11409 - Christian Archaeology (1)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the students do have basic knowledge of the Late Antique history and artistic civilization, they can understand the development of the matter, the significance of the monument in the urban context of reference and the general heritage; they are able to use different kind of sources, to read critically the archaeological documentation, to understand the historical context, the social changes, the political organization and the cultural aspects.

Course contents

Part A: General topics of Late Antique Archaeology. Problems of definition and periodization. Architecture, town planning and sculture. Settlement dynamics in the countryside. Necropolis. Iconography and figurative culture. Production of artifacts, economic and commercial exchanges.  

Part B : Objects and images in context.

Readings/Bibliography

PART A : Archeologia cristiana. Nozioni generali dalle origini alla fine del sec. VI, Bari 1980, pp. 1-72; R. Krautheimer, Architettura paleocristiana e bizantina, Torino 1986, pp. 7-26, 33-68; 233-286 e Glossario; F. W. Deichmann, Archeologia cristiana, Roma 1993, pp. 5-148; E. Concina, Le arti di Bisanzio, Milano 2002, pp. 1-34.

Milano capitale dell'Impero (286-402), Milano 1990, pp. 193-208, 257-258; F. Bisconti, V. Fiocchi Nicolai, D. Mazzoleni, Le catacombe cristiane di Roma. Origini, sviluppo, apparati decorativi, documentazione epigrafica , Regesburg 1998, pp. 9-13; Aurea Roma. Dalla città pagana alla città cristiana, Roma 2000, pp. 41-48, 230-233; 300-316; 341-350; 361-372; R. Farioli Campanati, Ravenna-Costantinopoli: la scultura (secc. V e VI) , in Konstantinopel. Scultura bizantina dai Musei di Berlino , Ravenna 2000, pp. 18-29 I. Baldini Lippolis, L'architettura residenziale nelle città tardoantiche , Roma 2005, pp. 102-136; G. Cantino Wataghin, s.v.   Topografia cristiana , in A. Di Berardino (a cura di),   Nuovo Dizionario Patristico e di Antichità Cristiane , III, Roma 2008, cc. 5407-5416; A. Chavarria Arnau, Architettura delle chiese . Dalle origini all'anno Mille , Roma 2010, pp. 11-120;  Forma urbis, L'archeologia degli italiani a Creta, Roma 2014.

A catalogue of images with specific bibliography will be made available during the lessons (in collaboration with dr. Giulia Marsili and dr. Debora Pellacchia).

PART B: Sculpture of Ravenna. The bibliography will be made available during the lessons.

You can find all the texts in the libraries of the University. If you have any problem, please contact isabella.baldini@unibo.it.

Teaching methods

Students will be involved in the teaching activity.

Assessment methods

Oral exam on the topics of the lessons and on the bibliography.

Teaching tools

Photocopies, ppt. A one-day study-trip in Ravenna is foreseen.

Links to further information

http://www.unibo.it/docenti/isabella.baldini

Office hours

See the website of Isabella Baldini