Political and Institutional History of Europe in the Middle Ages
A.Y. 2020/2021
Learning objectives
In this course, intended for students of history and other humanities already experienced and equipped with a basic knowledge of the discipline, there will be presented and discussed texts and documents on the system of Italian and European states at the end of the Middle Ages and early Renaissance, with a thorough and specialized discussion of the historiographic debate.
In particular, the themes of military organization, diplomacy and government apparatus, and the role of women within power structures, will all be examined. The theme of institutional pluralism, namely the role of cities, communities, fiefdoms, fractional aggregations as interlocutors of the new Italian and European state institutions, will also be a primary theme of study.
In the last module, time will be left for students to discuss topics and bibliographical scholarship, agreed-upon dually with the instructor and presented in a seminar-like style, related to the themes of the course, and in combination with the reading and study of small sets of original or published documents. The lessons will be accompanied by texts and images distributed both in paper form and through projections, and then made available to students through publication on the ARIEL portal.
In particular, the themes of military organization, diplomacy and government apparatus, and the role of women within power structures, will all be examined. The theme of institutional pluralism, namely the role of cities, communities, fiefdoms, fractional aggregations as interlocutors of the new Italian and European state institutions, will also be a primary theme of study.
In the last module, time will be left for students to discuss topics and bibliographical scholarship, agreed-upon dually with the instructor and presented in a seminar-like style, related to the themes of the course, and in combination with the reading and study of small sets of original or published documents. The lessons will be accompanied by texts and images distributed both in paper form and through projections, and then made available to students through publication on the ARIEL portal.
Expected learning outcomes
Classes designed for those opting to attend the lesson, as well as readings for non-attending students, aim to:
- provide the timely and critical knowledge of the main topics covered in the lectures or texts indicated;
-axquire the necessary tools which are instrumental for study and analysis of texts;
- construct a bibliography on the proposed topics, distinguishing the various kinds of historical literature;
- utilize texts in major foreign languages;
- introduce the reading and exegesis of original documents and the work of archival research, in view of the master's thesis;
- the ability to neatly exhibit the acquired knowledge in oral form, with appropriate lexicon;
(and in particular, for attendees)
- present to the class of agreed upon arguments and insights;
- actively participate in the collective work of the class with presentations and discussions;
- use in slide set presentations in Power Point or other digital formats.
- provide the timely and critical knowledge of the main topics covered in the lectures or texts indicated;
-axquire the necessary tools which are instrumental for study and analysis of texts;
- construct a bibliography on the proposed topics, distinguishing the various kinds of historical literature;
- utilize texts in major foreign languages;
- introduce the reading and exegesis of original documents and the work of archival research, in view of the master's thesis;
- the ability to neatly exhibit the acquired knowledge in oral form, with appropriate lexicon;
(and in particular, for attendees)
- present to the class of agreed upon arguments and insights;
- actively participate in the collective work of the class with presentations and discussions;
- use in slide set presentations in Power Point or other digital formats.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
In relation to the possible developments of the health emergency, in order to organize the course in the most effective way, the teaching will be organized as follows. Lessons will be part in presence, part in Teams platform. On Ariel platform students will find videos, slides and materials presented in the lessons.
Ariel will be used by the teacher to give communications and notices. For the reception hours see the "chi e dove".
The learning verification methods (exams) will not undergo substantial changes, except for the eventuality to conduct them through the Teams platform, instead of in attendance.
Ariel will be used by the teacher to give communications and notices. For the reception hours see the "chi e dove".
The learning verification methods (exams) will not undergo substantial changes, except for the eventuality to conduct them through the Teams platform, instead of in attendance.
Course syllabus
Monarchies, empire and city states in Europe, 13th-15th centuries.
The course will deal with the political institutions of European states between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries, with comparisons and analysis of the different systems of authority and power.
The course will deal with the political institutions of European states between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries, with comparisons and analysis of the different systems of authority and power.
Prerequisites for admission
To have passed the exam of medieval history and know the main topics of the discipline.
Teaching methods
Students will actively participate in the lessons and contribute with discussions and exercises.
Teaching Resources
Mandatory texts, for all students:
L. BLANCO, Le origini dello stato moderno. Secoli XI-XV, Carocci, Roma 2020.
Other materials will be provided in the lessons (Ariel portal).
