History of Printing and Publishing

The course retraces the history of printed books in Europe, from the invention of the printing press to present, with some insights into extra-European experiences. It presents, by the means of case studies, possible research approaches to book history, and their evolution. It provides, through (group) activities, some hints on how to add value and communicate bibliographical items that are historically relevant.

At the end of the course, the student should be able to:
- Describe, using the appropriate vocabulary, the material features of printed books, both from the handpress period (pre-1830) and modern period (formats, types, layout, illustrations, binding, book parts);
- Describe, using the appropriate vocabulary, printing techniques, both from the handpress period (pre-1830) and modern period (movable types, xylograph, copperplate, lithograph, mechanic press);
- Outline the events of book history presented during the course and in the bibliography;
- Correctly place in time the events of book history presented during the course and in the bibliography
- Describe the features of the European or extra-European book trade in a given time;
- Describe the political, economic, social, or cultural contexts that have influenced the European book trade from the invention of the printing press to present (censorship, literacy, education, technology, piracy )
- Summarise the features and sequences of events relevant for the history of printing enterprises (printshops, publishing houses, book series, journals, single works) presented during the course or in the bibliography;
- Outline the sources that can be used for a research in book history, as they emerge from the scholarship of the authors presented during the course and of the authors of the texts in the bibliography;
- Sketch a bibliographic research aimed to research a given phenomenon in book history;
- Design simple activities (virtual exhibition, blogpost, online annotation) aimed to add value or communicate a bibliographic item with historical relevance (book, book part, issue of a periodic publication, illustrated print, etc.).