European Late Prehistory

The course aims to provide a broad framework of knowledge relating to the Bronze Age Societies. Archaeologists have organised Prehistory according to a technological criterion, and therefore exist the Stone Age divided into Paleolithic and Neolithic, the Copper Age, the Bronze Age and the Iron Age. The last two periods are the field of the so called Later Prehistory (II and I millennium BC).
The European Bronze Age is aunique stage for its cultural richness and variety, for the high technological level achieved in metalworking, for the exchanges of raw materials and prestige goods by long-distance relationships. It should be noted that this features took place in a period characterized by a strong acceleration in socio-economic development of the communities, which nevertheless never reached complex organisational form of the state.
In the academic year 2022-2023 the course, after providing a general Bronze Age overview, will deepen the weaponry sphere; the archaeological data will be considered in the perspective of technology, warfare, and by social, ideological and cultural implications as well.
Pratically, the aim is to achieve the capacity to recognize and interpretate the sources, that in addition to the archeological record from inhabited, funerary and cultural sites, include natural remnants as well, usefull to recostruct the palaeo-environment and examine the man - environment relationship.

Knowledge of archeological sources, with particular regard to material culture and productions, artistic expressions, settlement pattern, funerary documentation, economy and exchanges.
Knowledge of literature, seminal sources and interpretations that have most significantly contributed to the understanding of the contexts
Skills in use archeological sources in order to read and interpret the ideological aspects and the social and economic structures. Assessment skills to evaluate open problems and possible divergent interpretations of phenomena.