00455 - Geography

Learning outcomes

The course aims at outlining the territorial frame in which the idea of “Europe” has taken shape and has grown out of (European morphology, its demography, its resources and trades), putting it in relation with its representations dating back to antiquity. From its seafaring origin – Mediterranean, at first, and subsequently “oceanic”, as the modern Europe's image took shape – up to both the new image suggested by EU and the tough challenges of globalization.
In particular, the analysis of the formation of European spaces, since their Mediterranean genesis to the nation-states' creation, will be developed, to emphasize the creation of a “European consciousness” in the encounter with an “Orient” often more fictional than real. At the end of the course, the student is able to distinguish the diverse geographical models from which European identity took shape in history, applying such knowledge to EU's evolutionary frame.

Course contents

DISCLAIMER:

THERE IS A SINGLE EXAM'S BIBLIOGRAPHY.

NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS NEEDING A CUSTOMIZED SYLLABUS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTACT THE PROFESSOR AT LEAST ONE MONTH BEFORE THE EXAM.

1. Geography and the formation of cultural models
2. Europe's geographical models: the Mediterranean, the Occident
3. «The past is a foreign country»: non-contemporaneity and Eurocentrism
4. Cities, networks, territories
5. Orients/Occidents
6. From the world to Europe and back: crisis' challenges

Readings/Bibliography

M. Varotto, Il primo libro di geografia, Torino: Einaudi, 2025;

M. Neve, Il disegno dell'Europa. Costruzioni cartografiche dell'identità europea, MIlano: Mimesis, 2016.

Teaching methods

Course will be taught through a mixture of formal lectures and discussion in classroom. Its aim will be to facilitate interaction between the lecturer and students and to stimulate debate among students.
Class attendance is critical to take advantage of a way of learning not feasible through homework, and it turns out to be crucial in order for the student to adequately satisfy exam requirements.

Assessment methods

The exam consists of an oral examination on the entire syllabus. The aim of the interview is to assess the methodological and critical skills acquired by the student. Given the importance of class attendance for an appropriate training process two grading scales are employed: for attending and non-attending students.

Attending students

Attendance and participation count for 15% of the final grade.

In particular, it will be assessed the ability of the student to participate actively in class, also using multimedia and collaborative tools provided within the course; such capacity, if combined with the achievement of a coherent framework of the topics developed during the lessons , the application of critical sense and suitable means of expression will be considered and evaluated with the maximum grading = A (27-30 con lode).

Attendance, if joint to a predominantly mnemonic acquisition of course's contents and discontinuous language and logical skills will be assessed in a grading range from good (B = 24-26) to satisfactory (C = 21-23).

Attendance, with a minimum level of knowledge of the course contents, combined with training gaps or inadequate language and logical skills, it will get as grade ‘barely passing' (D = 18-20).

The absence of a minimum level of knowledge of the course contents, combined with inadequate language and logical skills and training gaps, it will produce a fail (E) grading, even in spite of an assiduous attendance.

Non-attending students

Non-attending students will be assessed primarily on the ability to use literature made available, in order to properly expose the contents of the course. This ability, when combined with the achievement of a coherent framework of the course's themes, the application of critical sense, and suitable means of expression will be considered and evaluated with the maximum grading = A (27-30 con lode).

A predominantly mnemonic acquisition of course's contents along with discontinuous language and logical skills will be assessed in a grading range from good (B = 24-26) to satisfactory (C = 21-23).

A minimum level of knowledge of the course contents, combined with training gaps or inadequate language and logical skills, it will get as grade ‘barely passing' (D = 18-20).

The absence of a minimum level of knowledge of the course contents, combined with inadequate language and logical skills and training gaps, it will produce a fail (E) grading.

Teaching tools

Multimedia tools

Office hours

See the website of Mario Angelo Neve