Learning objectives

To deepen one or more aspects or specific themes of 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

Students are required to have a basic knowledge of medieval history and of Latin.

Program

Perceptions of Africa and Africans in medieval Europe.
Is it possible to propose a global history of the Late Middle Ages? And, in this perspective, how can we study the history of the representation of Africa and Africans? The course aims to answer these questions. It will do so through two case studies. The first, reconstructed through a dossier of sources proposed in class, will concern the cult of Saint Maurice and the context that led to the placement of a statue of Saint Maurice with sub-Saharan features to protect the tomb of Emperor Otto I in Magdeburg in the 13th century. The second, reconstructed on the basis of a recent monograph by the anthropologist Marco Aime, will examine the case of the pilgrimage to Mecca undertaken by the Sultan of Mali, Mansa Musa, in 1324 and its impact on the world economy of the time, demonstrating the full inclusion of sub-Saharan Africa in the economic and political links that linked Africa, Asia and Europe.

Bibliography

Didactic methods

The course will be mainly seminar-based and will be based on the reading and commentary of recent historiographical sources and interpretations.
After having received the necessary knowledge, in the course of the lectures the students will try to analyse autonomously some of the proposed sources. They will then have to write a short essay on their own, based on indications given in the lectures, to be handed in before the exam.

Learning assessment procedures

The examination consists of two distinct parts. In the first part, students will have to answer questions aimed at verifying the acquisition of the knowledge 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 lecturer 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

Attendance and active participation in the training activities offered by the course (lectures alternating with seminar-style teaching) and individual study will ensure that students be able to:
Define and describe the specific characteristics of the knowledge and representations of Africa and Africans in the early and late Middle Ages;
define and describe the specific characteristics of the cult of Saint Maurice and be able to explain its significance for the perception of Africa and Africans between the 10th and 13th centuries; and define and describe the specific characteristics of the pilgrimage of the Mali Sultan Mansa Musa to Mecca, and be able to explain its importance for the perception of Africa and Africans in the 14th century; - be able to orientate oneself in the history of Africa and of Africans from the 10th to the 13th century;
be able to orient themselves in the debate on the global history of the Middle Ages;
Identify and analyse primary sources from the Middle Ages.
Analyse a historical map;
Write a short essay on the topics discussed in class.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

Each of the two parts in which the examination consists will contribute 50% to the final grade.

Exam language

Italiano