STORIA DEL VIAGGIO NEL MEDIOEVO

Academic Year 2025/2026 - Teacher: EMANUELE PIAZZA

Expected Learning Outcomes

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

- Knowledge and understanding (DD1) = The course investigates the historical dimension of the travel in the Middle Ages, offering students a critical approach to the different cultural, social and religious facets of this issue, also framing it in the context of the political transformations that occurred in this era.

- Applying knowledge and understanding (DD2) = The student will acquire the skills to connect the theoretical and methodological contents learned with the interpretation of past, present and future events and processes.

- Making judgements (DD3) = The student will acquire the ability to make critical judgments of the content learned and grasp the connection between the objectives and results of research in the field of medieval travel.

- Communication (DD4) = Student's competence in justifying historiographical knowledge and methodologies in oral and written form is one of the educational objectives of the discipline.

- Lifelong learning skills (DD5) = The student will acquire the cognitive tools necessary to deal with complex historiographical issues and also to focus on training needs.

Course Structure

Lectures.

Required Prerequisites

  • Basic knowledge of the Middle Ages.

Attendance of Lessons

Optional.

Detailed Course Content

The course focuses on the dimension of travel in the Middle Ages and examines the different contexts (social, cultural, economic, religious) in which women and men of the time felt the need to set out. Particular attention will be paid to the Mediterranean routes followed by pilgrims. Integrative teaching activities are also planned in which students will use specific historical databases to create tourist itineraries, including the food and wine dimension, to rediscover medieval Sicily.

Contribution of the Course to the Objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, GOAL 4: QUALITY EDUCATION.

Textbook Information

1) M.S. Mazzi, In viaggio nel Medioevo, Bologna, Società editrice il Mulino, 2019 (ISBN: 9788815280534), pp. 15-77; 147-258.

2) F. Cardini, L. Russo, Homo viator. Il pellegrinaggio medievale, Viareggio (LU), La Vela, 2019 (ISBN: 9788899661588), pp. 11-110.

Course Planning

 SubjectsText References
1PARTE PRIMA: ANDARE PER IL MONDOTESTO 1), PP. 15-77
2PARTE SECONDA: TRA IMMAGINAZIONE E REALTA'TESTO 1), PP. 147-258
3I FONDAMENTI DEL PELLEGRINAGGIO-RELIQUIE E PELLEGRINAGGI NELL’ALTO MEDIOEVO-EGERIA E GLI ALTRI PELLEGRINI ALTOMEDIEVALITESTO 2), PP. 11-110

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

Oral exam. During the course of the lessons, specific indications will be provided regarding the carrying out of a midterm exam, which can be taken by all enrolled students, even those not attending the lectures.

The date of the midterm exam and the respective booking method will be communicated during the lectures and published in a timely manner.

Further information will be published online by the lecturer.

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

Rather than a list of frequently asked questions, which, moreover, refer to the topics indicated in the above-mentioned syllabus, it is pointed out that in the examination the student is asked to:

- a correct spatial-temporal collocation of the events;

- an adequate critical re-elaboration of the topics addressed by the teaching;

- an effective ability to make connections between the various topics addressed in the course of the lectures.