Geographic and Historical Development of the Mountain in the Long Run
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
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.
Expected learning outcomes
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.
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
Module 1 The Geography - 3 CFU - 24h - SSD M-GGR/01
The module aims to provide a basic understanding of the transitions and transformations taking place in mountain regions, based on the main challenges the Alpine region is facing in adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate change. The module deals in particular with:
1. Introduction to key concepts
1. Mountains in the global and European context
2. CC in mountainous (alpine) areas
3. The frameworks of transition paths, adaptation-resilience, and transformative changes
2. How to observe transitions in mountains : approaches and methodology
1. The "undeveloped" mountain, of mountain huts: « Refuges Sentinelles » program
2. The mountain of pastures: « Alpages Sentinelles » program
3. The "developed" mountain of resorts: « TranStat- project (territorial assessment, participatory territorial processes (SNA), future scenarios
4. Scales and data for understanding the territory: portals and geodatabases
5. Glimmers of best practices and policy strategies
The lectures guide students towards an understanding of socio-ecosystemic dynamics across different spatial scales. The aim of the module is therefore to introduce students to the study of these interrelationships, drawing on tools and concepts from the geographical and environmental sciences.
Module 2 The Economic History - 3 CFU - 32h- SSD SECS-P/12
This part of the course intends to provide students with knowledge about the long-run socio-economic dynamics of mountain regions with a broad geographic scale and a focus on the Alpine range. Following recent scholarship, the concept of "vertical dimension" will be used as the key to understand the history of the mountain economies and unveil the interplay double relation, from nature to man and man to nature; on the one side, analysing where the natural endowment affected or constrained human actions; on the other, considering how human activity impacted on the natural framework.
The goal is to provide students with awareness of the complexity of the economic processes in mountain areas putting together environmental, institutional and social factors. Particular attention is posed to their interplay, in order to determine meaningful changes and path-dependences in the evolution of specific mountain economic models.
The tone of the course is essentially interpretative and is aimed at providing students with the geographical and historical skills needed to comprehend the genealogy of some of the most pressing economic and environmental issues that mountain areas must currently face along the path to sustainable development.
TOPICS
- Module 1 - The Geography:
Mountains: Global Importance and Challenges of Mountain Regions
Vulnerability and Major Threats
Direct and indirect CC impacts on mountains economies and environment(s): i.e. the cryosphere
Mountains issues in the international communities
The main frameworks of transition paths, adaptation-resilience, and transformative changes
Sustainability Transition Studies and Transdisciplinary for mountains
A community-based program for the observation of socio-ecosystemic changes in high mountains (Refuges Sentinelles program)
Analyze CC impacts in alpine pastures (Alpages Sentinelles program)
Transitions to Sustainable Ski Tourism in the Alps of Tomorrow : How to trigger change? (TranStat EU project)
Scales and data for understanding the territory: portals and geodatabases
Definition of a Good Practice in Mountain Areas
Glimmers of best practices and policy strategies
- Module 2 - The Economic History:
Crash course of economic history
The concept of 'vertical dimension' and its implications.
Demography of mountain regions in the long-run.
Agriculture and animal husbandry in mountain history: Europe, Asia, Americas.
Mountain people, families, and migration in the long-run.
The mountain landscape and its economic implications in historical perspective.
The pre-industrial economy of the Alps: the concept of Alpiculture.
Industrialization and the Alpine range: 1870-1940.
Fordism and the and the Alpine range: 1940-1980.
Globalization and mountain economies: the Alps and elsewhere.
