Intellectual and Cultural History
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The course aims to present the methodology of intellectual and cultural history through an investigation of the main theories and historiographical debates. It provides the theoretical tools with which to analyse the history of Italy, from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, through an intellectual and cultural approach.
Expected learning outcomes
The course intends to introduce the participants to an historical reflection on intellectual and cultural history, encouraging students to employ a wide variety of written and visual sources as well as secondary readings on the intellectual and cultural history of Italy from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Through the exploration of concrete examples, students are introduced to different methodologies of historical analysis and research. At the end of the course students will be able to read critically primary and secondary sources relevant to the formation of Italian identity throughout the centuries from an intellectual and cultural point of view. Teaching material will be available on Ariel for both attending and non-attending students. The latter will also be able to discuss their chosen readings with the lecturer both by email and at office hours.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Title of the course: Intellectual and cultural history
Section A: Intellectual and cultural history: methodology
Section B: An intellectual and cultural history of Italy from the Middle Ages to the Modern Age
Section C: An intellectual and cultural history of contemporary Italy
The programme is valid until September 2025.
Section A: Intellectual and cultural history: methodology
Section B: An intellectual and cultural history of Italy from the Middle Ages to the Modern Age
Section C: An intellectual and cultural history of contemporary Italy
The programme is valid until September 2025.
Prerequisites for admission
Knowledge of the English language with B1 level as minimum achievement. Lectures and exam are in English.
Teaching methods
The course is taught in English. 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 and multimedia material provided on Ariel.
The teaching is also based on didactic and multimedia material provided on Ariel.
Teaching Resources
Attending students:
Programme for 6 cfu:
- Peter Burke, What is Cultural History?, Cambridge, Polity 2004 AND Annabel Brett, What is Intellectual History Now?, in David Cannadine (ed.), What is History Now?, Basingstoke, Palgrave MacMillan 2002, pp. 113-131.
- lecture notes (sections A and B)
- one volume of choice from the list below.
Ward-Perkins, Brian, The fall of Rome and the End of Civilisation, Oxford, Oxford University Press 2006.
D'Avray, David L., Medieval Religious Rationalities: A Weberian Analysis, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press 2010.
Celenza, Christopher, The Lost Italian Renaissance: Humanists, Historians, and Latin's Legacy, Baltimore, Md.: Johns Hopkins University Press 2006.
Ferraro, Joanne M., Marriage Wars in Late Renaissance Venice, Oxford university Press, Oxford 2001.
Venturi, Franco, Italy and the Enlightenment: Studies in a Cosmopolitan Century, London, Longman 1972.
Riall, Lucy, Garibaldi: Invention of a Hero, New Haven, Yale University Press 2007.
Moe, Nelson, The View from Vesuvius: Italian Culture and the Southern Question, Berkeley, University of California Press 2002.
Ben-Ghiat, Ruth, Italian Fascism's Empire Cinema, Bloomington, Indiana University Press 2015.
Gundle, Stephen, Between Hollywood and Moscow. The Italian Communists and the Challenge of Mass Culture, 1943-91, Duke University Press, Durham, North Carolina, 2000.
Scarpellini, Emanuela, Material Nation: A Consumer's History of Modern Italy, Oxford, Oxford University Press 2011.
Programme for 9 cfu:
- Peter Burke, What is Cultural History?, Cambridge, Polity 2004 AND Annabel Brett, What is Intellectual History Now?, in David Cannadine (ed.), What is History Now?, Basingstoke, Palgrave MacMillan 2002, pp. 113-131.
- lecture notes (sections A, B and C)
- one volume of choice from the list below.
Ward-Perkins, Brian, The fall of Rome and the End of Civilisation, Oxford, Oxford University Press 2006.
D'Avray, David L., Medieval Religious Rationalities: A Weberian Analysis, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press 2010.
Celenza, Christopher, The Lost Italian Renaissance: Humanists, Historians, and Latin's Legacy, Baltimore, Md.: Johns Hopkins University Press 2006.
