Go to main contentGo to navigation menu
University of Catania  >  DISFOR
Reserved Area
ITA
Logo UniCt

Degree Course in

Tourism Science

Search

Christian and Medieval Archeology

Academic Year 2022/2023 - Teacher: Lucia ARCIFA

Expected Learning Outcomes

The course aims to provide basic knowledge of the debate on Christian and medieval archaeology and the main problems of archaeological research. Medieval archaeology and the main problems of archaeological research; to reflect on the methods of construction of the archaeological source and the complexity of the processes of historical reconstruction starting the use of archaeological sources in comparison with documentary sources. With particular reference to Sicily knowledge of the acculturation processes from the Byzantine to the Swabian age and of some
archaeological sites and monumental complexes of particular relevance to measure the extent of these processes.

Course Structure

Frontal teaching

Required Prerequisites

Knowledge of historical and geographical coordinates relating to the two reference periods of the course, the Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. It is therefore advisable to approach the study of the subject after having passed the examinations of Roman history and medieval history, in view of the fact that the historical issues of the period are constantly referred to within the course.

Attendance of Lessons

Two-hour lessons on two days per week 

Textbook Information

Metodologia

1. R. Francovich, D. Manacorda (a cura di), Dizionario di archeologia, Bari 2000, s.v. Cultura materiale,

Medioevo, Archeologia e storia dell’arte, pp. 99-104; 305-318.

Storia degli studi

2. F. W. Deichmann, Archeologia cristiana, Roma, L’Erma di Bretschneider, cap. II-V, pp. 21-70.

3. P. Delogu, R. Francovich, R. Hodges, Archeologia Medievale (dossier), “Archeo” 77 (1991), pp. 52-101.

Arte paleocristina (pittura scultura)

4. R. Bianchi Bandinelli, Roma. La fine dell’arte antica, Milano 1970, pp. 1- 83.

Le catacombe

5. V. Fiocchi Nicolai, Origini e sviluppo delle catacombe romane, in V. Fiocchi Nicolai, F. Bisconti, D.

Mazzoleni, Le catacombe cristiane di Roma. Origini, sviluppo, apparati decorativi, documentazione

epigrafica, Regesburg 1998, pp. 6-69

L’architettura: la nascita dell’edificio religioso

6. A. Chavarria Arnau, Archeologia delle chiese. Dalle origini all’anno Mille, Roma 2014, pp. 11-153

Forme insediative tra tardo antico e alto medioevo. Città, campagne, castelli

7. A. Augenti, Archeologia dell’Italia medievale, Roma Bari 2016, pp. 4-184; 276-284

Città e castelli in Sicilia

8.A. Vanoli, La Sicilia musulmana, Bologna 2012

9. L. Arcifa, La città nel Medioevo:sviluppo urbano e dominio territoriale, in L. Scalisi (a cura di), Catania:

L'identità urbana dall'Antichità al Settecento, Catania, 2009, pp. 72-111.

10.A. Bagnera, From a small town to a capital: the urban evolution of Islamic Palermo (9th-mid 11th

century), in A. Nef (ed.), A Companion to medieval Palermo. The history of a Mediterranean City from 600

to 1500, Leiden – Boston 2013, pp. 61-88.

11. L. Arcifa, Trasformazioni urbane nell'altomedioevo siciliano. Uno status quaestionis, in Paesaggi

urbani tardoantichi. Casi a confronto, Atti delle VIII Giornate Gregoriane Bari 2016, pp. 31-40

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

optional written test at the end of part one relating to essays 1 to 6 (as per syllabus)

oral exam for the second part

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

Origin and development of the catacombs

Symbolism in Early Christian painting

Transformations of Late Antique Cities

The Crypta Balbi in Rome

Characteristics of Late Antique Art

The encastellation

Catania: the Necropolis of S. Agata la Vetere

Palermo: urban development in the Islamic age