CIVILIZATIONS OF THE LATE MIDDLE AGES
Stampa
Enrollment year
2017/2018
Academic year
2017/2018
Regulations
DM270
Academic discipline
M-STO/01 (MEDIAEVAL HISTORY)
Department
DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITIES
Course
HISTORY OF EUROPE
Curriculum
PERCORSO COMUNE
Year of study
Period
(26/02/2018 - 01/06/2018)
ECTS
6
Lesson hours
36 lesson hours
Language
Italian
Activity type
ORAL TEST
Teacher
FRANK THOMAS - 6 ECTS
Prerequisites
B.A. in Lettere or a similar discipline. Ability to read modern articles in English.
Learning outcomes
- knowledge of the variety of sources for the reconstruction of a medieval road
- close reading of written sources on the Via Francigena
- ability to employ the most important methods of historical critique
- to put in relation written, figurative and local architectural sources
- to reflect on the significance of communication networks in the historical context of medieval Italy
- knowledge of the bibliographical tools necessary for doing research on problems of medieval history
- comprehension of the contributions of international research (especially written in English) to the topic of the seminar
Course contents
"The Via Francigena and the use of space between 10th and 15th century"
The medieval road system known as "Via Francigena" – the road of the Franks – developed from the Lombard and Carolingian period, partly following the ancient Roman streets and partly opening new pathes. The Via Francigena connected the Frankish Kingdom with Rome. This seminar will present selected sources – texts, pictures, maps and architectural evidence from the 10th to the 15th century – that can be used for reconstructing a medieval road. Further we will organize a field survey, taking advantage of the vicinity of important points of intersection such as the cities of Pavia or Vercelli. The main aspects of investigation are the use of space in medieval times as well as the motivations and behaviour of the people who used the road. The course will be integrated by a 'tutorato' aiming to support especially (but not exclusively) those students who have to complete their knowledge of medieval history.
Teaching methods
- lectures
- Powerpoint presentation of images and maps (available on KIRO)
- classroom reading and discussion of selected sources
- oral presentation of arguments chosen by the students
- on-site exploration of buildings and traces of the Via Francigena
Reccomended or required readings
(A) Reading for students who will attend the class:
(1) notes from the lessons
(2) Renato Stopani, La Via Francigena: storia di una strada medievale, Firenze 1998
(3) Arnold Esch, La Via Cassia: sopravvivenza di un'antica strada con note per un'escursione tra Sutri e Bolsena, Roma 1996 (original German edition 1990)
(4) Francis P. Magoun, The Pilgrim-Diary of Nikulas of Munkathvera: The Road to Rome, in "Mediaeval Studies" 6 (1944), p. 314-354

(B) Reading for students who will not attend the class:
(1) Renato Stopani, La Via Francigena: storia di una strada medievale, Firenze 1998
(2) Arnold Esch, La Via Cassia: sopravvivenza di un'antica strada con note per un'escursione tra Sutri e Bolsena, Roma 1996 (original German edition 1990)
(3) Francis P. Magoun, The Pilgrim-Diary of Nikulas of Munkathvera: The Road to Rome, in "Mediaeval Studies" 6 (1944), p. 314-354
(4) One of the following books, to be chosen:
- Michele Pellegrini, La comunità ospedaliera di Santa Maria della Scala e il suo più antico statuto: Siena, 1305, Ospedaletto/Pisa 2005
- Renata Crotti, Il sistema caritativo-assistenziale nella Lombardia medievale: il caso pavese, Pavia 2002
- E divenne maggiore: aspetti della storia dell'Ospedale di Sant'Andrea in Vercelli, Atti del Convegno di Vercelli, 8 novembre 2003, ed. by Maria Caterina Perazzo, Novara 2009
Assessment methods
For students who will attend the class:
Oral exam (50%) about the content of the lessons and the programme of reading. The main criterion for a successful exam – besides the knowledge of the most important aspects of the content and the historical context of the topic – is the student's competence in reflecting on the use and criticism of historical sources.
Before being admitted to the oral exam students have to prepare a paper (about 10 pages) on a limited argument connected with the topic of the seminar (instructions will be given at the beginning of the lessons). The paper, the oral presentation of the same argument in class and the student's general contributions to the discussions during the lessons account for another 50% of the final evaluation in the 'modulo' "Civiltà del basso medioevo".

For students who will not attend the class:
Oral exam about the entire programme of reading and the historical context of the topic. The main criterion for a successful exam – besides the knowledge of the most important aspects of the content of the programme and the context – is the student's competence in reflecting on the use and the criticism of historical sources.
Students without credit points in medieval history have to complete their knowledge with a handbook (or by attending the 'tutorato') and are requested to contact the professor in time.
Further information
For students who will attend the class:
Oral exam (50%) about the content of the lessons and the programme of reading. The main criterion for a successful exam – besides the knowledge of the most important aspects of the content and the historical context of the topic – is the student's competence in reflecting on the use and criticism of historical sources.
Before being admitted to the oral exam students have to prepare a paper (about 10 pages) on a limited argument connected with the topic of the seminar (instructions will be given at the beginning of the lessons). The paper, the oral presentation of the same argument in class and the student's general contributions to the discussions during the lessons account for another 50% of the final evaluation in the 'modulo' "Civiltà del basso medioevo".

For students who will not attend the class:
Oral exam about the entire programme of reading and the historical context of the topic. The main criterion for a successful exam – besides the knowledge of the most important aspects of the content of the programme and the context – is the student's competence in reflecting on the use and the criticism of historical sources.
Students without credit points in medieval history have to complete their knowledge with a handbook (or by attending the 'tutorato') and are requested to contact the professor in time.
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