Modern History
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims to offer both an introduction to the history of Europe within the context of transatlantic and global interactions from the end of the 15th to the first decades of the 19th Century (Part A) and an in-depth monographic analysis on specific phenomena in a global perspective, with a particular attention to the relations between past and present, facts, interpretations and cultural memory (Part B).
Expected learning outcomes
Thanks to the course, the interaction with the teacher, the individual examination of the documents analysed in class and/or individual learning (see. NF bibliography), the students will be able to:
- Acquire the knowledge of European history from the end of the 15th century to the first decades of the 19th century, with a specific focus on its prominent features.
- Understand the underlying demographic, social, economic, institutional, political, international, religious, and cultural dynamics of European History in the above-mentioned centuries from a transatlantic and global perspective.
- Learn to analyse critically sources and documents relevant to European history with a specific attention to past-present dynamics.
- Learn to explain the knowledge acquired both in an oral and/or written form.
- Learn to connect the knowledge acquired regarding European History phenomena, sources, and interpretations with other subjects of the curriculum.
- Acquire the knowledge of European history from the end of the 15th century to the first decades of the 19th century, with a specific focus on its prominent features.
- Understand the underlying demographic, social, economic, institutional, political, international, religious, and cultural dynamics of European History in the above-mentioned centuries from a transatlantic and global perspective.
- Learn to analyse critically sources and documents relevant to European history with a specific attention to past-present dynamics.
- Learn to explain the knowledge acquired both in an oral and/or written form.
- Learn to connect the knowledge acquired regarding European History phenomena, sources, and interpretations with other subjects of the curriculum.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Course Title: Global Interactions of Modern Europe. History Through Cinema
Part One: The Global History of Modern Europe (16th-19th Centuries)
Part Two: History on the Screen
The course aims to guide students in discovering the historical depth of the contemporary globalized world. It consists of two parts. The first introduces the key themes of the global history of modern Europe (16th-19th centuries), adopting an approach that considers the relationship between the past and the present. The second part enhances knowledge of some of the key moments in the global history of modern Europe by examining selected film productions in context.
The syllabus is valid until February 2027.
Part One: The Global History of Modern Europe (16th-19th Centuries)
Part Two: History on the Screen
The course aims to guide students in discovering the historical depth of the contemporary globalized world. It consists of two parts. The first introduces the key themes of the global history of modern Europe (16th-19th centuries), adopting an approach that considers the relationship between the past and the present. The second part enhances knowledge of some of the key moments in the global history of modern Europe by examining selected film productions in context.
The syllabus is valid until February 2027.
Prerequisites for admission
There are no specific requirements different from those requested for the degree admission.
Teaching methods
Attendance is strongly recommended but not compulsory. Lectures aim at fostering the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and the language of the discipline. The discussion in the classroom with the teacher is an integral part of the teaching method. It aims to train critical thinking and the ability to apply the skills and knowledge acquired.
Alongside the lectures, group work and or individual reports may be established.
Course language: Italian
Alongside the lectures, group work and or individual reports may be established.
Course language: Italian
Teaching Resources
6 CFU
Attending students
Knowledge of the topics discussed in class.
Part 1:
R. Ago - V. Vidotto, Storia moderna, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2021
C. H. Parker, Le relazioni globali nell'età moderna, 1400-1800, Il Mulino, Bologna 2012
Students are strongly encouraged to consult a historical atlas.
Part 2:
Knowledge of the films examined in class and the teaching materials available on MyAriel, as well as the interview: Serge Gruzinski, Storia, memoria, immaginari nel mondo globalizzato, a cura di Maria Matilde Benzoni, https://video.unimi.it/media/478/, and full reading of:
6CFU
Non-attending students
Knowledge of the here below-mentioned volumes and materials:
Part 1:
R. Ago - V. Vidotto, Storia moderna, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2021, the interview: Serge Gruzinski, Storia, memoria, immaginari nel mondo globalizzato, by Maria Matilde Benzoni, https://video.unimi.it/media/478/
Students are strongly encouraged to consult a historical atlas.