The module aims to provide a basic understanding of the transitions and transformations taking place in mountain regions, based on the main challenges the Alpine region is facing in adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate change. The module deals in particular with:
1. Introduction to key concepts
1. Mountains in the global and European context
2. CC in mountainous (alpine) areas
3. The frameworks of transition paths, adaptation-resilience, and transformative changes
2. How to observe transitions in mountains : approaches and methodology
1. The "undeveloped" mountain, of mountain huts: « Refuges Sentinelles » program
2. The mountain of pastures: « Alpages Sentinelles » program
3. The "developed" mountain of resorts: « TranStat- project (territorial assessment, participatory territorial processes (SNA), future scenarios
4. Scales and data for understanding the territory: portals and geodatabases
5. Glimmers of best practices and policy strategies
The lectures guide students towards an understanding of socio-ecosystemic dynamics across different spatial scales. The aim of the module is therefore to introduce students to the study of these interrelationships, drawing on tools and concepts from the geographical and environmental sciences.
Module 2 The Economic History - 3 CFU - 32h- SSD SECS-P/12
This part of the course intends to provide students with knowledge about the long-run socio-economic dynamics of mountain regions with a broad geographic scale and a focus on the Alpine range. Following recent scholarship, the concept of "vertical dimension" will be used as the key to understand the history of the mountain economies and unveil the interplay double relation, from nature to man and man to nature; on the one side, analysing where the natural endowment affected or constrained human actions; on the other, considering how human activity impacted on the natural framework.
The goal is to provide students with awareness of the complexity of the economic processes in mountain areas putting together environmental, institutional and social factors. Particular attention is posed to their interplay, in order to determine meaningful changes and path-dependences in the evolution of specific mountain economic models.
The tone of the course is essentially interpretative and is aimed at providing students with the geographical and historical skills needed to comprehend the genealogy of some of the most pressing economic and environmental issues that mountain areas must currently face along the path to sustainable development.
TOPICS
- Module 1 - The Geography:
Mountains: Global Importance and Challenges of Mountain Regions
Vulnerability and Major Threats
Direct and indirect CC impacts on mountains economies and environment(s): i.e. the cryosphere
Mountains issues in the international communities
The main frameworks of transition paths, adaptation-resilience, and transformative changes
Sustainability Transition Studies and Transdisciplinary for mountains
A community-based program for the observation of socio-ecosystemic changes in high mountains (Refuges Sentinelles program)
Analyze CC impacts in alpine pastures (Alpages Sentinelles program)
Transitions to Sustainable Ski Tourism in the Alps of Tomorrow : How to trigger change? (TranStat EU project)
Scales and data for understanding the territory: portals and geodatabases
Definition of a Good Practice in Mountain Areas
Glimmers of best practices and policy strategies
- Module 2 - The Economic History:
Crash course of economic history
The concept of 'vertical dimension' and its implications.
Demography of mountain regions in the long-run.
Agriculture and animal husbandry in mountain history: Europe, Asia, Americas.
Mountain people, families, and migration in the long-run.
The mountain landscape and its economic implications in historical perspective.
The pre-industrial economy of the Alps: the concept of Alpiculture.
Industrialization and the Alpine range: 1870-1940.
Fordism and the and the Alpine range: 1940-1980.
Globalization and mountain economies: the Alps and elsewhere.
Prerequisites for admission
none
Teaching methods
Traditional classroom lectures - complemented by multimedia supports - will be combined with innovative teaching methods in which students are required to actively participate, including flipped classrooms, buzz groups, cold calling, presentations by students on selected themes and materials. If it will possible to organize them, fieldwork activities are envisaged as well.
Teaching Resources
Slides and additional study materials will be shared during the course with attending students. The same will be uploaded on https://ariel.unimi.it if required by non-attending students.
