Italian Medieval History

A.Y. 2023/2024
9
Max ECTS
60
Overall hours
SSD
M-STO/01
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
The course aims to explain, along general lines, the history of Italy from the fifth to the fifteenth centuries and provide the tools necessary to understand its main chronological and institutional contexts, presenting their political, economic, social and religious aspects and discussing the roles that scholarship has assigned to the different "medieval Italies" in the construction of Italian history.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course the student will have acquired critical the knowledge and skills to understand the main thematic and chronological connections regarding the history of the Italian Middle Ages. They will also be able to place the most representative events and figures in their chronological and geographical contexts. The student will be able to use linguistic tools (language properties, correct and specific lexicon) appropriately to express, in a clear and effective manner, concepts of a political, institutional, economic, 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. Participation in meetings and seminars organized within the Department of Historical Studies will also be of great importance.
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.
Single course

This course can be attended as a single course.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Title of the course: Medieval "Italies"
Module 1: Post-Roman Italy: the many "Italies" of the early middle ages
Module 2: The kingdom of Italy: from the Carolingian conquest to the Investiture Controversy
Module 3: Local powers in Italy between cities and countryside (10th-13th cc.)
Prerequisites for admission
Students can take the exam only after passing the Medieval History exam.
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 and multimedia material provided on Ariel.
Teaching Resources
Attending students:

Programme for 6 cfu:
· Knowledge of the topics taught in lectures (modules 1 and 2)

· Knowledge of one of the following volumes:
- P. Geary, Il mito delle nazioni, Le origini medievali dell'Europa, Roma 2009 e ss.
- W. Pohl, Le origini etniche dell'Europa. Barbari e Romani tra antichità e medioevo, Roma 2000 e ss. (Introduzione e capitoli 1, 4-8)
- F. Borri, Alboino. Frammenti di un racconto (secoli VI-XI), Roma 2016
- G. Zornetta, Italia meridionale longobarda. Competizione, conflitto e potere politico
a Benevento (secoli VIII-IX), Roma 2020
- P. Delogu, Roma all'inizio del Medioevo. Storie, luoghi, persone (secoli VI-IX), Roma 2022 e ss.
- G. Albertoni, Vassalli, feudi, feudalesimo, Roma 2015 e ss.
- I. Santos Salazar, Governare la Lombardia carolingia (774-924), Roma 2021
- Arduino, fra storia e mito, a c. di G. Sergi, Bologna 2018

Programme for 9 cfu:
· Knowledge of the topics taught in lectures (modules 1, 2 and 3)

· Knowledge of one of the following volumes:
- P. Geary, Il mito delle nazioni, Le origini medievali dell'Europa, Roma 2009 e ss.
- W. Pohl, Le origini etniche dell'Europa. Barbari e Romani tra antichità e medioevo, Roma 2000 e ss. (Introduzione e capitoli 1, 4-8)
- F. Borri, Alboino. Frammenti di un racconto (secoli VI-XI), Roma 2016
- G. Zornetta, Italia meridionale longobarda. Competizione, conflitto e potere politico a Benevento (secoli VIII-IX), Roma 2020
- P. Delogu, Roma all'inizio del Medioevo. Storie, luoghi, persone (secoli VI-IX), Roma 2022 e ss.
- G. Albertoni, Vassalli, feudi, feudalesimo, Roma 2015 e ss.
- I. Santos Salazar, Governare la Lombardia carolingia (774-924), Roma 2021
- Arduino, fra storia e mito, a c. di G. Sergi, Bologna 2018

· Knowledge of one of the following volumes:
- Il comune medievale. Istituzioni e conflitti politici (secoli XII-XIV), a cura di L. Tanzini, Bologna 2022
- C. Wickham, Sonnambuli verso un nuovo mondo. L'affermazione dei comuni italiani nel XII secolo, Roma 2017
- J.-C. Maire Vigueur, Cavalieri e cittadini. Guerra conflitti e società nell'Italia comunale, Bologna 2004
- F. Delle Donne, La porta del sapere. Cultura alla corte di Federico II di Svevia, Roma 2019
- G. M. Cantarella, Ruggero II, Roma 2020
- P. Grillo, Manfredi di Svevia, Roma 2022


Non-attending students:

Programme for 6 cfu:
· Knowledge of the following volumes (2):
- P. Geary, Il mito delle nazioni, Le origini medievali dell'Europa, Roma 2009 e ss.
- S. Gasparri, Italia longobarda. Il regno, i Franchi, il papato, Roma-Bari 2012 e ss.

