History of the Age of Enlightenment and Revolutions

The course is aimed at students of the three-year degree. The lectures are held in a seminarian form, through the analysis and discussion in the classroom of documents and texts selected and proposed by the instructor, and aim to provide an adequate awareness of the methods and purposes of historical research, the ability to critically analyze sources, and to provide a full understanding of the premises and results of historical debate.

By the end of the course, the student will have acquired the knowledge of the political-institutional and cultural development of European, American, and Italian history of the early-modern period, from the 18th to the 19th century. They shall also be able to place the most representative events and figures in their chronological contexts. The student will be able to use language tools to express, in a clear and effective form, concepts of a political, institutional, economic nature; they will be able to read critically historiographical works. These skills will be acquired through a direct and continuous meeting with the instructor in the classroom. Participation in meetings and seminars 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.