MEDIEVAL HISTORY
Academic Year 2025/2026 - Teacher: EMANUELE PIAZZAExpected Learning Outcomes
The expected learning objectives, declined according to the Dublin Descriptors, are the following:
- Knowledge and understanding (DD1) = The course provides students with knowledge to understand the events of the Middle Ages, an age to be considered fundamental for the making of European civilization, and to develop a critical judgment about the themes related to this age.
- 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 history.
- 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
Detailed Course Content
The main aims of the course are: comprehension of the relationship between the principal events of the Middle Ages and their arrangement in the chronological and geographical context; the relationship between political, cultural and religious communities; analysis of some specific issues, such as the relationship and the integration between the European West and the barbarian world, the role of key figures of political and social communities, the transformation of religious sentiment and its impact on urban communities.
Contribution of the Course
to the Objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, GOAL 4:
Quality Education.
Textbook Information
1) L. Tanzini, F.P. Tocco, Un Medioevo mediterraneo. Mille anni tra Oriente e Occidente, Roma, Carocci editore, 2020 (ISBN: 9788829000661), pp. 21-305.
2) G. Albini, Poveri e povertà nel Medioevo, Roma, Carocci editore, 2016 (ISBN: 9788843082629), pp. 77-115.
3) E. Piazza, Momenti di gioia. Materiali per un percorso di lettura sul gaudium in età altomedievale, Bari, Edipuglia, 2024 (ISBN: 9791259950659), pp. 61-84; 95-104.
Further reading:
B.H. Rosenwein, The emotions of the Franks, in Settimane di studio del Centro italiano di studi sull’alto medioevo, LXIX: I Franchi, Spoleto, Fondazione Centro italiano di studi sull'alto medioevo, 2023, pp. 291-303.
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | L’ETA’ TARDOANTICA TRA POLITICA E RELIGIONE-L’ACCULTURAZIONE TRA ROMANITAS E BARBARITAS-L’EREDITA’ POLITICA ROMANA TRA RIELABORAZIONI, ASSESTAMENTI E RECUPERI-L’ISLAM DELLE ORIGINI TRA ASIA E MEDITERRANEO-L’ECONOMIA E LA SOCIETA’ NEL PRIMO MEDIOEVO-LA POLITICA VISTA DA ROMA-DUE IMPERI: CAROLINGI E ABBASIDI-CENTRI E PERIFERIE NEL MEDITERRANEO DEL X SECOLO-GLI OTTONI, BISANZIO E IL CRISTIANESIMO DEI CONFINI-L’OCCIDENTE DEI POTERI LOCALI | TESTO 1), PP. 21-155 |
| 2 | I NEMICI INTERNI ED ESTERNI (X-XI SECOLO)-I NUOVI POPOLI E LE NUOVE CULTURE-L’OCCIDENTE VERSO IL MEDITERRANEO (XI-XII SECOLO)-IL DECOLLO DELLE CITTA’-LA SOCIETA’ DELLA PERSECUZIONE: LA CHIESA ROMANA FINO AL XIII SECOLO-GLI IMPERI E I REGNI MEDITERRANEI: TRADIZIONE E INNOVAZIONE-I REGNI OCCIDENTALI FINO ALL’INIZIO DEL DUECENTO-LA CASA DI SVEVIA E LA PARABOLA DELL’UNIVERSALISMO IMPERIALE-IL XIII SECOLO E LA RINASCITA DELLA POLITICA-IL MONDO CITTADINO NEL XIII E XIV SECOLO | TESTO 1), PP. 157-290 |
| 3 | L’EUROPA E IL MEDITERRANEO NEL DUECENTO | TESTO 1), PP. 291-305 |
| 4 | LA CONCEZIONE DELLA POVERTA' | TESTO 2), PP. 77-115 |
| 5 | SANTITÀ E GIOIA NEI DIALOGI DI GREGORIO MAGNO | TESTO 3), PP. 61-84 |
| 6 | BANCHETTI, EMOZIONI E SANGUE: SPUNTI DALL’HISTORIA LANGOBARDORUM DI PAOLO DIACONO | TESTO 3), PP. 95-104 |
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.
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.