CONTEMPORARY HISTORY I

The course offers a general knowledge of Italian history in the European context between the XIX and the XX century. A special attention is given to the following questions: periodization, the identification of historical subjects, the study of texts and contexts. Students are introduced to historiographical debates on the modern era and are encouraged to identify the links between the experiences of the past and contemporary events.

The student is supposed to familiarize himself or herself with Italian and European events in the period 1848-1948 with a special focus on political and cultural events. General historical events will be examioned especially through the course special topic seen from Italy in the European context
The student will aso develop critical abilities in analyzing chronological and causal relations, in the analysis of texts and contexts, in the identification of historical subjects.

There are no specific prerequirements

Course title: The Intellectuals and the People: Birth, transformation and crisis of the nation between Italy and Europe (1848-1948)
The course offers a general survey of themes, questions, debates of the themes of history between the XIX and the XX centuries, with a special focus on Italy in the European context

GENERAL BACKGROUND (Parte Generale):

The General Background – mandatory for all – requires the knowledge of the period 1815-1945, and is based on the study of:

- Alberto Mario Banti, L’età contemporanea. Dalle rivoluzioni settecentesche all’imperialismo, Laterza 2009 (or following editions), CHAPTERS: from 6 to 9, from 20 to 24
- Id., L’età contemporanea. Dalla Grande Guerra a oggi, Laterza 2009 (or following editions).
CHAPTERS: from 1 to 4, from 7 to 9

SPECIAL PART (Parte Monografica):

Students attending the classes (FREQUENTANTI) must select one book in the following list if they are taking the class for 6 credits; 2 books if they are taking the class for 12 credits.

Students not attending classes (NON FREQUENTANTI) must select 2 books from the following list, if they are taking the class for 6 credits; 3 books if they are taking the class for 12 credits.

Please select among the following:

- Arianna Arisi Rota, I piccoli cospiratori. Politica ed emozioni nei primi mazziniani, Il Mulino 2010
- Alberto M. Banti, La nazione del Risorgimento. Parentela, santità, onore, Einaudi (various eds.)
- Emilio Gentile, Fascismo. Storia e interpretazione, Laterza (various eds.)
- Antonio Gibelli, La Grande Guerra degli italiani, 1915-1918, BUR 2014.
- Mario Isnenghi, L’Italia in piazza. I luoghi della vita pubblica dal 1848 ai giorni nostri, Il Mulino (various eds.)
- Mario Isnenghi, Le guerre degli italiani. Parole, immagini, ricordi, 1848-1945, Il Mulino (various eds.)
- Simon Levis Sullam, L’apostolo a brandelli. L’eredità di Mazzini tra Risorgimento e fascismo, Laterza 2010
- Santo Peli, La Resistenza in Italia. Storia e critica, Einaudi 2004
- Michele Sarfatti, Gli ebrei nell’Italia fascista. Vicende, identità, persecuzione, Einaudi (various eds.)

The exame will be in written form for all: 3 questions out of six on the general part (general textbooks); two questions per specific volume (monografie)
The student is supposed to have a general knowledge of major events from the period 1848-1948, to be aware of the historiographical debates on the central questions of the modern age, to analyze critically both historical events and the historian's approach to the past.

Lectures and in-class discussions

written