, to allow the teacher to know the number of interested participants;
- the Ariel portal, to which all students of the Faculty of Humanities will have access, will be used by the teacher to give communications and notices, to provide materials and texts presented and commented during the course and to post links to live lessons recorded on Microsoft Stream; these lessons will remain on the portal available to students until the end of the course;
- in case of impossibility to held the reception hours in presence, the teacher/student interviews will be held through the Skype platform;
- the learning verification methods (exams) will not undergo substantial changes, except for the eventuality to conduct them through the Teams platform instead of in attendance.
These modalities could be modified (and improved) in relation to the suggestions coming from the University governance and from the participants to guarantee effective and continuous teaching.
- the lessons will follow the main topics of the medieval history textbook, with insights and focus on topics of the monographic course of this academic year;
- all the weekly lessons will be held in sync, at the scheduled time, via the Team platform, instead of the classic face-to-face lesson; during the lesson the students will be able to chat with questions, to which the professor will answer during specific breaks approximately every 20 minutes. We recommend that each student - and in particular those enrolled in the first year - first obtain the Microsoft Teams credentials made available by Unimi; all students are also invited to enroll in the course using the EasyLesson app, to allow the teacher to know the number of interested participants;
- the Ariel portal, to which all students of the Faculty of Humanities will have access, will be used by the teacher to give communications and notices, to provide materials and texts presented and commented during the course and to post links to live lessons recorded on Microsoft Stream; these lessons will remain on the portal available to students until the end of the course;
- in case of impossibility to held the reception hours in presence, the teacher/student interviews will be held through the Skype platform;
- the learning verification methods (exams) will not undergo substantial changes, except for the eventuality to conduct them through the Teams platform instead of in attendance.
These modalities could be modified (and improved) in relation to the suggestions coming from the University governance and from the participants to guarantee effective and continuous teaching.
Course syllabus
Title of the course: Art, crafts and everyday life in the Middle Ages
I Part (20 hours, 3 Ects): The Middle Ages: definition and sources. From Late Antiquity to early Middle Ages
II Part (20 hours, 3 Ects): Focus on principal institutional, economic and social dynamics of the high Middle Ages
III Part (20 hours, 3 Ects): Crafts, art and everyday life in the late Middle Ages
The duration of the program is two years
I Part (20 hours, 3 Ects): The Middle Ages: definition and sources. From Late Antiquity to early Middle Ages
II Part (20 hours, 3 Ects): Focus on principal institutional, economic and social dynamics of the high Middle Ages
III Part (20 hours, 3 Ects): Crafts, art and everyday life in the late Middle Ages
The duration of the program is two years
Prerequisites for admission
There are no specific requirements different from those requested for the degree admission. The course will be held in Italian language.
Teaching methods
Attendance to classes is strongly recommended although not compulsory.
The teaching is delivered through frontal lectures aimed primarily at the acquisition of knowledge, competence and specific language of the subject. Discussion with the teacher in the classroom is integrant part of the didactic method and aims at promoting a critical attitude and the capacity to apply the acquired competence and knowledge.
The teaching is also based on didactic material provided on Ariel: slides, texts, videos.
The teaching is delivered through frontal lectures aimed primarily at the acquisition of knowledge, competence and specific language of the subject. Discussion with the teacher in the classroom is integrant part of the didactic method and aims at promoting a critical attitude and the capacity to apply the acquired competence and knowledge.
The teaching is also based on didactic material provided on Ariel: slides, texts, videos.
Teaching Resources
- Programme for 6 CFU:
Knowledge of the topics taught in lectures (I and II Part)
Textbook: G. Vitolo, Medioevo. I caratteri originali di un'età di transizione, Sansoni, Milano 2000, or A. Zorzi, Manuale di storia medievale, UTET, Torino 2016 (with summaries, chronological summaries and concept maps);
Knowledge of following volume:
F.M. Vaglienti, Squarci nel Medioevo. Tradizione e sperimentazioni, Mimesis Edizioni, Milano-Udine 2012
- Programme for 9 CFU:
Knowledge of the topics taught in lectures (I, II and III Part)
Textbook: G. Vitolo, Medioevo. I caratteri originali di un'età di transizione, Sansoni, Milano 2000, or or A. Zorzi, Manuale di storia medievale, UTET, Torino 2016 (with summaries, chronological summaries and concept maps);
Knowledge of following volume:
F.M. Vaglienti, Squarci nel Medioevo. Tradizione e sperimentazioni, Mimesis Edizioni, Milano-Udine 2012
Knowledge of one of following volumes:
Artifex bonus. Il mondo dell'artista medievale, a cura di E. Castelnuovo, Laterza, Roma 2004;
Artigianato e lusso. Manifatture preziose alle origini del Made in Italy, a cura di M.P. Bortolotti, Skira, Milano 2013.
