History of Italian Risorgimento
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course provides the broad outlines of the political, economic, social and cultural history of the Italian states in the 19th century, and the process of building the unified Italian state, from a perspective never far separated from the more general European history. The course also provides the necessary tools for understanding the main ideological aspects of the Risorgimento political movements, and will develop reflection on the interpretations, memory and celebrations of the Risorgimento, as well as through literature, printing, cinematography and music.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course the student will have acquired knowledge of the political-institutional, socio-economic and cultural evolution of the pre-unitary states in the 19th century, and the first decades of the united life of the Kingdom of Italy; they will be able to orient themselves around the main historiographical interpretations of the Risorgimento movement and on some of the most important manifestations of the "public use" of those events in Italian culture and politics of the twentieth century.
They shall also be able to place the most representative events and figures in their chronological and geographical contexts, to use language tools to adequately express, in a clear and effective form, concepts of a political, institutional, economic, and religious nature; they will be able to read critically historiographical works and orient themselves within 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.
They shall also be able to place the most representative events and figures in their chronological and geographical contexts, to use language tools to adequately express, in a clear and effective form, concepts of a political, institutional, economic, and religious nature; they will be able to read critically historiographical works and orient themselves within 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.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
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.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Course title: Italy and Italians in 19th century Europe
Learning unit 1: The Italian States (1814-1860)
Teaching unit 2: United Italy until the end of the 19th century: politics, economy, society
Teaching unit 3: Memory and public discourse on the Risorgimento.
Learning unit 1: The Italian States (1814-1860)
Teaching unit 2: United Italy until the end of the 19th century: politics, economy, society
Teaching unit 3: Memory and public discourse on the Risorgimento.
Prerequisites for admission
There are no specific requirements different from those requested for the degree admission.
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
- Programme for 6 cfu:
Knowledge of the topics taught in lectures (modules 1 and 2)
Knowledge of international history from 1815 to the end of the 19th century (including its economic and cultural aspects) is indispensable for preparing for the examination; the study can be conducted in any suitably in-depth university textbook, but I strongly recommend one of the following: Tommaso Detti, Giovanni Gozzini, Storia contemporanea, vol. 1, L'Ottocento, Pearson-Bruno Mondadori; or Franco Della Peruta, Storia dell'Ottocento: dalla Restaurazione alla "belle epoque", Le Monnier
Knowledge of one of the following books: Marco Soresina, L'età della Restaurazione, 1815-1860. Gli stati italiani dal Congresso di Vienna al crollo, Mimesis (English version: Id., Italy before Italy: institutions, conflicts and political hopes in the Italian States, 1815-1860, Routledge); Marco Soresina, l'Italia unita. Istituzioni, politica, società (1861-1900), Pacini.
- Programme for 9 cfu:
Knowledge of the topics taught in lectures (modules 1, 2 and 3)
Knowledge of international history from 1815 to the end of the 19th century (including its economic and cultural aspects) is indispensable for preparing for the examination; the study can be conducted in any suitably in-depth university textbook, but I strongly recommend one of the following: Tommaso Detti, Giovanni Gozzini, Storia contemporanea, vol. 1, L'Ottocento, Pearson-Bruno Mondadori; or Franco Della Peruta, Storia dell'Ottocento: dalla Restaurazione alla "belle epoque", Le Monnier
Knowledge of one of the following books: Marco Soresina, L'età della Restaurazione, 1815-1860. Gli stati italiani dal Congresso di Vienna al crollo, Mimesis (English version: Id., Italy before Italy: institutions, conflicts and political hopes in the Italian States, 1815-1860, Routledge); Marco Soresina, l'Italia unita. Istituzioni, politica, società (1861-1900), Pacini.