Mandatory readings for non-attending students:
Part 1
a) J. M. Rubenstein, An Introduction to Human Geography : the Cultural Landscape, Prentice Hall, Boston, 2010.
b) Hock, R., G. Rasul, C. Adler, B. Cáceres, S. Gruber, Y. Hirabayashi, M. Jackson, A. Kääb, S. Kang, S. Kutuzov, Al. Milner,U. Molau, S. Morin, B. Orlove, and H. Steltzer, 2019: High Mountain Areas. In: IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate [H.-O. Pörtner, D.C. Roberts, V. Masson-Delmotte, P. Zhai, M. Tignor, E. Poloczanska, K. Mintenbeck, A. Alegría, M. Nicolai, A. Okem, J. Petzold, B. Rama, N.M. Weyer (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK and New York, NY, USA, pp. 131-202. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009157964.004.
c) Adler, C., P. Wester, I. Bhatt, C. Huggel, G.E. Insarov, M.D. Morecroft, V. Muccione, and A. Prakash, 2022: Cross-Chapter Paper 5: Mountains. In: Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [H.-O. Pörtner, D.C. Roberts, M. Tignor, E.S. Poloczanska, K. Mintenbeck, A. Alegría, M. Craig, S. Langsdorf, S. Löschke, V. Möller, A. Okem, B. Rama (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK and New York, NY, USA, pp. 2273-2318, doi:10.1017/9781009325844.022.
d) Climate change in mountain areas: meeting the challenge of climate change of adapting water management
and tourism, along with Rural areas and rural policy in Europe, and Diverse perspectives on European funding and the French Rural Agenda (all available on the ANCT website at https://agence-cohesion-territoires.gouv.fr/)
e) Robert Steiger, Natalie Knowles, Katharina Pöll & Michelle Rutty (2024) Impacts of climate change on mountain tourism: a review, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 32:9,1984-2017, DOI: 10.1080/09669582.2022.2112204
f) Carine Pachoud, Kirsten Koop, Emmanuelle George ,Societal transformation through the prism of the concept of territoire: A French contribution,Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions,Volume 45,2022,Pages 101-113,ISSN 2210-4224,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2022.10.001.
Part 2:
a) J. Mathieu, The Third Dimension: A Comparative History of Mountains in the Modern Era, Cambridge, The White Horse Press, 2011.
b) M. Perlik, The Spatial and Economic Transformation of Mountain Regions Landscapes as Commodities, Routledge, 2019.
a) J. M. Rubenstein, An Introduction to Human Geography : the Cultural Landscape, Prentice Hall, Boston, 2010.
b) J. Mathieu, The Third Dimension: A Comparative History of Mountains in the Modern Era, Cambridge, The White Horse Press, 2011
Mandatory readings for non-attending students:
Part 1
a) J. M. Rubenstein, An Introduction to Human Geography : the Cultural Landscape, Prentice Hall, Boston, 2010.
b) Hock, R., G. Rasul, C. Adler, B. Cáceres, S. Gruber, Y. Hirabayashi, M. Jackson, A. Kääb, S. Kang, S. Kutuzov, Al. Milner,U. Molau, S. Morin, B. Orlove, and H. Steltzer, 2019: High Mountain Areas. In: IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate [H.-O. Pörtner, D.C. Roberts, V. Masson-Delmotte, P. Zhai, M. Tignor, E. Poloczanska, K. Mintenbeck, A. Alegría, M. Nicolai, A. Okem, J. Petzold, B. Rama, N.M. Weyer (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK and New York, NY, USA, pp. 131-202. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009157964.004.
c) Adler, C., P. Wester, I. Bhatt, C. Huggel, G.E. Insarov, M.D. Morecroft, V. Muccione, and A. Prakash, 2022: Cross-Chapter Paper 5: Mountains. In: Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [H.-O. Pörtner, D.C. Roberts, M. Tignor, E.S. Poloczanska, K. Mintenbeck, A. Alegría, M. Craig, S. Langsdorf, S. Löschke, V. Möller, A. Okem, B. Rama (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK and New York, NY, USA, pp. 2273-2318, doi:10.1017/9781009325844.022.
d) Climate change in mountain areas: meeting the challenge of climate change of adapting water management
and tourism, along with Rural areas and rural policy in Europe, and Diverse perspectives on European funding and the French Rural Agenda (all available on the ANCT website at https://agence-cohesion-territoires.gouv.fr/)
e) Robert Steiger, Natalie Knowles, Katharina Pöll & Michelle Rutty (2024) Impacts of climate change on mountain tourism: a review, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 32:9,1984-2017, DOI: 10.1080/09669582.2022.2112204
f) Carine Pachoud, Kirsten Koop, Emmanuelle George ,Societal transformation through the prism of the concept of territoire: A French contribution,Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions,Volume 45,2022,Pages 101-113,ISSN 2210-4224,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2022.10.001.
