13753 - History of Religions (1) (G.A)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, student should be able to understand, in light of the comparative historical method, phenomena widely documented in human history and identifiable as religious, in order to identify the characterizations and typologies. Acquires knowledge of particular contexts, such as late antiquity, in which various religions are related to each other.

Course contents

Prehistoric religions. Universality and eternity of religion.

List of topics: The history of religions and his method. Nature and function of religion. Prehistoric religions.

Readings/Bibliography

1.   G. FILORAMO, Che cos'e' la religione. Temi metodi problemi, Einaudi, Torino 2004;

2.   J. RIES, Preistoria e immortalita'. La vita dopo la morte nella preistoria e nelle civilta' orali, Jaca Book, Milano 2012;

3.  A. LEROI-GOURHAN, Le religioni della preistoria. Paleolitico, Adelphi, Milano 1993;

4.   Notes from lessons and seminars, and individual readings.

Teaching methods

The Course consist of: 30 hours of frontal teachings in classroom (obligatory frequency),  held by the titular teacher.

The Course also consist of: a few hours of supplementary didactics (obligatory frequency),  held by collaborators of the teacher.

Assessment methods

The oral examination will seek to check understanding of the topics dealt during the Course, the acquisition of knowledges proposed by the prescribed Bibliography for individual study and the ability of interpreting documents and linking research topics and special problems.

Teaching tools

The Course includes the use of the Library of the Section of Ancient History (via Zamboni, 38, fourth floor) of Department of History Cultures Civilizations (DiSCi), for researches and word processing.

Office hours

See the website of Dario Cosi