Part 2:
C. H. Parker, Le relazioni globali nell'età moderna, 1400-1800, Il Mulino, Bologna 2012, and one of the following texts/or one among the groups of texts relating to one and only one of the following linguistic-cultural or thematic areas:
French
P. Burke, Il Re Sole, Il Saggiatore, Milano 2017
P. R. Campbell, Luigi XIV e la Francia del suo tempo, Il Mulino, Bologna 1997
V. Criscuolo, Napoleone, Bologna, Il Mulino, Bologna 2009
Spanish, Portuguese
M. M. Benzoni, Americhe e modernità. Un itinerario fra storia e storiografia dal 1492 ad oggi, FrancoAngeli, Milano 2012
J. H. Elliott, La Spagna imperiale. 1469-1716, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2006
B. Fausto, Storia del Brasile, Fabula, Cagliari 2010
G. Parker, Un solo re, un solo impero. Filippo II di Spagna, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2005
H. Rawlings, L'Inquisizione spagnola, Il Mulino, Bologna 2008
D. Salomoni, Magellano. Il primo viaggio intorno al mondo, Laterza, Bari 2022
T. Todorov, La conquista dell'America. Il problema dell'altro, Einaudi, Torino 2005
English
M. D. Palmer, Enrico VIII, Il Mulino, Bologna 2003 e G. Abbattista, La rivoluzione americana, Laterza, Bari-Roma 20196
M. D. Palmer, Enrico VIII, Il Mulino, Bologna 2003 and T. Bonazzi, La rivoluzione americana, Il Mulino, Bologna 2018
P. Wende, L'impero britannico. Storia di una potenza mondiale, Einaudi, Torino 2009
D. Salomoni, Francis Drake. Il corsaro che sfidò un impero, Laterza, Bari 2022
Polish
J. Lukowski - H. Zawadzki, Polonia. il paese che rinasce, Beit, Trieste 2009
and a selection of chapters in R. I. Frost, The Oxford History of Poland. The Making of the Polish-Lithuanian Union, 1385-1569, OUP, Oxford 2018
Russian
P. Buschkovitch, Breve storia della Russia: dalle origini a Putin, Einaudi, Torino 2013
L. Hughes, Pietro il Grande, Einaudi, Torino 2012
W. Marshall, Pietro il Grande e la Russia del suo tempo, il Mulino, Bologna, 1999
M. Raeff, La Russia degli zar, Laterza, Roma 2023
Scandinavian languages
N. Kent, A Concise History of Sweden, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2008
Selected chapters related to the modern age, to be defined with the teacher, in E. I. Kouri - J. E. Olesen (eds.), The Cambridge History of Scandinavia, 2, 1520-1870, Cambridge University Press, 2016
German
R. H. Bainton, La Riforma protestante, Einaudi, Torino 2000, pp. 280
R. H. Bainton, Lutero, Einaudi, Torino 2013
T. Kaufmann, Lutero, Il Mulino, Bologna 2007 and M. Rady, Carlo V e il suo tempo, Il Mulino, Bologna 1997
Other topics
A. Prosperi, Missionari. Dalle Indie remote alle Indie interne, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2024
E. Bonora, La Controriforma, Laterza, Bari-Roma 2020 e S. Pavone, I Gesuiti dalle origini alla soppressione (1540-1773), Laterza, Roma-Bari, 2021
A. Brilli, Dove finiscono le mappe, Il Mulino, Bologna 2017
C. O' Grada, Storia delle carestie, Il Mulino, Bologna 2011
S. Faroqhi, L'impero ottomano, Il Mulino, Bologna 2014 e K. Kreiser, Storia di Istanbul, Il Mulino, Bologna 2010
M. Füssel, La guerra dei sette anni, Il Mulino, Bologna 2013 e V. Criscuolo, Il congresso di Vienna, Il Mulino, Bologna 2015
A. Michelet, Il bianco e il negro. Indagine storica sull'ordine razzista, Einaudi, Torino 2021
W. Naphy - A. Spicer, La peste in Europa, Il Mulino, Bologna 2021
M. Pellegrini, Le guerre d'Italia, il Mulino, Bologna 2017 e Schmidt G., La guerra dei Trent'anni, Il Mulino, Bologna 2015
Florent Quellier, La civiltà del cibo. Storia culturale dell'alimentazione in Età moderna, Carocci, Roma 2025(1)
L. Valensi, Stranieri familiari: Musulmani in Europa (XVI-XVIII secolo), Einaudi, Torino 2013
A. Vanoli, L'ignoto davanti a noi, Il Mulino, Bologna 2021
Incoming international or Erasmus students are required to contact the lecturer in advance to agree on the examination programme. If necessary, this can be done in English.