Part 2:
a) J. Mathieu, The Third Dimension: A Comparative History of Mountains in the Modern Era, Cambridge, The White Horse Press, 2011.
b) M. Perlik, The Spatial and Economic Transformation of Mountain Regions Landscapes as Commodities, Routledge, 2019.
a) J. M. Rubenstein, An Introduction to Human Geography : the Cultural Landscape, Prentice Hall, Boston, 2010.
b) J. Mathieu, The Third Dimension: A Comparative History of Mountains in the Modern Era, Cambridge, The White Horse Press, 2011
Assessment methods and Criteria
Type of assessment: grade in 30ths.
The course envisages two alternative tracks for attending and not-attending students.
1. Attending Students
Students will be evaluated separately for each module and the final mark will be the result of the average of the two modules.
- Module 1
The evaluation will be based on a landscape analysis work conducted through a structured sheet and a free essay focusing on one of the aspects investigated (e.g. ecological aspects, historical transformations, land uses changes on the long-run) within the mountain area selected.
- Module 2
The evaluation will be based on a written "open-book" exam. At the end of the course, attending students will take a written exam, in which they will be allowed to use their study materials and notes to answer in essay form to one question on the topics discussed during the whole course.
In case the class will be able to carry-out field activities, the written exam will be complemented by group work on a topic selected jointly by the students and the teacher.
2. Non-attending students
Students will be evaluated with a written test, based on the mandatory study material indicated below. The test is structured in two sections; the first, made up of multiple-choice questions, is intended to ascertain the command of the ideas, events, dates, economic and financial dynamics related to the themes of the course; the latter, made up of two questions students have to reply in essay form, is intended to verify the learning outcomes of the course.
Examination arrangements for students with disabilities and/or with DSA should be agreed with the teacher, in consultation with the appropriate office.
The course envisages two alternative tracks for attending and not-attending students.
1. Attending Students
Students will be evaluated separately for each module and the final mark will be the result of the average of the two modules.
- Module 1
The evaluation will be based on a landscape analysis work conducted through a structured sheet and a free essay focusing on one of the aspects investigated (e.g. ecological aspects, historical transformations, land uses changes on the long-run) within the mountain area selected.
- Module 2
The evaluation will be based on a written "open-book" exam. At the end of the course, attending students will take a written exam, in which they will be allowed to use their study materials and notes to answer in essay form to one question on the topics discussed during the whole course.
In case the class will be able to carry-out field activities, the written exam will be complemented by group work on a topic selected jointly by the students and the teacher.
2. Non-attending students
Students will be evaluated with a written test, based on the mandatory study material indicated below. The test is structured in two sections; the first, made up of multiple-choice questions, is intended to ascertain the command of the ideas, events, dates, economic and financial dynamics related to the themes of the course; the latter, made up of two questions students have to reply in essay form, is intended to verify the learning outcomes of the course.
Examination arrangements for students with disabilities and/or with DSA should be agreed with the teacher, in consultation with the appropriate office.
GEOG-01/A - Geography - University credits: 3
STEC-01/B - Economic History - University credits: 3
STEC-01/B - Economic History - University credits: 3
Exercises: 16 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Professors:
Balzarini Raffaella, Ceccarelli Giovanni Marcello
Shifts:
Professors:
Balzarini Raffaella, Ceccarelli Giovanni Marcello
Turno
Professor:
Ceccarelli Giovanni MarcelloProfessor(s)
Reception:
by appointment
via Celoria 10, 1st floor (in person) and on Teams (remotely)