75893 - History of Institutions and Cultural Heritage in the Middle Ages

Learning outcomes

Aim of this course is to provide the student with a patrimony of knowledge and abilities, able to lead him to understand (with the help of written sources) the formation of the cultural Heritage and of the monumental and documental patrimony in Italy, Europe and the Whole Mediterranean area. At the end of the course, students must acquire deep knowledge of the political-institutional processes and of the socio-institutional interactions which shaped medieval Europe in its particular identity and historical memory, and they must be able to apply this knowledge to a specific urban or territorial area or to a specific archival and librarian context and to understand the cultural Heritage of an institution. They must be able to communicate the results of a bibliographical research or of a critical analysis of written sources, and to approach the study of new topics on the basis of the knowledge acquired during the course.

Course contents

The Romano-Germanic Empire from Charlemagne to Frederick Barbarossa (eighth to twelfth century). Institutional Dynamics in Europe during the Early and High Middle Ages.

Differently from the modern Western state, but also from contemporary Byzantine or Islamic empires, early and high medieval kingdoms of Latin Europe had little government with no bureaucracy and a limited central administration. This is particularly the case of the Romano-Germanic Empire. The stabilisation of the imperial institution rested upon an empirical and shifting balance among different key-factors, such as the sacralisation of kingship and the aristocratic consensus; the network of personal bonds, the use of fiscal assets and the formal assignment of delegated offices; the involvement in political affairs of fully legitimated religious actors (bishops and abbots) and the spontaneous rise of informal powers from the bottom. Though these key-factors were constantly influential in shaping the medieval political order, the relevance of each of them significantly significantly changed from one period to another. This course focuses on the changing function played by these key-factors from the Carolingian to the early Staufen period (eighth to twelfth century). Within this intellectual and didactic perspective, some lesson are devoted to the analysis of medieval sources, such as imperial charters with their seals and book illuminations portraying kings and emperors (Herrscherbilder) in liturgical manuscripts.

Readings/Bibliography

1) Attending students will be assessed on

- the contents of the lessons;

- R. Bordone - G. Sergi, Dieci secoli di medioevo, Torino: Einaudi, 2009, pp. 5-197; 

- G. Melville, Fu 'istituzionale' il Medioevo? Osservazioni storiche e riflessioni metodologiche, in Pensiero e sperimentazioni istituzionali nella societas Christiana (1046-1250). Atti della sedicesima settimana internazionale di studio (Mendola, 26-31 agosto 2004), a cura di G. Andenna, Milano: Vita e Pensiero, 2007, pp. 37-68.

2) Non-attending students will be assessed on:

- R. Bordone - G. Sergi, Dieci secoli di medioevo, Torino: Einaudi, 2009, pp. 5-197;

- S. Weinfurter, Carlo Magno. Il barbaro santo, trad. it. Bologna: Il Mulino, 2015;

- Hagen Keller, Gli Ottoni. Una dinastia imperiale fra Europa e Italia (secc. X e XI), trad. it. Roma: Carocci, 2012.

Attending as well as non-attending students need to know that this course requires a basic knowledge of medieval history. Those who have not previously taken any exam in Medieval History are therefore required to fill this gap, studying a handbook, which has to be arranged with the professor.

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons.

The traditional lecture format is integrated by slides with maps, images, and texts.

Some lessons are specifically devoted to analyse written and iconographic medieval sources, both of them strictly connected to the main topic, which lies at the heart of this course. In order to pay attention both to documentary and book materials, the sources that have been selected are imperial charters and book illuminations in liturgical manuscripts. Texts in these sources are provided in original (Latin) as well as in translation (Italian).

These materials are uploaded on the online platform Virtuale throughout the course.

Assessment methods

The final exam, to be held at the end of the course, is oral. It consists of an assessment of the knowledge and skills acquired during the course. This final oral exam is the main assessment method.

A written test, to be held during the course (in its second half, on a date to be fixed), has been scheduled, covering the topics of the lessons already delivered at that date. In the event of a positive assessment (>18), this becomes a good departure point for the deeper examination at the final oral exam, which should therefore confirm or improve the preliminary grade of the written test. Alternatively, in the event of a negative assessment (<18), or in case of absence, the final oral exam remains not only the main but also the unique assessment method.

The assessment concerns how well students know and understand the topics discussed during the course and in the recommended readings. A special relevance is given to the ability of the students to correctly analyse, critically re-elaborate and properly explain these topics, adopting a logical-argumentative type of speech, an appropriate methodology and the specialised language of the discipline.

Class attendance is highly recommended.

A clear and intensive engagement with the course topics and materials - including simple questions, critical observations, requests of clarification or further explanations - is deeply appreciated and can change the final mark.

Teaching tools

- Projection (with comments) of maps, displaying the main places (archbishoprics and bishoprics, monasteries and abbeys, locations to summon diets and synods) and the strategic geopolitical spaces (core areas, peripheric areas, transit areas) of the Romano-Germanic empire, with special reference to the routes of the royal/imperial iter.

- Projection (with comments) of medieval sources, with special reference to imperial charters and book illuminations in liturgical manuscripts. The aims is to detect textual and, above all, material elements, in order to understand the strategies, ends and audience of some medieval forms of symbolic communication.

Please note that initiatives suggested or organised by the professor (educational visits, seminars, book presentations, etc.) are to be considered as a supplementary part of the course and are therefore recognised at the exam.

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A message for students with disabilities (whether permanent or temporary), SLD, ADHD or other special educational needs related to learning disorders.

Those who need special strategies to compensate their disorders are kindly requested to contact the professor, in order to be referred to the colleagues in charge and get proper advice and instructions.

Please see also: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Manganaro