11835 - Modern History (1)

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student will understand the main themes and turning points in the modern period and acquire notions of methodology and history of historiography. He/she will be able to consult the tools – also in digital formats – indispensable for creditable historical information (bibliographic repertories, historical atlases, historical journals, etc..).

He/she will possess a good knowledge of the main themes of modern history, precise coordinates in time and space, and be capable of evaluating the significance and innovative contribution of a historiographic work, by positioning it within a wider cultural overview. He/she will be able to identify connections, developments, underlying trends and changes in long-term historical processes.  He/she will be able to read historiographic texts in at least one other language besides Italian and be capable of both spoken and written exposition using technical terminology appropriate to the discipline.

Course contents

The course is formed of three sections:

Section A – General Modern History (see Bibliography  A).

Section B – Notions of methodology, history of historiography and basics of historical research (see Bibliography B) 

Section C – Introduction to historical research practices: researching sources and historical critique (see Bibliography C) 

Readings/Bibliography

Section A - General History – Recommended text:   CARLO CAPRA, Storia moderna (1492-1848), Firenze, Le Monnier Università, 2004. 



Section B – Methodology:  
PAOLO PRODI, Introduzione allo studio della storia moderna, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2005.
 Students attending classes will adopt the teacher's lesson materials in place of this text.

Section C – Introduction to historical research practices. In preparation for this part, the reading of 2 works of those indicated is required. 

 

ROLAND H. BAINTON, Martin Lutero, introduzione di Adriano Prosperi; prefazione di Delio Cantimori, Torino, Einaudi, 2013

MARINO BERENGO, L'Europa delle città. Il volto della società urbana europea tra Medioevo ed età moderna, Torino, Einaudi, 1999.

HANS BOTS-FRANÇOISE WAQUET, La Repubblica delle Lettere, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2005; 

KARL BRANDI, Carlo V, Torino, Einaudi, 2001

BRONISLAW GEREMEK, La pietà e la forca. Storia della miseria e della carità in Europa, Bari, Laterza, 1986             

MICHEL DE CERTEAU, La possessione di Loudun, Bologna, Clueb, 2012

NORBERT ELIAS, La società di corte, Bologna, Il Mulino, 1980 

PAOLO PRETO, Venezia e i turchi, Roma, Viella, 2013

PAOLO PRODI, Il sovrano pontefice. Un corpo e due anime: la monarchia papale nella prima età moderna, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2006

PAOLO PRODI, Storia moderna o genesi della modernità, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2012

ADRIANO PROSPERI, Tribunali della coscienza. Inquisitori, confessori, missionari, Torino, Einaudi, 1996

ADRIANO PROSPERI, Delitto  e perdono. La pena di morte nell'orizzonte mentale dell'Europa cristiana. XIX-XVIII secolo, Torino, Einaudi, 2013

LAWRENCE STONE, La crisi dell'aristocrazia. L'Inghilterra da Elisabetta a Cromwell , Torino, Einaudi, 1972

ANDREW WHEATCROFT, Il nemico alle porte. Quando Vienna fermò l'avanzata ottomana, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2010

 

Assessment methods

Section A Testing of students' learning of the General History manual is done by means of a written paper held during the exam sessions.

Students attending lessons can sit the written exam at the end of the first module (end of November). This includes both open questions and 2 closed text completion questions, and lasts 1 hour. Students are advised to organise the information contained in the manual into themes, for example: history of the modern State: power structures; history of the system of European States: drives for hegemony and balance of power policies, war and peace; European colonial expansion; ecclesiastical structures and religious life; economics and society. The use of a good historical atlas is recommended during the study of the manual.

Section B The exam for students attending classes will be carried out in spoken exam format and will focus on lesson content. For non-attending students, the exam will be carried out in spoken format starting from the P. Prodi text. 

Section C The exam component will be in spoken format. This part of the exam can be substituted with the bibliographic lessons.

The written paper aims at testing students' knowledge of the themes dealt with during lessons or of reading texts for students who do not attend classes, while the oral test aims to verify students' understanding of the historiographic works indicated in the bibliography.  Both tests will be based on topics dealt with during lessons and in works listed in the bibliography.

 

The written paper is passed with a grade from 18 to 23 if answers are sketchy or incomplete; adequate knowledge with few omissions will be graded between 23 and 27; articulate and broad knowledge of topics will be awarded a grade of between 27 and 30. The spoken exam will not be passed if the student is unable to illustrate the content of the historiographic works studied and expresses him/herself incorrectly or inadequately. Grades between 18 and 23 are awarded if knowledge of the works studied is incomplete and hesitant; between 23 and 27 if the candidate analyses correctly the topics of the reading texts; between 27 and 30 if the candidate is able to provide a precise exposition and analysis of the works read.

 

The final grade registered (verbalizzato) is calculated as the average of the written and spoken tests.

 

The spoken test must be taken at the latest during the exam session following that in which the written test is taken. 

Teaching tools

The course provides 60 teaching hours (lectures), divided into 2 modules, preceded by 3 classes (6 hours) on presentations of a general nature of the modern period and a test to assess the student's learning.

The first module (30 hours), taught by Prof. Maria Teresa Guerrini, deals with the study of the various social, economic, political, cultural and religious dynamics which characterise the historical period under consideration, and in particular: History of the Modern State; power structures; history of the system of European States; drives for hegemony, balance of power policies, war and peace; European colonial expansion; ecclesiastical structures and religious life; economics and society.

The second module, taught by Prof. Gian Paolo Brizzi, introduces the student to historical research practices, by developing the theme of “Circolazione e mobilità nell'Europa moderna” (Movement and Mobility in Modern Europe).

This intensive course is held during the first semester at the following times:

Monday 9-11; Tuesday 9-11; Wednesday 9-11. Lessons start Monday 30 September 2013 and are held in Aula Grande, San Giovanni in Monte.

The lessons are designed for History degree students and correspond to 12 cfu. During the course, readings in French and English are provided.

Students attending the course will be able to develop particular aspects of themes analysed by compiling and making use of an appropriate bibliography. A 20-25 page written paper which will replace the oral component of the exam.  

Office hours

See the website of Gian Paolo Brizzi