2016/2017

2016/2017

DM270

M-STO/01 (MEDIAEVAL HISTORY)

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITIES

HISTORY OF EUROPE

PERCORSO COMUNE

1°

(27/02/2017 - 01/06/2017)

6

36 lesson hours

ITALIAN

ORAL TEST

FRANK THOMAS (titolare) - 6 ECTS

B.A. in Lettere or a similar discipline. Ability to read modern articles in English.

- close reading of selected chapters from Cusanus's Concordantia catholica
- ability to employ the most important methods of historical criticque
- knowledge of the historical context of Italy and Europe in the first half of the 15th century
- knowledge of the bibliographical tools necessary for doing research on problems of political and ecclesiastical history of the 15th century
- comprehension of the contributions of international research (especially written in English) to the topic of the seminar

"Great texts of the late Middle Ages: the Concordantia catholica by Nicholas of Cusa"

The seminar concentrates on a text of great significance for the spirit of reform which is so characteristic for the history of Church and Empire in the first half of the 15th century: the treatise De Concordantia catholica, written in 1433/1434 by the theologian, canonist, philosopher and future cardinal Nicholas of Cusa. This work merits a careful analysis not only because of the intellectual qualities of its author, but also because of the historical moment of its redaction, the Council of Basle. Readers will be recompensed by many insights in both, the historical context and the functioning of a late medieval 'reform text'.

- Lectures
- Powerpoint presentation of images and maps (available on KIRO)
- classroom reading and discussion of selected chapters from the Concordantia and of studies on the topic
- oral presentation of arguments chosen by the students
- written essay

Reading for students who will attend the class:
1) notes from the lessons
2) Nicolaus Cusanus, De concordantia catholica, trad. ital. in: Opere religiose, a cura di Pio Gaia, Torino (UTET) 1971 (the chapters selected for the lessons)
3) Introducing Nicholas of Cusa: a guide to a Renaissance man, a cura di Christopher M. Bellitto / Thomas M. Izbicki / Gerald Christianson, New York (Paulist press) 2004 (chapters 1 and 2)

Reading for students who will NOT attend the class:
1) Nicolaus Cusanus, De concordantia catholica, trad. ital. in: Opere religiose, a cura di Pio Gaia, Torino (UTET) 1971
2) Kurt Flasch, Niccolò Cusano nel suo tempo, Pisa (ETS) 2005
3) Introducing Nicholas of Cusa: a guide to a Renaissance man, a cura di Christopher M. Bellitto / Thomas M. Izbicki / Gerald Christianson, New York (Paulist press) 2004 (chapters 1-5)

- the student's participation in the discussions
- the oral presentation of a research argument
- correction of the written essay
- oral exam about the content of the course

- the student's participation in the discussions
- the oral presentation of a research argument
- correction of the written essay
- oral exam about the content of the course