Knowledge of one of the following volumes:
. Silvia Cavicchioli, I cimeli della patria. Politiche della memoria nel lungo Ottocento, Carocci
· Franco Della Peruta, Mazzini e i rivoluzionari italiani. Il "partito d'azione" 1830-1845, Biblion (limited to chapters 1 to 4)
. Olindo De Napoli, Selvaggi criminali. Storia della deportazione penale nell'Italia liberale (1861-1900), Laterza
. Elena Papadia, La forza dei sentimenti. Anarchici e socialisti in Italia (1870-1900), Il Mulino
· Guido Pescosolido, Unità nazionale e sviluppo economico, 1750-1913, Laterza
· Carmine Pinto, La guerra per il Mezzogiorno. Italiani, borbonici e briganti 1860-1870, Laterza
· Adriano Prosperi, Un volgo disperso. Contadini d'Italia nell'Ottocento, Einaudi
· Alfonso Scirocco, Garibaldi: battaglie, amori, ideali di un cittadino del mondo, Laterza
· Marco Soresina, Non potendo esser fiori contentiamoci di essere radici. Una biografia di Cesare Correnti, Biblion
. Marco Soresina, L'età della Restaurazione, 1815-1860. Gli stati italiani dal Congresso di Vienna al crollo, Mimesis (if not already chosen previously)
. Marco Soresina, l'Italia unita. Istituzioni, politica, società (1861-1900), Pacini (if not already chosen previously)
. Sara Trovalusci, L'ultimo titano del Risorgimento. Il mito di Francesco Crispi nell'Italia liberale 1876-1901, Viella
Non-attending students:
- Programme for 6 cfu::
Knowledge of international history from 1815 to the end of the 19th century (including its economic and cultural aspects) is indispensable for preparing for the examination; the study can be conducted in any suitably in-depth university textbook, but I strongly recommend one of the following: Tommaso Detti, Giovanni Gozzini, Storia contemporanea, vol. 1, L'Ottocento, Pearson-Bruno Mondadori; or Franco Della Peruta, Storia dell'Ottocento: dalla Restaurazione alla "belle epoque", Le Monnier
Knowledge of the following two volumes:
· Marco Soresina, L'età della Restaurazione, 1815-1860. Gli stati italiani dal Congresso di Vienna al crollo, Mimesis (English version: Italy before Italy: institutions, conflicts and political hopes in the Italian States, 1815-1860, Routledge); Marco Soresina, l'Italia unita. Istituzioni, politica, società (1861-1900), Pacini
- Programme for 9 cfu:
Knowledge of international history from 1815 to the end of the 19th century (including its economic and cultural aspects) is indispensable for preparing for the examination; the study can be conducted in any suitably in-depth university textbook, but I strongly recommend one of the following: Tommaso Detti, Giovanni Gozzini, Storia contemporanea, vol. 1, L'Ottocento, Pearson-Bruno Mondadori; or Franco Della Peruta, Storia dell'Ottocento: dalla Restaurazione alla "belle epoque", Le Monnier;
Knowledge of the following two volumes:
Marco Soresina, L'età della Restaurazione, 1815-1860. Gli stati italiani dal Congresso di Vienna al crollo, Mimesis (English version: Italy before Italy: institutions, conflicts and political hopes in the Italian States, 1815-1860, Routledge); Marco Soresina, l'Italia unita. Istituzioni, politica, società (1861-1900), Pacini
Knowledge of one of the following volumes:
. Silvia Cavicchioli, I cimeli della patria. Politiche della memoria nel lungo Ottocento, Carocci
· Franco Della Peruta, Mazzini e i rivoluzionari italiani. Il "partito d'azione" 1830-1845, Biblion (limited to chapters 1 to 4)
. Olindo De Napoli, Selvaggi criminali. Storia della deportazione penale nell'Italia liberale (1861-1900), Laterza
. Elena Papadia, La forza dei sentimenti. Anarchici e socialisti in Italia (1870-1900), Il Mulino
· Guido Pescosolido, Unità nazionale e sviluppo economico, 1750-1913, Laterza
· Carmine Pinto, La guerra per il Mezzogiorno. Italiani, borbonici e briganti 1860-1870, Laterza