· Knowledge of one of the following volumes:
- W. Pohl, Le origini etniche dell'Europa. Barbari e Romani tra antichità e medioevo, Roma 2000 e ss. (Introduzione e capitoli 1, 4-8)
- F. Borri, Alboino. Frammenti di un racconto (secoli VI-XI), Roma 2016
- G. Zornetta, Italia meridionale longobarda. Competizione, conflitto e potere politico a Benevento (secoli VIII-IX), Roma 2020
- P. Delogu, Roma all'inizio del Medioevo. Storie, luoghi, persone (secoli VI-IX), Roma 2022 e ss.
- G. Albertoni, Vassalli, feudi, feudalesimo, Roma 2015 e ss.
- I. Santos Salazar, Governare la Lombardia carolingia (774-924), Roma 2021
- Arduino, fra storia e mito, a c. di G. Sergi, Bologna 2018

Programme for 9 cfu:
· Knowledge of the following volumes (3):
- P. Geary, Il mito delle nazioni, Le origini medievali dell'Europa, Roma 2009 e ss.
- S. Gasparri, Italia longobarda. Il regno, i Franchi, il papato, Roma-Bari 2012 e ss.
- L. Provero, L'Italia dei poteri locali, Roma 1998 e ss.

· Knowledge of one of the following volumes:
- W. Pohl, Le origini etniche dell'Europa. Barbari e Romani tra antichità e medioevo, Roma 2000 e ss. (Introduzione e capitoli 1, 4-8)
- F. Borri, Alboino. Frammenti di un racconto (secoli VI-XI), Roma 2016
- G. Zornetta, Italia meridionale longobarda. Competizione, conflitto e potere politico a Benevento (secoli VIII-IX), Roma 2020
- P. Delogu, Roma all'inizio del Medioevo. Storie, luoghi, persone (secoli VI-IX), Roma 2022 e ss.
- G. Albertoni, Vassalli, feudi, feudalesimo, Roma 2015 e ss.
- I. Santos Salazar, Governare la Lombardia carolingia (774-924), Roma 2021
- Arduino, fra storia e mito, a c. di G. Sergi, Bologna 2018
- Il comune medievale. Istituzioni e conflitti politici (secoli XII-XIV), a c. di L. Tanzini, Bologna 2022
- Ch. Wickham, Sonnambuli verso un nuovo mondo. L'affermazione dei comuni italiani nel XII secolo, Roma 2017
- J.-C. Maire Vigueur, Cavalieri e cittadini. Guerra conflitti e società nell'Italia comunale, Bologna 2004
- A. Zorzi, Le signorie cittadine in Italia (secoli XIII-XV), Milano 2010.
- G. M. Cantarella, Ruggero II, Roma 2020.
- F. Delle Donne, La porta del sapere. Cultura alla corte di Federico II di Svevia, Roma 2019
- P. Grillo, Manfredi di Svevia, Roma 2022

International and Erasmus students are invited to promptly get in touch with the professor in order to arrange a reading plan (available in English) for exam preparation.
Assessment methods and Criteria
- Method: oral exam
- Type of examination: oral interrogation
- 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.
Unita' didattica A
M-STO/01 - MEDIEVAL HISTORY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor: Vignodelli Giacomo
Unita' didattica B
M-STO/01 - MEDIEVAL HISTORY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor: Vignodelli Giacomo
Unita' didattica C
M-STO/01 - MEDIEVAL HISTORY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor: Moglia Maddalena
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)