Ferraro, Joanne M., Marriage Wars in Late Renaissance Venice, Oxford university Press, Oxford 2001.
Venturi, Franco, Italy and the Enlightenment: Studies in a Cosmopolitan Century, London, Longman 1972.
Riall, Lucy, Garibaldi: Invention of a Hero, New Haven, Yale University Press 2007.
Moe, Nelson, The View from Vesuvius: Italian Culture and the Southern Question, Berkeley, University of California Press 2002.
Ben-Ghiat, Ruth, Italian Fascism's Empire Cinema, Bloomington, Indiana University Press 2015.
Gundle, Stephen, Between Hollywood and Moscow. The Italian Communists and the Challenge of Mass Culture, 1943-91, Duke University Press, Durham, North Carolina, 2000.
Scarpellini, Emanuela, Material Nation: A Consumer's History of Modern Italy, Oxford, Oxford University Press 2011.
Non-attending students:
Programme for 6 cfu:
- Peter Burke, What is Cultural History?, Cambridge, Polity 2004 AND Annabel Brett, What is Intellectual History Now?, in David Cannadine (ed.), What is History Now?, Basingstoke, Palgrave MacMillan 2002, pp. 113-131.
- one volume of choice from the list below.
Ward-Perkins, Brian, The fall of Rome and the End of Civilisation, Oxford, Oxford University Press 2006.
D'Avray, David L., Medieval Religious Rationalities: A Weberian Analysis, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press 2010.
Celenza, Christopher, The Lost Italian Renaissance: Humanists, Historians, and Latin's Legacy, Baltimore, Md.: Johns Hopkins University Press 2006.
Ferraro, Joanne M., Marriage Wars in Late Renaissance Venice, Oxford university Press, Oxford 2001.
Venturi, Franco, Italy and the Enlightenment: Studies in a Cosmopolitan Century, London, Longman 1972.
Riall, Lucy, Garibaldi: Invention of a Hero, New Haven, Yale University Press 2007.
Moe, Nelson, The View from Vesuvius: Italian Culture and the Southern Question, Berkeley, University of California Press 2002.
Ben-Ghiat, Ruth, Italian Fascism's Empire Cinema, Bloomington, Indiana University Press 2015.
Gundle, Stephen, Between Hollywood and Moscow. The Italian Communists and the Challenge of Mass Culture, 1943-91, Duke University Press, Durham, North Carolina, 2000.
Scarpellini, Emanuela, Material Nation: A Consumer's History of Modern Italy, Oxford, Oxford University Press 2011.
Programme for 9 cfu:
- Peter Burke, What is Cultural History?, Cambridge, Polity 2004 AND Annabel Brett, What is Intellectual History Now?, in David Cannadine (ed.), What is History Now?, Basingstoke, Palgrave MacMillan 2002, pp. 113-131.
- two volumes of choice from the list below.
Ward-Perkins, Brian, The fall of Rome and the End of Civilisation, Oxford, Oxford University Press 2006.
D'Avray, David L., Medieval Religious Rationalities: A Weberian Analysis, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press 2010.
Celenza, Christopher, The Lost Italian Renaissance: Humanists, Historians, and Latin's Legacy, Baltimore, Md.: Johns Hopkins University Press 2006.
Ferraro, Joanne M., Marriage Wars in Late Renaissance Venice, Oxford university Press, Oxford 2001.
Venturi, Franco, Italy and the Enlightenment: Studies in a Cosmopolitan Century, London, Longman 1972.
Riall, Lucy, Garibaldi: Invention of a Hero, New Haven, Yale University Press 2007.
Moe, Nelson, The View from Vesuvius: Italian Culture and the Southern Question, Berkeley, University of California Press 2002.
Ben-Ghiat, Ruth, Italian Fascism's Empire Cinema, Bloomington, Indiana University Press 2015.