· Adriano Prosperi, Un volgo disperso. Contadini d'Italia nell'Ottocento, Einaudi
· Alfonso Scirocco, Garibaldi: battaglie, amori, ideali di un cittadino del mondo, Laterza
· Marco Soresina, Non potendo esser fiori contentiamoci di essere radici. Una biografia di Cesare Correnti, Biblion
. Sara Trovalusci, L'ultimo titano del Risorgimento. Il mito di Francesco Crispi nell'Italia liberale 1876-1901, Viella
Knowledge of the topics taught in lectures (modules 1 and 2)
Knowledge of international history from 1815 to the end of the 19th century (including its economic and cultural aspects) is indispensable for preparing for the examination; the study can be conducted in any suitably in-depth university textbook, but I strongly recommend one of the following: Tommaso Detti, Giovanni Gozzini, Storia contemporanea, vol. 1, L'Ottocento, Pearson-Bruno Mondadori; or Franco Della Peruta, Storia dell'Ottocento: dalla Restaurazione alla "belle epoque", Le Monnier
Knowledge of one of the following books: Marco Soresina, L'età della Restaurazione, 1815-1860. Gli stati italiani dal Congresso di Vienna al crollo, Mimesis (English version: Id., Italy before Italy: institutions, conflicts and political hopes in the Italian States, 1815-1860, Routledge); Marco Soresina, l'Italia unita. Istituzioni, politica, società (1861-1900), Pacini.
- Programme for 9 cfu:
Knowledge of the topics taught in lectures (modules 1, 2 and 3)
Knowledge of international history from 1815 to the end of the 19th century (including its economic and cultural aspects) is indispensable for preparing for the examination; the study can be conducted in any suitably in-depth university textbook, but I strongly recommend one of the following: Tommaso Detti, Giovanni Gozzini, Storia contemporanea, vol. 1, L'Ottocento, Pearson-Bruno Mondadori; or Franco Della Peruta, Storia dell'Ottocento: dalla Restaurazione alla "belle epoque", Le Monnier
Knowledge of one of the following books: Marco Soresina, L'età della Restaurazione, 1815-1860. Gli stati italiani dal Congresso di Vienna al crollo, Mimesis (English version: Id., Italy before Italy: institutions, conflicts and political hopes in the Italian States, 1815-1860, Routledge); Marco Soresina, l'Italia unita. Istituzioni, politica, società (1861-1900), Pacini.
Knowledge of one of the following volumes:
. Silvia Cavicchioli, I cimeli della patria. Politiche della memoria nel lungo Ottocento, Carocci
· Franco Della Peruta, Mazzini e i rivoluzionari italiani. Il "partito d'azione" 1830-1845, Biblion (limited to chapters 1 to 4)
. Olindo De Napoli, Selvaggi criminali. Storia della deportazione penale nell'Italia liberale (1861-1900), Laterza
. Elena Papadia, La forza dei sentimenti. Anarchici e socialisti in Italia (1870-1900), Il Mulino
· Guido Pescosolido, Unità nazionale e sviluppo economico, 1750-1913, Laterza
· Carmine Pinto, La guerra per il Mezzogiorno. Italiani, borbonici e briganti 1860-1870, Laterza
· Adriano Prosperi, Un volgo disperso. Contadini d'Italia nell'Ottocento, Einaudi
· Alfonso Scirocco, Garibaldi: battaglie, amori, ideali di un cittadino del mondo, Laterza
· Marco Soresina, Non potendo esser fiori contentiamoci di essere radici. Una biografia di Cesare Correnti, Biblion
. Marco Soresina, L'età della Restaurazione, 1815-1860. Gli stati italiani dal Congresso di Vienna al crollo, Mimesis (if not already chosen previously)
. Marco Soresina, l'Italia unita. Istituzioni, politica, società (1861-1900), Pacini (if not already chosen previously)
. Sara Trovalusci, L'ultimo titano del Risorgimento. Il mito di Francesco Crispi nell'Italia liberale 1876-1901, Viella
Non-attending students:
- Programme for 6 cfu::
