Learning objectives
At the end of the course the student will be able to: a) contextualize the major historical events of the modern age in the more general framework of political, economic, social and cultural life of early modern Europe in its interrelations with non-European countries; b ) demonstrate awareness of the complexity of the roots of contemporary Europe c) apply the knowledge gained to critical analysis and interpretation of historical sources and iconography relating to the events studied
Prerequisites
Basic cognitive requirements
Course unit content
The course consists of a critical overview of main issues and problems of the early modern age, from discovery of America at the age of Revolutions. Particular emphasis will be given to the conquest of America and the impact it had in Europe in terms of cultural, philosophical and anthropological.
Full programme
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Bibliography
C. Capra, Storia moderna (1492-1848), Milano, Mondadori, 2011. For the preparation of the general part is also obligatory the use of a historical atlas.
T. Todorov, La conquista dell'America. Il problema dell'altro, Torino, Einaudi, 2005; P. Vignolo, Cannibali, giganti e selvaggi. Creature mostruose del Nuovo Mondo, Milano, Bruno Mondadori, 2009
Teaching methods
Lectures with reading and commenting on texts and sources; at the end of the course there will be a written test aims at the acquisition of the main tools for analyzing and interpreting historical textual and iconographic sources described in the first part.
Assessment methods and criteria
The final exam is divided into two parts:
1)a written paper in which the student must demonstrate knowledge of the main events of the history and problems of the modern age and the acquired ability to critically analyze a textual source or iconographicThe written paper is divided into three open questions taken from the manual of general history and a commentary of a historical document regarding the topics covered in the manual. The time available for the written paper is two hours. It’s considered sufficient a paper in which the candidate has correctly answered all questions without significant error in the exposition of facts and in the analysis of the source.
2) an oral exam in which the student must disclose in a reasoned and critical way the topics covered in the texts of Todorov e Vignolo.
The final grade is formulated considering the whole, the written test and oral exposure.
Other information
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