Gundle, Stephen, Between Hollywood and Moscow. The Italian Communists and the Challenge of Mass Culture, 1943-91, Duke University Press, Durham, North Carolina, 2000.
Scarpellini, Emanuela, Material Nation: A Consumer's History of Modern Italy, Oxford, Oxford University Press 2011.
International students or Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the lecturer as soon as possible to arrange the exam programme.
Programme for 6 cfu:
- Peter Burke, What is Cultural History?, Cambridge, Polity 2004 AND Annabel Brett, What is Intellectual History Now?, in David Cannadine (ed.), What is History Now?, Basingstoke, Palgrave MacMillan 2002, pp. 113-131.
- lecture notes (sections A and B)
- one volume of choice from the list below.
Ward-Perkins, Brian, The fall of Rome and the End of Civilisation, Oxford, Oxford University Press 2006.
D'Avray, David L., Medieval Religious Rationalities: A Weberian Analysis, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press 2010.
Celenza, Christopher, The Lost Italian Renaissance: Humanists, Historians, and Latin's Legacy, Baltimore, Md.: Johns Hopkins University Press 2006.
Ferraro, Joanne M., Marriage Wars in Late Renaissance Venice, Oxford university Press, Oxford 2001.
Venturi, Franco, Italy and the Enlightenment: Studies in a Cosmopolitan Century, London, Longman 1972.
Riall, Lucy, Garibaldi: Invention of a Hero, New Haven, Yale University Press 2007.
Moe, Nelson, The View from Vesuvius: Italian Culture and the Southern Question, Berkeley, University of California Press 2002.
Ben-Ghiat, Ruth, Italian Fascism's Empire Cinema, Bloomington, Indiana University Press 2015.
Gundle, Stephen, Between Hollywood and Moscow. The Italian Communists and the Challenge of Mass Culture, 1943-91, Duke University Press, Durham, North Carolina, 2000.
Scarpellini, Emanuela, Material Nation: A Consumer's History of Modern Italy, Oxford, Oxford University Press 2011.
Programme for 9 cfu:
- Peter Burke, What is Cultural History?, Cambridge, Polity 2004 AND Annabel Brett, What is Intellectual History Now?, in David Cannadine (ed.), What is History Now?, Basingstoke, Palgrave MacMillan 2002, pp. 113-131.
- lecture notes (sections A, B and C)
- one volume of choice from the list below.
Ward-Perkins, Brian, The fall of Rome and the End of Civilisation, Oxford, Oxford University Press 2006.
D'Avray, David L., Medieval Religious Rationalities: A Weberian Analysis, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press 2010.
Celenza, Christopher, The Lost Italian Renaissance: Humanists, Historians, and Latin's Legacy, Baltimore, Md.: Johns Hopkins University Press 2006.
Ferraro, Joanne M., Marriage Wars in Late Renaissance Venice, Oxford university Press, Oxford 2001.
Venturi, Franco, Italy and the Enlightenment: Studies in a Cosmopolitan Century, London, Longman 1972.
Riall, Lucy, Garibaldi: Invention of a Hero, New Haven, Yale University Press 2007.
Moe, Nelson, The View from Vesuvius: Italian Culture and the Southern Question, Berkeley, University of California Press 2002.
Ben-Ghiat, Ruth, Italian Fascism's Empire Cinema, Bloomington, Indiana University Press 2015.
Gundle, Stephen, Between Hollywood and Moscow. The Italian Communists and the Challenge of Mass Culture, 1943-91, Duke University Press, Durham, North Carolina, 2000.
Scarpellini, Emanuela, Material Nation: A Consumer's History of Modern Italy, Oxford, Oxford University Press 2011.
Non-attending students:
Programme for 6 cfu:
- Peter Burke, What is Cultural History?, Cambridge, Polity 2004 AND Annabel Brett, What is Intellectual History Now?, in David Cannadine (ed.), What is History Now?, Basingstoke, Palgrave MacMillan 2002, pp. 113-131.
