Geographic and Historical Development of the Mountain in the Long Run

To provide students with knowledge of the dynamics of mountainous economy in Europe over the long run from the emergence of the Middle Ages communities up to the current trend, focusing on the historical and geographic contextualization of the mutual conditioning of man and mountain environment.

At the end of the course, students are expected to be able: - to have a sound dominance of natural and environmental elements of mountain geography; - to have a good command of concepts and interpretations concerning the main models of mountain economies in the long run (with particular attention to the exploitation of resources, innovations, formal or informal rules); - to single out and evaluate the critical hairpin bends in the paths of evolution of a mountain economic system; - to understand and evaluate, through a comparative approach, the role of institutions in conditioning and determining, over the long run, the main characteristics and types of mountain economic systems; - to reflect on the role of national and international contexts in providing opportunities and/or placing constraints on growth and development of such mountain economic systems; - to carry on a critical analysis of economic/entrepreneurial choices and decision-making processes in relation to inertia and traditions, technological factors (or limits), and short or long term crises, in mountain contexts.