HISTORY OF RELIGIONS IN EURASIA FROM THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE TO THE POST SOVIET STATES

This course aims to define the main historical dynamics of Eurasia in modern and contemporary times. The course will first of all touch the expansion of the Russian empire starting from the second half of the sixteenth century: Tatar khanates of Volga and Crimea, Siberia, Caucasus, Central Asia and Far East. In-depth attention will be devoted to the dynamics of political, social and cultural interaction between the Russian center and the populations gradually included in the empire. The Soviet era will then be taken into consideration, with particular reference to nationality policies and to the relationship with neighboring states. Finally, the last part of the course will address the political situation that arose after the dissolution of the USSR, outlining especially the establishment of independent republics and their relations with the Eurasian Economic Union and the Chinese infrastructure projects (BIS).

Knowledge and understanding::
- to develop a good understanding of the the general lines of the history of Eurasia with particular reference to modern and contemporary times

Applying knowledge and understanding:
- to understand the specificity of this huge geographical and cultural area that in modern times has seen the expansion of Russia with complex dynamics of relationship with the conquered populations, mainly Muslim and Buddhist, as well with China and Japan.
- to develop an appropriate approach to this particularly complex area, insisting above all on its geographical, economic and cultural importance.

Making judgements:
- to produce critical judgments on the historical and cultural phenomena of the course
- to analyze various types of sources according to a critical approach

Communication:
- to express and re-elaborate the contents of the programme in written form.

Lifelong learning skills:
- to know how to take notes in an effective way
- to know how to critically integrate the study of different materials (notes, slides, manuals, creative texts, academic articles)
- to be able to independently study materials and topics not covered during the lectures
- to refine one's ability to study materials in English

No previous knowledge in the field is required.

Russian Orthodoxy
The conquest of the Tatar khanates and the encounter with Islam
Siberia: Shamanism and Buddhism
The Caucasus: Islam and Christian churches in the Russian empire
Catholicism and Eastern Catholic Churches
Protestantism
Judaism
Religions in Soviet period
Religions in post-Soviet republics

Two volumes of your choice among the followings (three for non-attendant students):

- M. Stutley, Shamanism an Introduction, New York, Routledge 2003
- D. Savelli (éd.), Présence du bouddhisme en Russie, "Slavica Occitania", 21, 2005
- A. Kappeler, La Russia. Storia di un impero multietnico, Edizioni Lavoro, Roma 2006.
- D. Savelli (éd.), La Religion de l'Autre. Réaction et interactions entre religions dan l'empire russe, "Slavica Occitania", 29, 2009
- R. Crews, For Prophet and Tsar: Islam and Empire in Russia and Central Asia, Harvard University Press, 2009
- U. Marazzi (a cura di), Testi dello sciamanismo siberiano e centro asiatico, UTET, Torino 2009
- A. Ferrari, La foresta e la steppa. Il mito dell'Eurasia nella cultura russa, Mimesis, Milano 2011.
- Giovanni Codevilla, Chiesa e impero in Russia. Dalla Rus' di Kiev alla Federazione Russa, Jaca Book, Milano 2011
- Malasenko Aleksej, Filatov Sergei, Religija i globalizacija na prostorach Evrazii, Moskovskij Centr Karnegie, Moskva, Carnegie Center, 2009.
- S. Merlo, Russia e Georgia. Ortodossia, dinamiche imperiali e identità nazionale (1801-1991), Milano, Guerini e Associati 2010
- A. Roccucci, Stalin e il Patriarca. La Chiesa ortodossa e il potere sovietico, Einaudi, Torino 2011
- Werth Paul, The Tsar's foreign faiths: toleration and the fate of religious freedom in Imperial Russia, Oxford, Oxford University Press 2016

The exam consists of an oral examination concerning the topics of the programme

Conventional, with powerpoint presentations

Italian

oral