- one volume of choice from the list below.
Ward-Perkins, Brian, The fall of Rome and the End of Civilisation, Oxford, Oxford University Press 2006.
D'Avray, David L., Medieval Religious Rationalities: A Weberian Analysis, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press 2010.
Celenza, Christopher, The Lost Italian Renaissance: Humanists, Historians, and Latin's Legacy, Baltimore, Md.: Johns Hopkins University Press 2006.
Ferraro, Joanne M., Marriage Wars in Late Renaissance Venice, Oxford university Press, Oxford 2001.
Venturi, Franco, Italy and the Enlightenment: Studies in a Cosmopolitan Century, London, Longman 1972.
Riall, Lucy, Garibaldi: Invention of a Hero, New Haven, Yale University Press 2007.
Moe, Nelson, The View from Vesuvius: Italian Culture and the Southern Question, Berkeley, University of California Press 2002.
Ben-Ghiat, Ruth, Italian Fascism's Empire Cinema, Bloomington, Indiana University Press 2015.
Gundle, Stephen, Between Hollywood and Moscow. The Italian Communists and the Challenge of Mass Culture, 1943-91, Duke University Press, Durham, North Carolina, 2000.
Scarpellini, Emanuela, Material Nation: A Consumer's History of Modern Italy, Oxford, Oxford University Press 2011.
Programme for 9 cfu:
- Peter Burke, What is Cultural History?, Cambridge, Polity 2004 AND Annabel Brett, What is Intellectual History Now?, in David Cannadine (ed.), What is History Now?, Basingstoke, Palgrave MacMillan 2002, pp. 113-131.
- two volumes of choice from the list below.
Ward-Perkins, Brian, The fall of Rome and the End of Civilisation, Oxford, Oxford University Press 2006.
D'Avray, David L., Medieval Religious Rationalities: A Weberian Analysis, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press 2010.
Celenza, Christopher, The Lost Italian Renaissance: Humanists, Historians, and Latin's Legacy, Baltimore, Md.: Johns Hopkins University Press 2006.
Ferraro, Joanne M., Marriage Wars in Late Renaissance Venice, Oxford university Press, Oxford 2001.
Venturi, Franco, Italy and the Enlightenment: Studies in a Cosmopolitan Century, London, Longman 1972.
Riall, Lucy, Garibaldi: Invention of a Hero, New Haven, Yale University Press 2007.
Moe, Nelson, The View from Vesuvius: Italian Culture and the Southern Question, Berkeley, University of California Press 2002.
Ben-Ghiat, Ruth, Italian Fascism's Empire Cinema, Bloomington, Indiana University Press 2015.
Gundle, Stephen, Between Hollywood and Moscow. The Italian Communists and the Challenge of Mass Culture, 1943-91, Duke University Press, Durham, North Carolina, 2000.
Scarpellini, Emanuela, Material Nation: A Consumer's History of Modern Italy, Oxford, Oxford University Press 2011.
International students or Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the lecturer as soon as possible to arrange the exam programme.
Assessment methods and Criteria
- Method: oral exam
- Evaluation criteria: capacity to demonstrate and elaborate knowledge; capacity for critical reflection on the completed work; quality of exposition, competence in the use of specialised lexicon, efficacy, clarity.
- Type of evaluation method: mark in 30s.
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 of exposition, competence in the use of specialised lexicon, efficacy, clarity.
- Type of evaluation method: mark in 30s.
The format of the exam for students with disabilities should be arranged in advance with the professor, as well as the relevant office.
M-STO/01 - MEDIEVAL HISTORY - University credits: 3
M-STO/02 - MODERN HISTORY - University credits: 3
M-STO/04 - CONTEMPORARY HISTORY - University credits: 3
M-STO/02 - MODERN HISTORY - University credits: 3
M-STO/04 - CONTEMPORARY HISTORY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Baldoli Claudia
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)