HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE MIDDLE AGES

The course is part of the core educational activities of the "History - Ancient and Medieval Mediterranean" curriculum, and of the interdisciplinary activities of the "History - From European Hegemony to Globalization" and "Antrophology" curricula of the Bachelor’s Degree Programme in History.
The course aims at the following objectives:
- an advanced knowledge of the main aspects and problems of the history of Christianity from the Beginning to the 14th century;
- the ability to apply historical methodology to the history of Christianity;
- the learning of skills for analysing historical sources concerning the history of Christianity;
- the ability to study and debate historical phenomena related to the Early, Late Ancient and Medieval Christianity.

The course aims at the following learning objectives:
1. Knowledge and Understanding
- knowledge of the main aspects and problems of the history of Christianity (I-XIV centuries);
- knowledge of the historical methodology;
- basic knowledge of historical sources concerning the history of Christianity (I-XIV centuries).
2. Application of Knowledge and Understanding
- ability to apply historical methodology to the history of Christianity;
- ability to analyse historical sources concerning the history of Christianity from the Beginning to the 14th century.
3. Judgement and Communication Skills
- capacity to communicate and debate main developments and problems of the history of Christianity from the Beginning to the 14th century.
4. Learning Skills
- development of those learning skills that are necessary to continue to undertake, with a high degree of autonomy, further study in history of Early Christianity, Christianity during Late Antiquity, Christianity during the Middle Ages.

Basic knowledge of History (I-XIV centuries).

The course provides fundamental knowledge concerning the history of Christianity from the beginning to the 14th century. It aims to clarify the developments of the Christian Churches, the doctrinal debates, the spread of Christianity in the European and Mediterranean areas. It helps to develop a general understanding of the history of Christianity.

1) Lecture notes;
2) G.L.Potesta, G.Vian, Storia del cristianesimo, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2014, New Edition, pp. 1-290, ISBN 9788815252593.
3) [only for students not attending lectures] one volume of your choice among the following ones:
a) Storia del cristianesimo, vol. 1: L'età antica (secoli I-VII), ed. by E.Prinzivalli, Rome, Carocci, 2015, 492 p., ISBN 9788843075072
b) Storia del cristianesimo, vol. 2: L'età medievale (secoli VIII-XV), ed. by M.Benedetti, Rome, Carocci, 2015, 480 p., ISBN 9788843075089

Oral exam based on questions of various types, concerning both important topics and most specific subjects of the history of christianity (I-XIV centuries). Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the contents of the lectures and the bibliography, and to discuss them critically.
The exam will take about 30 minutes.
The highest score obtainable is 30/30 with honors.

Teaching method: lectures. Students are invited to contribute with critical questions and comments to the discussion.

Italian

oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "International cooperation" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development