Other mandatory text: only for students not following the lessons:
G. CHITTOLINI, La formazione dello stato regionale e le istituzioni del contado, Unicopli 2005 (prima ed. Einaudi 1979).
Not following students for 9 CFU must choose another text in the list:
L. Arcangeli, G. Chittolini, F. Del Tredici, E. Rossetti (a cura di), Famiglie e spazi sacri nella Lombardia del Rinascimento, Scalpendi, Milano 2015
S. Carocci, Signorie di Mezzogiorno. Società rurali, poteri aristocratici e monarchia (XII-XIII secolo), Viella, Roma 2014
G. Chittolini, Città, comunità e feudi negli stati dell'italia centro-settentrionale (secoli XIV-XVI), Unicopli, Milano 1996
M.N. Covini, L'esercito del duca. Organizzazione militare e istituzioni al tempo degli Sforza (1450-1480), Roma 1998 (scaricabile da academia.edu)
M.N. Covini, Potere, ricchezza e distinzione a Milano nel Quattrocento. Nuove ricerche su Cicco Simonetta, Bruno Mondadori, Milano 2018
M.N. Covini, La balanza drita. Pratiche di governo, leggi e ordinamenti nel ducato sforzesco, Milano, Franco Angeli, 2007
M. Della Misericordia, Divenire comunità : comuni rurali, poteri locali, identità sociali e territoriali in Valtellina e nella montagna lombarda nel tardo Medioevo, Franco Angeli, Milano 2006
B. Del Bo, Uomini e strutture di uno Stato feudale: il marchesato di Monferrato (1418-1483), LED, Milano 2009
F. Del Tredici, Un'altra nobiltà: storie di (in)distinzione a Milano : secoli XIV-XV, Franco Angeli, Milano 2017
R. Fubini, Italia quattrocentesca: politica e diplomazia nell'età di Lorenzo il Magnifico, Franco Angeli, Milano 1994
P. Grillo, Milano guelfa (1302-1310), Roma, Viella 2013
I. Lazzarini, Fra un principe ed altri stati. Relazioni di potere e forme di servizio a Mantova nell'età di Ludovico Gonzaga, Roma 1996
I. Lazzarini, Communication and Conflict. Italian Diplomacy in the Early Renaissance, 1350-1520, Oxford U.P. 2015
L. Martines, La congiura dei Pazzi: intrighi politici, sangue e vendetta nella Firenze dei Medici, Mondadori, Milano 2004
F. Pagnoni, Brescia viscontea (1337-1403), Organizzazione territoriale, identità cittadina e politiche di governo negli anni della prima dominazione milanese, Milano, Unicopli 2013
R. Rao, Signori di Popolo. Signoria cittadina e società comunale nell'Italia nord-occidentale, 1275-1350, Franco Angeli, Milano 2011
E. Roveda, Uomini, terre e acque: studi sull'agricoltura della Bassa lombarda tra XV e XVII secolo, Milano 2012
F. Senatore, «Uno mundo de carta». Forme e strutture della diplomazia sforzesca, Napoli 1998
A. Settia, Castelli e villaggi nell'Italia padana, Napoli 1984
F. Somaini, Processi costitutivi, dinamiche politiche e strutture istituzionali dello Stato visconteo-sforzesco, in Comuni e signorie nell'Italia settentrionale: la Lombardia (Storia d'Italia diretta da G. Galasso, vol. VI), Torino 1998
L. Tanzini, F.P. Tocco, Un Medioevo mediterraneo. Mille anni tra Oriente e Occidente, Roma 2020 (testo suggerito per chi volesse rinfrescare e approfondire la preparazione manualistica)
M. Vallerani (a cura di), Tecniche di potere nel tardo Medioevo. Regimi comunali e signorie in Italia, Viella, Roma 2010.
E. Welch, Art and authority in Renaissance Milan, Yale University Press, New Haven 1995
L. BLANCO, Le origini dello stato moderno. Secoli XI-XV, Carocci, Roma 2020.
Other materials will be provided in the lessons (Ariel portal).
