AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The 3 main objectives of the Course are:

• Knowledge of the historical development of the forms and features of the documents produced by the Italian Commune and Episcopal curias chancelleries during the Medieval age

• Understanding the relationship between the notaries and the Communal/Episcopal authorities, and how this relationship affected or influenced the making, the use and the conservation of the documents

• Teach the student how to read the different kind of the writings on the documents produced within the above-mentioned institutional contexts

At the end of the Course the students should be able to:

• detail the different reasons and the main steps of the historical evolution of the documentary sources produced by the Italian Communes and Episcopal chancelleries.
• display independence of judgement and express analytical observations on the production, use and conservation of the documents originated by the mentioned institutions.
• show competence in reading the documentary sources of the Medieval age.
• acquire communication abilities to verbally express the concepts learned, with consistency in argument, systematic rigorousness, and a good grasp of the specific vocabulary.

TEACHING METHODS

The lessons will hopefully be held in person, with the possibility for students to follow even at a distance (given confirmation of the modality as soon as possible

Teacher-to-students classes, with practical readings and observations with the help of facsimile (slides)

Documents and facsimiles used during the lessons can be downloaded by Aulaweb, or by pen drive/USB key at the docent’s room (via Balbi 2, 2nd floor)

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Regarding the documentary sources produced by the main institution of the medieval town, the education process will analyse:

• the history of the studies of documents, with a special focus on municipalities and episcopal diplomatics
• the beginning of the chanceries and their development over time
• internal and external features of the main typologies of documents and their development
• relationships over time with the redactors, especially the notaries, working for the Communal and the Episcopal curia

Additionally, the classes will work on:

• comment and analysis of some specific bibliography with reference to the Episcopal of Genoa, Verona, Mantua, Cremona;
• reading of 5 documents from Episcopal origin.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bibliography on documents from the Italian Episcopal curias:  

G. Gardoni, Notai e scritture vescovili a Mantova fra XII e XIII secolo. Una ricerca in corso, in Chiese e notai (secoli XII-XV), Verona 2004 (Quaderni di storia religiosa, XI), pp. 51-85.

V. Leoni, “Privilegia episcopii Cremonensis”. Il cartulario vescovile di Cremona e il vescovo Sicardo, 1185-1215, in « Scrineum», 3 (2005) http://scrineum.unipv.it

F. Magnoni, I notai della chiesa bergamasca tra fine Duecento e seconda metà del Trecento, in Scrineum Rivista 13 (2016), pp. 123-196,

http://www.fupress.net/index.php/scrineum/issue/view/1338

G. Nicolaj, Note di diplomatica vescovile italiana (secc. VIII-XIII), in Die Diplomatik der Bischofsurkunde vor 1250 - La Diplomatique épiscopale avant 1250. Referate zum VIII. internazionalem Kongreß für Diplomatik (Innsbruck, 27 September – 3 Oktober 1993), hrsg. Von C. Haidacher und W. Köfler, Innsbruck 1995, pp. 377-392.

M.C. Rossi, I notai di curia e la nascita di una ‘burocrazia’ vescovile: il caso veronese, in «Società e storia», 25 (2002), 95, pp. 1-33.

G.M. Varanini, G. Gardoni, Notai vescovili del Duecento tre curia e città (Italia centro-settentrionale), in Il notaio e la città. Essere notaio: i tempi e i luoghi (secc. XII-XV). Atti del convegno di studi storici, Genova, 9-10 novembre 2007, a cura di V. Piergiovanni, Milano 2009 (Studi storici sul notariato italiano XIII), pp. 239-272.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

SANDRA MACCHIAVELLO (President)

ANTONELLA ROVERE

VALENTINA RUZZIN (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

14 february 2022.

Class schedule

CHANCERIES AND DOCUMENTS OF MEDIEVAL COMMUNES MODULE 2

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The final test will be an oral examination: the student should prove a good grasp of the specific terminology, a good knowledge of the bibliography, the ability of detailing the subject, the knowledge of the documentary sources, and the related institutions, and proficiency in reading and commenting the documents’ facsimiles seen during the lessons.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The evaluation criteria on the student’s response to the final test (oral examination) will be the following:

• the exam outcome will be evaluated “very good” (grades 28 or 29) or “excellent”  (grades 30 or  30 cum laude) if the students will be able to show a deep understanding of the themes explored during the lessons by using a proper terminology and clearness of exposition, while identifying similarities and differences and quoting the relevant bibliography; the student should also prove to be able of proficiently reading the facsimiles seen at lesson.
• the exam outcome will be evaluated “good” (grades from 26 to 27) or “satisfactory” (grades 23 or 25) if the student, by using a correct terminology, although sometimes not fully appropriate, will display a good knowledge although limited to a quite mnemonic learning without deepening of the subject and a good reading level of the specimens seen at lesson.
• the exam outcome will be evaluated merely “sufficient” (grades between 18 and 22) if the student will display the basic knowledge of the themes, but limited vocabulary and limited skills in reading the relevant documents.
• - the exam will have negative outcome if the student will display lack of knowledge of the subject and won’t be able to manage the proper vocabulary.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Regular attendance is highly recommended.

The program for attending and non-attending students is the same in consideration of the difficulty on the part of the latter to achieve a good preparation on their own in reading and commenting on the facsimiles of the scriptures proposed in class.