Knowledge of international history from 1815 to the end of the 19th century (including its economic and cultural aspects) is indispensable for preparing for the examination; the study can be conducted in any suitably in-depth university textbook, but I strongly recommend one of the following: Tommaso Detti, Giovanni Gozzini, Storia contemporanea, vol. 1, L'Ottocento, Pearson-Bruno Mondadori; or Franco Della Peruta, Storia dell'Ottocento: dalla Restaurazione alla "belle epoque", Le Monnier
Knowledge of the following two volumes:
· Marco Soresina, L'età della Restaurazione, 1815-1860. Gli stati italiani dal Congresso di Vienna al crollo, Mimesis (English version: Italy before Italy: institutions, conflicts and political hopes in the Italian States, 1815-1860, Routledge); Marco Soresina, l'Italia unita. Istituzioni, politica, società (1861-1900), Pacini
- Programme for 9 cfu:
Knowledge of international history from 1815 to the end of the 19th century (including its economic and cultural aspects) is indispensable for preparing for the examination; the study can be conducted in any suitably in-depth university textbook, but I strongly recommend one of the following: Tommaso Detti, Giovanni Gozzini, Storia contemporanea, vol. 1, L'Ottocento, Pearson-Bruno Mondadori; or Franco Della Peruta, Storia dell'Ottocento: dalla Restaurazione alla "belle epoque", Le Monnier;
Knowledge of the following two volumes:
Marco Soresina, L'età della Restaurazione, 1815-1860. Gli stati italiani dal Congresso di Vienna al crollo, Mimesis (English version: Italy before Italy: institutions, conflicts and political hopes in the Italian States, 1815-1860, Routledge); Marco Soresina, l'Italia unita. Istituzioni, politica, società (1861-1900), Pacini
Knowledge of one of the following volumes:
. Silvia Cavicchioli, I cimeli della patria. Politiche della memoria nel lungo Ottocento, Carocci
· Franco Della Peruta, Mazzini e i rivoluzionari italiani. Il "partito d'azione" 1830-1845, Biblion (limited to chapters 1 to 4)
. Olindo De Napoli, Selvaggi criminali. Storia della deportazione penale nell'Italia liberale (1861-1900), Laterza
. Elena Papadia, La forza dei sentimenti. Anarchici e socialisti in Italia (1870-1900), Il Mulino
· Guido Pescosolido, Unità nazionale e sviluppo economico, 1750-1913, Laterza
· Carmine Pinto, La guerra per il Mezzogiorno. Italiani, borbonici e briganti 1860-1870, Laterza
· Adriano Prosperi, Un volgo disperso. Contadini d'Italia nell'Ottocento, Einaudi
· Alfonso Scirocco, Garibaldi: battaglie, amori, ideali di un cittadino del mondo, Laterza
· Marco Soresina, Non potendo esser fiori contentiamoci di essere radici. Una biografia di Cesare Correnti, Biblion
. Sara Trovalusci, L'ultimo titano del Risorgimento. Il mito di Francesco Crispi nell'Italia liberale 1876-1901, Viella
Assessment methods and Criteria
Method: oral exam, written exam, experiment in laboratory etc;
- 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, communicative effectiveness and clarity of exposition
- Type of evaluation method: mark in 30s
- Possible materials utilised to sustain the exam and allowed during the exam itself: program books and course notes
The format of the exam for students with disabilities should be arranged in advance with the professor, as well as the relevant office.
- 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, communicative effectiveness and clarity of exposition
- Type of evaluation method: mark in 30s
- Possible materials utilised to sustain the exam and allowed during the exam itself: program books and course notes
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/04 - CONTEMPORARY HISTORY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
M-STO/04 - CONTEMPORARY HISTORY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
M-STO/04 - CONTEMPORARY HISTORY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)