Learning objectives
At the end of the course, the student will have had the possibility to acquire a critical knowledge of the main issues and events of Contemporary history (knowledge and understanding) and to develop the ability to express their arguments with competence and clarity (communication skills).
The student will acquire specific skills and methodologies useful to improve his knowledge of particular topics of Contemporary history (learning skills) both for an application to different contexts, not only of the historical one, in relation to what has been studied during the course (applying knowledge and understanding).
From this viewpoint the course offers the student the opportunity to strengthen, starting from the specific themes of Contemporary history, his cognitive and communicative abilities to understand and re-organize his personal comprehension of the world (making judgments).
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of the principal issues and events of contemporary history (from 1815 until nowadays). Particular attention will be given to their geographical setting (for this purpose it is strongly recommended the use of an historical atlas). The blended-modality will be available as a reference point for studying or revising.
Course unit content
The course, after a historiographical introduction, offers an overview of the main issues and events of Contemporary history and focuses on the turning point of WWI. Key themes will be: the age of Revolutions; the age of the Restoration; the Italian Risorgimento; the “European world” in the XIXth century; the First World War; the age of totalitarianisms; the age of the Cold War; the European integration.
Full programme
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Bibliography
a) P. Genovesi, Parma 1914-1918. Vita quotidiana di una città al tempo della Grande Guerra, Mup;
b) A. Gibelli, La Guerra Grande. Storie di gente comune, Laterza or G.E. Rusconi, Attacco ad Occidente, il Mulino.
c) Notes and materials of the course (available on the Elly platform from the end of the lessons) or a volume to be chosen* among: B. Bongiovanni, Storia della guerra fredda, Laterza; P. Gabrielli, Anni di novità e di grandi cose. Il boom economico tra tradizione e cambiamento; il Mulino; G. Mammarella, P. Cacace, Storia e politica dell’Unione europea, Laterza.
*The study of the volume must be integrated with an individual work to be agreed.
Teaching methods
Oral lessons and seminars
Assessment methods and criteria
Self-evaluation text at the beginning of the course.
Training can be made in itinere on the blended course.
The final exam is oral and divided in two parts (to be completed on the same day): the first part will verify the general topics (see “prerequisites”); the second part will consist in questions about the specific themes and bibliography of the course. The evaluation (out of 30) has to reach at least 18/30 in both parts in order to be positive. The result will be communicated on Esse 3.
The evaluation will be based on the following points: a) comprehension of the course’s contents; b) ability of setting in the right place and period the events; c) accuracy of the answer; d) speaking skills and specific terms; e) individual ability in the organization of the contents; f) capability of creating links between the different events and issues studied.
Other information
The Erasmus students have to contact the professor at the beginning of the course.
