STORIA DELLA SICILIA ANTICA

Academic Year 2022/2023 - Teacher: CRISTINA SORACI

Expected Learning Outcomes

The expected learning objectives, according to the Dublin descriptors, are the following:

Knowledge and understanding (DD1)

- to know the theories and historical models to interpret the events of ancient Sicily;

- to know the theories useful for understanding political, economic and social dynamics of the ancient world.

Knowledge and applied understanding (DD2)

- to know and be able to analyze the sources (literary, juridical, epigraphic and archaeological) concerning the history of ancient Sicily;

- to connect theoretical and methodological contents to the interpretation of past, present and future events and processes;

- to know how to use the methodology of historical research aimed at achieving the educational objectives.

Autonomy of judgment (DD3)

- to evaluate the relevance of the theories studied with respect to the interpretation of individual events;

- starting from the observation of case studies, knowing how to advance, formulate and argue proposals for change and transformation in the field of tourism.

Communication skills (DD4)

- knowing how to justify in oral and written form the objectives, procedures, methodologies of promoting in tourism the Sicilian cultural heritage relating to ancient history.

Learning ability (DD5)

- knowing how to identify unexpected results of research and its possible developments in terms of methodology and impact.

Course Structure

Frontal and interactive lessons in Italian; some topics, however, may be treated in English, in French or in German.

Depending on the evolution of the epidemiological situation, guided visits to sites of particular tourist interest are planned.

Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it. Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements.

Required Prerequisites

The student must know the correspondence between years and centuries (e.g. 264 BC is part of the third century BC).

The student must have a basic cultural background in the field of the historical geography of Europe, Asia and North Africa.

Attendance of Lessons

Attendance is particularly recommended: active participation in lessons and other educational activities provided will greatly facilitate the understanding of the topics under study and will offer profitable opportunities for discussion with the teacher on the issues that each student will deem most appropriate to his or her specific interests.

Detailed Course Content

Sources about the history of ancient Sicily

Greek colonization in Sicily

The first Sicilian tyrants: Panezio, Falaride and the tyranny in Selinunte, Gela and Syracuse

The so-called "democratic interlude"

Dionysius the Elder and his successors

Timoleon in Sicily

Agathocles’ reign

Pyrrhus in Sicily

Hieron II

Sicily at the time of the Punic wars

The Roman province of Sicily: administration, city organization and tax system

The island in the second century BC: reconstruction and building fervor; servile wars

Verres’ propraetorship. The Verrines

Ius Latii and Roman citizenship to Sicilian cities

Sextus Pompey and Sicily

The Augustan era in Sicily

Administrative status of Sicilian cities in the imperial times: colonies, municipalities, populations of Latin law and stipendiarii

The meaning of the term stipendiarii

Sicily between the 1st and 2nd centuries AD: wheat importance, building renovation; the villas

Emperor Hadrian and Sicily

The Severian era

The Gallienus empire and banditry

Christianity

The large estates in Sicily during the empire

Late antique villas

The barbarian invasions

Textbook Information

General course: Sicily from the Archaic age to the Roman age

L. Braccesi- G. Millino, La Sicilia greca, Carocci, Roma 2010³.

C. Soraci, La Sicilia romana, Carocci, Roma 2016.

Students may choose to study one or more of the following papers in English, French or Spanish:

J.M. Puebla Morón, Paisajes sagrados: representación de lugares de culto en la moneda griega de Sicilia, «Antesteria», 5, 2016, pp. 99-110;

E. Zambon, From Agathocles to Hieron II: the birth and development of basileia in Hellenistic Sicily, in S. Lewis (ed.), Ancient tyranny, Edinburgh 2006, pp. 77-92 (replacing the pages 169-191 of Braccesi-Millino's text);

S. Pittia, J. Dubouloz, La Sicile romaine, de la disparition du royaume de Hiéron II à la réorganisation augustéenne des provinces, «Pallas», 80, 2009, pp. 85-125 (replacing the pages 44-71 of Soraci's text);

R.J.A. Wilson, Roman villas in Sicily, in A. Marzano e G. Métraux (eds.), The Roman villa in the Mediterranean basin. Late Republic to Late Antiquity, Cambridge 2018, pp. 195-219 (ireplacing the pages 140-145 of Soraci's text).

Erasmus or worker students or second cycle degree’s students who chose this course may arrange more in-depth programs with the teacher.

Author	Title	Publisher	Year	ISBN
L. Braccesi- G. Millino	La Sicilia greca	Carocci	2010	9788843017027
C. Soraci	La Sicilia romana	Carocci	2016	9788843082261

Course Planning

	Subjects	Text References
1	Greek colonization in Sicily	Braccesi-Millino, pp. 13-47
2	The first tyrants	Braccesi-Millino, pp. 49-101
3	The years after the tyrants	Braccesi-Millino, pp. 103-128
4	Dionysius the Elder, Dionysius the Younger, Timoleon and Agathocles	Braccesi-Millino, pp. 131-178
5	Pyrrhus and Hieron II	Braccesi-Millino, pp. 181-191 and Soraci, pp. 13-27
6	The first and the second Punic war; the organization of the province	Soraci, pp. 29-41 and 44-58
7	Sicily in the second century B.C.	Soraci, pp. 60-80
8	The first century B.C. and the Augustan era	Soraci, pp. 84-109
9	Sicily between I and III century A.D.	Soraci, pp. 112-131
10	The transformations of IV and V century A.D.	Soraci, pp. 137-148

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

The exam consists of an oral examination.

There will be optional in itinere talks on the first part of the program (from the Greek colonization to the Pyrrhic expedition).

Those who pass the in itinere talk with a score of at least 18/30 can be examined on the remaining program in one of the official exam sessions of the immediately following session. The final evaluation will take into account the mark obtained in the talk. Students who have not obtained a mark of 18/30 in the aforementioned talk may, at their choice, repeat it on a date to be agreed with the teacher or be examined on the entire program during the official exam.

The evaluation will take into account:

- the relevance of the answers provided

- the wealth of the contents

- the ability to connect with other topics in program

- the ability of express oneself

- lexical correctness.

Verification of knowledge can also be carried out electronically, should the conditions require it.

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises