00938 - History of Christianity

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide the indispensable foundations for a knowledge of the ecclesiastical and religious history of Europe in its most original and dynamic aspects (doctrines, institutions, rituals, vectors and communication processes) and in relation to other major religious cultures of the ancient and medieval world until the evangelization of the New World. At the end of the course, the student will possess the methodological tools for the proper evaluation and critical use of Italian and European cultural heritage regarding archaeology, history, art, literature, archives and libraries , especially in relation to the crucial role of production and documentary-monumental transmission played by ecclesiastical institutions and major religious orders.

Course contents

The course will have a seminar character and will be dedicated to the theme:

Man and Animals between Ancient and Modern Times

Readings/Bibliography

A) Handbooks

Attending students are required to have a thorough knowledge of the chapters indicated here for each of the following volumes:

Storia del cristianesimo, I. L'età antica (secoli I-VII), a cura di E. Prinzivalli, Roma, Carocci, 2015 (rist. 2023): chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15.

Storia del cristianesimo, II. L'età medievale (secoli VIII-XV), a cura di M. Benedetti, Roma, Carocci, 2015 (rist. 2023): chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16.

Non-attending students are required to have a thorough knowledge of one of the following volumes::

G. L. Potestà - G. Vian, Storia del cristianesimo, n. ed. Bologna, il Mulino, 2014;

R. Rusconi, Storia del cristianesimo e delle Chiese. Dalle origini ai giorni nostri, Brescia, Morcelliana, 2019.

B) Reading list:

Attending are required to to have a thorough knowledge of one of the following books:

G. Albertoni, L'elefante di Carlomagno. Il desiderio di un imperatore, Bologna, il Mulino, 2020

M. Bettini, Nascere. Storie di donne, donnole, madri ed eroi, n. ed. Torino, Einaudi, 2018

A. M. G. Capomacchia (a cura di), Animali tra mito e simbolo, Roma, Carocci, 2009

C. Donà, Per le vie dell'altro mondo. L'animale guida e il mito del viaggio, Soveria Mannelli, Rubbettino, 2003

R. Finzi, Asino caro o della denigrazione della fatica, Milano, Bompiani, 2017

R. Finzi, L'onesto porco. Storia di una diffamazione, Milano, Bompiani, 2014

C. Frugoni, Uomini e animali nel Medioevo. Storie fantastiche e feroci, Bologna, il Mulino, 2018

P. Galloni, Storia e cultura della caccia. Dalla preistoria a oggi. Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2000

C. Ginzburg - B. Lincoln, Il vecchio Thiess. Un lupo mannaro baltico tra caso e comparazione, Roma, Officina libraria, 2022

P. Li Causi, Gli animali nel mondo antico, Bologna, il Mulino, 2018

L. Mancini, Il rovinoso incanto. Storie di Sirene antiche, Bologna, il Mulino, 2005

G. Ortalli, Lupi, genti, culture. Uomo e ambiente nel Medioevo, Torino, Einaudi, 1997

M. Pastoureau, L'orso. Storia di un re decaduto, trad. it. Torino, Einaudi, 2008; rist. Milano, Mondadori, 2023 (ed. orig. 2007)

R. Rao, Il tempo dei lupi. Storia e luoghi di un animale favoloso, Milano, UTET, 2018

C. Spila, Animalia tantum. Animali nella letteratura dall'Antichità al Rinascimento, Napoli, Liguori, 2012

K. Thomas, L'uomo e la natura. Dallo sfruttamento all'estetica dell'ambiente (1500-1800), trad. it. Torino, Einaudi, 1994 (ed. orig. 1983)

F. Zambon, L'alfabeto simbolico degli animali, Roma, Carocci, 2004

Teaching methods

The traditional lecture format will be supported by texts and images, which will be shown and made available online to students on the Virtual Learning Environment of the University website.

On this page, students will also have specific sections dedicated to learning how to research sources, edited by Prof. Donatella Tronca (teaching tutor).

Students who are affected by learning disability (DSA) and in need of special strategies to compensate it, are kindly requested to contact the Teacher, in order to be referred to the colleagues in charge and get proper advice and instructions.

Assessment methods

Class attendance is recommended to achieve a good result. All those who cannot attend the course for demonstrable reasons of work are required to agree their syllabus in advance during the lecturer’s office hours.

The oral examination will be held at the end of the course, and it will assess:

- basic knowledge relating to the course program (the assessment is carried out on the basis of the materials examined in class and the texts indicated in the program);

- the ability to understand the problems faced during the lectures;

- knowledge of the discipline in its historical development;

- the ability to frame the sources examined in class in their context, and to discuss them critically;

- the quality of oral expression and the ability to construct a logical-argumentative type of speech.

For students attending the Course, the examination consists of checking the knowledge acquired during the course, above all the sources and other materials progressively uploaded on the Course website Virtuale. In addition, they are required to know the general outlines of the history of ancient and medieval Christianity on the basis of one of the Handbooks, and to discuss one of the monographs listed under point B in the 'Texts/Bibliography' section.

For non-attending students, in addition to in-depth knowledge of one of the specific Handbooks (point A in the "Reading/Bibliography"), they are also obliged to make a critical reading of two monographs or collection of essays to be agreed with the lecturer during office hours.

The final evaluation will follow these criteria:

- insufficient grade: lack of basic knowledge and inability to produce a correct interpretation of the texts and / or problems;

- sufficient grade: possession of basic knowledge; mainly correct interpretation, but carried out with imprecision and little autonomy;

- good grade: possession of intermediate level knowledge; fully correct interpretation, but not always precise and autonomous;

- excellent grade: possession of high level knowledge; interpretation of problems not only correct but conducted with autonomy and precision. Excellent oral expression skills.

To apply for the thesis, it is necessary to have presented for the examination a final paper on a topic defined together with the lecturer. It is also highly recommended to register on the website and take part in the workshops of the Laboratorio sulle fonti per la ricerca storica organised by Prof. Donatella Tronca.

As the timeframe for drafting a thesis needs to be carefully calculated, arrangements should be made with the lecturer well in advance: at least six months for a three-year degree and at least a year for a master’s degree. The most appropriate graduation session will be suggested by the lecturer on the basis of the work done.

Teaching tools

The main teaching support tools, which will be illustrated in class and on the Virtuale course page, are available at the Campus Central Library (Palazzo Corradini) and at the website AlmaRe - the Library of Bibliographic and Documentary Electronic Resources of the University of Bologna.

Office hours

See the website of Luigi Canetti