M. Bloch, Lavoro e tecnica nel Medioevo, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2004;
Cittadinanza e mestieri. Radicamento urbano e integrazione nelle città bassomedievali (secco. XIII-XVI), a cura di B. Del Bo, Viella, Roma 2014;
G. Coppola, L'edilizia nel Medioevo, Carocci, Roma 2015.
International and Erasmus students are invited to promptly get in touch with the professor in order to arrange a reading plan (available in French) for exam preparation.
Knowledge of the topics taught in lectures (I and II Part)
Textbook: G. Vitolo, Medioevo. I caratteri originali di un'età di transizione, Sansoni, Milano 2000, or A. Zorzi, Manuale di storia medievale, UTET, Torino 2016 (with summaries, chronological summaries and concept maps);
Knowledge of following volume:
F.M. Vaglienti, Squarci nel Medioevo. Tradizione e sperimentazioni, Mimesis Edizioni, Milano-Udine 2012
- Programme for 9 CFU:
Knowledge of the topics taught in lectures (I, II and III Part)
Textbook: G. Vitolo, Medioevo. I caratteri originali di un'età di transizione, Sansoni, Milano 2000, or or A. Zorzi, Manuale di storia medievale, UTET, Torino 2016 (with summaries, chronological summaries and concept maps);
Knowledge of following volume:
F.M. Vaglienti, Squarci nel Medioevo. Tradizione e sperimentazioni, Mimesis Edizioni, Milano-Udine 2012
Knowledge of one of following volumes:
Artifex bonus. Il mondo dell'artista medievale, a cura di E. Castelnuovo, Laterza, Roma 2004;
Artigianato e lusso. Manifatture preziose alle origini del Made in Italy, a cura di M.P. Bortolotti, Skira, Milano 2013.
M. Bloch, Lavoro e tecnica nel Medioevo, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2004;
Cittadinanza e mestieri. Radicamento urbano e integrazione nelle città bassomedievali (secco. XIII-XVI), a cura di B. Del Bo, Viella, Roma 2014;
G. Coppola, L'edilizia nel Medioevo, Carocci, Roma 2015.
International and Erasmus students are invited to promptly get in touch with the professor in order to arrange a reading plan (available in French) for exam preparation.
Assessment methods and Criteria
- Method: the exam consists in an oral interrogation and conducted in Italian language. Only in case of crowded exam session, a written test of 20 minutes can be requested (about principal events of Middle Ages, chronologies, definitions).
- Evaluation criteria: capacity to demonstrate and elaborate knowledge; capacity for critical reflection on the completed work; quality, linearity and clarity of exposition; competence in the use of specialized lexicon.
- Type of evaluation method: mark in 30s.
Mid-term assessment at two thirds of the course is reserved to attending students. The written exam consists of some open questions about the subjects of the lessons. The assessment results will be published on Ariel site.
The format of the exam for students with disabilities should be arranged in advance with the professor, as well as the relevant office.
- Evaluation criteria: capacity to demonstrate and elaborate knowledge; capacity for critical reflection on the completed work; quality, linearity and clarity of exposition; competence in the use of specialized lexicon.
- Type of evaluation method: mark in 30s.
Mid-term assessment at two thirds of the course is reserved to attending students. The written exam consists of some open questions about the subjects of the lessons. The assessment results will be published on Ariel site.
The format of the exam for students with disabilities should be arranged in advance with the professor, as well as the relevant office.
Unita' didattica A
M-STO/01 - MEDIEVAL HISTORY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
M-STO/01 - MEDIEVAL HISTORY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
M-STO/01 - MEDIEVAL HISTORY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
By appointment agreed by e-mail or, in the first semester, on Wednesdays from 12.30 to 2.30 p.m.
Remotely on the Microsoft Teams platform or at the headquarters in Via Festa del Perdono, 7 - Sector B, 3th floor, Room B24