Learning objectives
The purpose of this course is to give knowledges of tools to set and develop an historical research. Meaning and the exegesis of primary sources, to the historiography and the place where primary sources are kept, as archives and libraries. By this way students will be able to work on a medieval research project knowing how to use primary and secondary sources, as well as the problems concerning their use. At the same time, students will learn how to use the library and archive's catalogues (online and not online), as well as the main websites concerning medieval history, connected to national and international universities or research centers (i.e. Reti Medievali, Istituto Datini, The Renaissance Society of America, the Medievalist and so on). By this way students will have the necessary knowledge to find reliable primary and secondary sources for researching about a medieval topic.
Prerequisites
The knowledge of the Medieval History, that means: to know the main political. economic, social, cultural and religious events that occured between 5th and 15th century, as well as the main protagonists of that events.
Course unit content
The course "Merchants and Markets in the Middle Ages" has the purpose to analyze the role and the evolution of merchants during the Middle Ages, as well as the birth, evolution and death of the European Markets, by the study of primary and secondary sources.
Full programme
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Bibliography
Cammarosano P., Italia medievale. Struttura e geografia delle fonti scritte, Roma, La Nuova Italia Scientifica, 1993.
Gasparri S., Voci dai secoli oscuri. Un percorso nelle fonti dell'alto medioevo, Roma, Carocci, 2017.
Tramontana S., Capire il medioevo. Le fonti e i temi, Roma, Carocci, 2005.
Further books, connected to the course's topic, will be indicated during the course.
Teaching methods
To pursue the course's purpose there will be lectures and some works of analysis on primary and secondary sources, together with students. Lessons will be in classroom as well as, when it will possible, in the local libraries and archives to introduce students to the knowledge of the main resources for starting, and building, a research about a topic in medieval history, that means a topic on family and families in Middle Ages. Students will learn how to use the main resources for building a good bibliography and the typologies of primary sources used for discovered the Middle Ages.
Assessment methods and criteria
Students have to write a brief critical analysis (25 pages max) of what has been written, in the last decades, about the topic of the course (Merchants and Markets in the Middle Ages). Alternatively, students can write a paper, concerning Merchants and Markets, using both primary and secondary sources.
The topic of both works must be previously agreed with the teacher.
Through their written works, students have to show their ability in a critical analysis of historiography, or in building a research using both primary and secondary sources
Other information
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