Attending students
Knowledge of the topics discussed in class.
Part 1:
R. Ago - V. Vidotto, Storia moderna, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2021
C. H. Parker, Le relazioni globali nell'età moderna, 1400-1800, Il Mulino, Bologna 2012
Students are strongly encouraged to consult a historical atlas.
Part 2:
Knowledge of the films examined in class and the teaching materials available on MyAriel, as well as the interview: Serge Gruzinski, Storia, memoria, immaginari nel mondo globalizzato, a cura di Maria Matilde Benzoni, https://video.unimi.it/media/478/, and full reading of:
6CFU
Non-attending students
Knowledge of the here below-mentioned volumes and materials:
Part 1:
R. Ago - V. Vidotto, Storia moderna, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2021, the interview: Serge Gruzinski, Storia, memoria, immaginari nel mondo globalizzato, by Maria Matilde Benzoni, https://video.unimi.it/media/478/
Students are strongly encouraged to consult a historical atlas.
Part 2:
C. H. Parker, Le relazioni globali nell'età moderna, 1400-1800, Il Mulino, Bologna 2012, and one of the following texts/or one among the groups of texts relating to one and only one of the following linguistic-cultural or thematic areas:
French
P. Burke, Il Re Sole, Il Saggiatore, Milano 2017
P. R. Campbell, Luigi XIV e la Francia del suo tempo, Il Mulino, Bologna 1997
V. Criscuolo, Napoleone, Bologna, Il Mulino, Bologna 2009
Spanish, Portuguese
M. M. Benzoni, Americhe e modernità. Un itinerario fra storia e storiografia dal 1492 ad oggi, FrancoAngeli, Milano 2012
J. H. Elliott, La Spagna imperiale. 1469-1716, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2006
B. Fausto, Storia del Brasile, Fabula, Cagliari 2010
G. Parker, Un solo re, un solo impero. Filippo II di Spagna, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2005
H. Rawlings, L'Inquisizione spagnola, Il Mulino, Bologna 2008
D. Salomoni, Magellano. Il primo viaggio intorno al mondo, Laterza, Bari 2022
T. Todorov, La conquista dell'America. Il problema dell'altro, Einaudi, Torino 2005
English
M. D. Palmer, Enrico VIII, Il Mulino, Bologna 2003 e G. Abbattista, La rivoluzione americana, Laterza, Bari-Roma 20196
M. D. Palmer, Enrico VIII, Il Mulino, Bologna 2003 and T. Bonazzi, La rivoluzione americana, Il Mulino, Bologna 2018
P. Wende, L'impero britannico. Storia di una potenza mondiale, Einaudi, Torino 2009
D. Salomoni, Francis Drake. Il corsaro che sfidò un impero, Laterza, Bari 2022
Polish
J. Lukowski - H. Zawadzki, Polonia. il paese che rinasce, Beit, Trieste 2009
and a selection of chapters in R. I. Frost, The Oxford History of Poland. The Making of the Polish-Lithuanian Union, 1385-1569, OUP, Oxford 2018
Russian
P. Buschkovitch, Breve storia della Russia: dalle origini a Putin, Einaudi, Torino 2013
L. Hughes, Pietro il Grande, Einaudi, Torino 2012
W. Marshall, Pietro il Grande e la Russia del suo tempo, il Mulino, Bologna, 1999
M. Raeff, La Russia degli zar, Laterza, Roma 2023
Scandinavian languages
N. Kent, A Concise History of Sweden, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2008
