Learning objectives

To deepen one or more aspects or specific themes of early medieval society through the reading and the commentary, oral and written, of sources of various typologies and the reading and discussion of relevant historiographical contributions. To provide the student with the methodological and critical tools necessary for the initiation of independent research work.

Prerequisites and basic notions

Basic knowledge of medieval history and latin.

Program

Perceptions of Africa and Africans in Medieval Europe. Unit 1: Forms of Identity in the Early Middle Ages.



The first unit of the course will be dedicated to the theme of individual and collective identities and 'signs of distinction' in the early Middle Ages, with particular attention and in-depth study devoted to the representation of the Other and the definition of the characteristics of the inhabitants of Africa. In this context, the lectures of the first part of the unit, which will have an introductory character, will be dedicated to the historiographical debate on 'ethnicity', 'identity' and 'race' in the Middle Ages, with particular attention to the period before the year 1000. Based on this historiographical reconstruction, the representations of 'European' peoples in early medieval historical-narrative sources will be analysed and discussed. Within this framework, the following lectures will focus on the knowledge that 'Europeans' had of Africa in the early Middle Ages. From this perspective, an attempt will also be made to reflect on how such insights can promote a global approach to medieval history.

Bibliography

Didactic methods

The course will be mainly seminar-based, based on reading and commenting on recent historiographical sources and interpretations. Having acquired the necessary knowledge, students will attempt to independently analyse some of the proposed sources in the course of the lectures. They will then have to write a short essay on their own, based on the indications given in the lectures, to be handed in before the exam.

Learning assessment procedures

The examination will be a single examination consisting of two different parts. In the first part, students will have to answer questions aimed at verifying the acquisition of the knowledge and skills provided by the lectures and the reading of the course reference texts. In the second part, they will present and discuss with the professor a short essay on the topics covered in class, to be agreed in advance with the teacher (max. 10 pages = 20,000 characters). The essay must be agreed in advance with the professor and sent by e-mail at least 3 days before the exam. The lecturer will publish the instructions on how to write the essay and upload pdf's of essays that can be used for the term paper on the university's moodle website under the link for the course.

Evaluation criteria

The course aims to enable students to acquire the following educational objectives and learning outcomes: ability to reconstruct and critically discuss the main acquisitions of the recent historiographical debate on early medieval "ethnic identities"; ability to the main individual and collective "forms of distinction" present in early medieval societies; ability to analyze the role played by skin color in the early medieval "forms of distinction"; ability to reconstruct the ways in which early medieval sources represent Africa and its inhabitants; ability to reconstruct in parallel the historical-political evolution of Europe and Africa in the early Middle Ages; ability to distinguish and critically analyze early medieval primary sources; ability to carry out independent research on the topics covered in the course; ability to write a short essay on the topics covered in the course.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

The final grade will consist of two thirds of the outcome of the interview and one third of the presentation and discussion of the paper.

Exam language

Italiano.

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