Other mandatory text: only for students not following the lessons:
G. CHITTOLINI, La formazione dello stato regionale e le istituzioni del contado, Unicopli 2005 (prima ed. Einaudi 1979).
Not following students for 9 CFU must choose another text in the list:
L. Arcangeli, G. Chittolini, F. Del Tredici, E. Rossetti (a cura di), Famiglie e spazi sacri nella Lombardia del Rinascimento, Scalpendi, Milano 2015
S. Carocci, Signorie di Mezzogiorno. Società rurali, poteri aristocratici e monarchia (XII-XIII secolo), Viella, Roma 2014
G. Chittolini, Città, comunità e feudi negli stati dell'italia centro-settentrionale (secoli XIV-XVI), Unicopli, Milano 1996
M.N. Covini, L'esercito del duca. Organizzazione militare e istituzioni al tempo degli Sforza (1450-1480), Roma 1998 (scaricabile da academia.edu)
M.N. Covini, Potere, ricchezza e distinzione a Milano nel Quattrocento. Nuove ricerche su Cicco Simonetta, Bruno Mondadori, Milano 2018
M.N. Covini, La balanza drita. Pratiche di governo, leggi e ordinamenti nel ducato sforzesco, Milano, Franco Angeli, 2007
M. Della Misericordia, Divenire comunità : comuni rurali, poteri locali, identità sociali e territoriali in Valtellina e nella montagna lombarda nel tardo Medioevo, Franco Angeli, Milano 2006
B. Del Bo, Uomini e strutture di uno Stato feudale: il marchesato di Monferrato (1418-1483), LED, Milano 2009
F. Del Tredici, Un'altra nobiltà: storie di (in)distinzione a Milano : secoli XIV-XV, Franco Angeli, Milano 2017
R. Fubini, Italia quattrocentesca: politica e diplomazia nell'età di Lorenzo il Magnifico, Franco Angeli, Milano 1994
P. Grillo, Milano guelfa (1302-1310), Roma, Viella 2013
I. Lazzarini, Fra un principe ed altri stati. Relazioni di potere e forme di servizio a Mantova nell'età di Ludovico Gonzaga, Roma 1996
I. Lazzarini, Communication and Conflict. Italian Diplomacy in the Early Renaissance, 1350-1520, Oxford U.P. 2015
L. Martines, La congiura dei Pazzi: intrighi politici, sangue e vendetta nella Firenze dei Medici, Mondadori, Milano 2004
F. Pagnoni, Brescia viscontea (1337-1403), Organizzazione territoriale, identità cittadina e politiche di governo negli anni della prima dominazione milanese, Milano, Unicopli 2013
R. Rao, Signori di Popolo. Signoria cittadina e società comunale nell'Italia nord-occidentale, 1275-1350, Franco Angeli, Milano 2011
E. Roveda, Uomini, terre e acque: studi sull'agricoltura della Bassa lombarda tra XV e XVII secolo, Milano 2012
F. Senatore, «Uno mundo de carta». Forme e strutture della diplomazia sforzesca, Napoli 1998
A. Settia, Castelli e villaggi nell'Italia padana, Napoli 1984
F. Somaini, Processi costitutivi, dinamiche politiche e strutture istituzionali dello Stato visconteo-sforzesco, in Comuni e signorie nell'Italia settentrionale: la Lombardia (Storia d'Italia diretta da G. Galasso, vol. VI), Torino 1998
L. Tanzini, F.P. Tocco, Un Medioevo mediterraneo. Mille anni tra Oriente e Occidente, Roma 2020 (testo suggerito per chi volesse rinfrescare e approfondire la preparazione manualistica)
M. Vallerani (a cura di), Tecniche di potere nel tardo Medioevo. Regimi comunali e signorie in Italia, Viella, Roma 2010.
E. Welch, Art and authority in Renaissance Milan, Yale University Press, New Haven 1995
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam is oral.
The evaluation will take into account:
- knowledge of the contents of the texts, lessons and related materials distributed on Ariel:
- the ability to critically read the proposed historiographic works;
- the quality of the exposure: clarity and lexical property.
Any personal problems or difficulties that may affect the exam can be reported to the teacher, before the exam, in a private interview.
The evaluation will take into account:
- knowledge of the contents of the texts, lessons and related materials distributed on Ariel:
- the ability to critically read the proposed historiographic works;
- the quality of the exposure: clarity and lexical property.
Any personal problems or difficulties that may affect the exam can be reported to the teacher, before the exam, in a private interview.
Unita' didattica A
M-STO/01 - MEDIEVAL HISTORY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
M-STO/01 - MEDIEVAL HISTORY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
M-STO/01 - MEDIEVAL HISTORY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
see italian version - Please send a mail message in advance
Settore B - Aula B 23 or Platform Microsoft Teams - team Ricevimento Covini code ekuhtqk