Selected chapters related to the modern age, to be defined with the teacher, in E. I. Kouri - J. E. Olesen (eds.), The Cambridge History of Scandinavia, 2, 1520-1870, Cambridge University Press, 2016
German
R. H. Bainton, La Riforma protestante, Einaudi, Torino 2000, pp. 280
R. H. Bainton, Lutero, Einaudi, Torino 2013
T. Kaufmann, Lutero, Il Mulino, Bologna 2007 and M. Rady, Carlo V e il suo tempo, Il Mulino, Bologna 1997
Other topics
A. Prosperi, Missionari. Dalle Indie remote alle Indie interne, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2024
E. Bonora, La Controriforma, Laterza, Bari-Roma 2020 e S. Pavone, I Gesuiti dalle origini alla soppressione (1540-1773), Laterza, Roma-Bari, 2021
A. Brilli, Dove finiscono le mappe, Il Mulino, Bologna 2017
C. O' Grada, Storia delle carestie, Il Mulino, Bologna 2011
S. Faroqhi, L'impero ottomano, Il Mulino, Bologna 2014 e K. Kreiser, Storia di Istanbul, Il Mulino, Bologna 2010
M. Füssel, La guerra dei sette anni, Il Mulino, Bologna 2013 e V. Criscuolo, Il congresso di Vienna, Il Mulino, Bologna 2015
A. Michelet, Il bianco e il negro. Indagine storica sull'ordine razzista, Einaudi, Torino 2021
W. Naphy - A. Spicer, La peste in Europa, Il Mulino, Bologna 2021
M. Pellegrini, Le guerre d'Italia, il Mulino, Bologna 2017 e Schmidt G., La guerra dei Trent'anni, Il Mulino, Bologna 2015
Florent Quellier, La civiltà del cibo. Storia culturale dell'alimentazione in Età moderna, Carocci, Roma 2025(1)
L. Valensi, Stranieri familiari: Musulmani in Europa (XVI-XVIII secolo), Einaudi, Torino 2013
A. Vanoli, L'ignoto davanti a noi, Il Mulino, Bologna 2021
Incoming international or Erasmus students are required to contact the lecturer in advance to agree on the examination programme. If necessary, this can be done in English.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Mode of examination: oral test.
Type of test: oral question (Italian).
Assessment parameters: ability to discursively organize the acquired knowledge and to reason critically about the study undertaken, quality of the exposition (content, effectiveness, and linearity), and competence in using the specialist vocabulary.
The assessment used: grade in thirtieths.
Examination arrangements for students with disabilities and DSA students: students have to define the program with the teacher in agreement with the relevant office.
Type of test: oral question (Italian).
Assessment parameters: ability to discursively organize the acquired knowledge and to reason critically about the study undertaken, quality of the exposition (content, effectiveness, and linearity), and competence in using the specialist vocabulary.
The assessment used: grade in thirtieths.
Examination arrangements for students with disabilities and DSA students: students have to define the program with the teacher in agreement with the relevant office.
M-STO/02 - MODERN HISTORY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Benzoni Maria Matilde Luisa
Professor(s)
Reception:
To make an appointment, please contact [email protected]. For information: https://ariel.unimi.it/
Room 5018, Unimi Campus, Piazza Montanelli 1 - 2099 Sesto San Giovanni (Mi)