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Contemporary History

A.Y. 2025/2026
6
Max ECTS
40
Overall hours
SSD
M-STO/04
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
The course provides students with an overview and the necessary tools for the understanding of the main (political, economic, social and religious) aspects of contemporary civilisation from the beginning of the 19th to the second half of the 20th century.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course students will have acquired the knowledge of the political-institutional, socio-economic and cultural development of contemporary history, from the impact of the French revolution to the second half of the 20th century. Students will also be able to contextualise the most representative characters and events both chronologically and geographically. They will be able to use linguistic tools (correct language and specific lexicon) in order to express, in a clear and effective way, political, institutional, economic and religious concepts; they will learn how to read critically historiographical works and to approach the research and analysis of the historical sources. These skills will be acquired through a direct and continuous dialogue with the teacher in the classroom. Non attending students will have the opportunity to exploit the didactic tools provided by the teacher on Ariel, to explore the main themes covered by the course thanks to specific readings agreed with the teacher, and of course to discuss any issues with the teacher both via email and during office hours.

Lesson period: Second semester

Lessons timetable

Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi

Exams calendar

Single course

This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.

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Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Responsible
Baldoli Claudia
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Part 1 (20 hours, 3 cfu): The "long 19th Century"
Part 2 (20 hours, 3 cfu): Italy and Europe in the 20th Century.
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge of the historical period.
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.
Teaching Resources
The course provides an online teaching platform called Ariel, where it is possible to find lecture slides and any other material posted by the lecturer.

READING LIST

Parts 1 and 2
EXAM PROGRAMME FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS

- Salvatore Lupo, Angelo Ventrone, L'Età contemporanea, Firenze, Le Monnier università-Mondadori education 2018,
- lecture notes,
- ONE text of choice from the following bibliography:

Francesco Bartolini, Bruno Bonomo, Alessio Gagliardi, L'Europa del Novecento. Una storia, Carocci, 2020
Mark Mazower, Le ombre dell'Europa. Democrazie e totalitarismi nel XX secolo, Garzanti, 2005
Eric J. Hobsbawm, Il secolo breve, Rizzoli, 1995
Alberto Mario Banti, La nazione del Risorgimento. Parentela, santità e onore alle origini dell'Italia unita, Einaudi, 2006
Marco Soresina, L'Italia unita. Istituzioni, politica, società (1861-1900), Pacini, 2024
Daniela Saresella, Cattolici a sinistra. Dal modernismo ai giorni nostri, Laterza 2011
Antonio Gibelli, La guerra grande, Laterza 2016.
Guido Crainz, Il paese mancato. Dal miracolo economico agli anni ottanta, Roma, Donzelli 2003.
Silvia Salvatici (a cura di), Storia delle donne nell'Italia contemporanea, Roma, Carocci, 2022
Giulia Albanese (a cura di), Il fascismo italiano. Storia e interpretazioni, Roma, Carocci, 2021
Santo Peli e Filippo Focardi, Resistenza. La guerra partigiana in Italia (1943-1945)
Filippo Focardi, Nel cantiere della memoria. Fascismo, Resistenza, Shoah, Foibe, Viella, 2020

Parts 1 and 2
EXAM PROGRAMME FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS

- Salvatore Lupo, Angelo Ventrone, L'Età contemporanea, Firenze, Le Monnier università-Mondadori education 2018,
- ONE text of choice among the following:
Francesco Bartolini, Bruno Bonomo, Alessio Gagliardi, L'Europa del Novecento. Una storia, Carocci, 2020
Mark Mazower, Le ombre dell'Europa. Democrazie e totalitarismi nel XX secolo, Garzanti, 2005
Eric J. Hobsbawm, Il secolo breve, Rizzoli, 1995
- and ONE text of choice among the following:
Alberto Mario Banti, La nazione del Risorgimento. Parentela, santità e onore alle origini dell'Italia unita, Einaudi, 2006
Marco Soresina, L'Italia unita. Istituzioni, politica, società (1861-1900), Pacini, 2024
Daniela Saresella, Cattolici a sinistra. Dal modernismo ai giorni nostri, Laterza 2011
Antonio Gibelli, La guerra grande, Laterza 2016.
Guido Crainz, Il paese mancato. Dal miracolo economico agli anni ottanta, Roma, Donzelli 2003.
Silvia Salvatici (a cura di), Storia delle donne nell'Italia contemporanea, Roma, Carocci, 2022
Giulia Albanese (a cura di), Il fascismo italiano. Storia e interpretazioni, Roma, Carocci, 2021
Santo Peli e Filippo Focardi, Resistenza. La guerra partigiana in Italia (1943-1945)
Filippo Focardi, Nel cantiere della memoria. Fascismo, Resistenza, Shoah, Foibe, Viella, 2020
Assessment methods and Criteria
One-hour written exam, consisting in three open questions, with limited word number, that will ascertain the knowledge of the course content. Criteria of evaluations are the 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 and clarity.
M-STO/04 - CONTEMPORARY HISTORY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor: Baldoli Claudia
Professor(s)