OVERVIEW

The course aims to provide students with a basic framework for the contemporary age, with particular attention to the links between history and memory, the socio-economic, political-institutional and cultural processes of the nineteenth-twentieth century.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to outline an overview of the fundamental issues of contemporary history, with particular attention to the twentieth century, offering a predominantly social history perspective.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Specific objectives of the course are the knowledge and analysis of sources for the study of the contemporary age, the understanding of human phenomena and processes in the period under examination, the diachronic orientation and the ability to establish relationships between historical facts, the analysis of the relationship between event and representation, the acquisition of the basic tools and methodologies of historiographic investigation.

At the end of the course, students must:

- know the fundamental events of the discipline

- critically analyze historical processes

- understand the fundamental nodes of contemporary historical evolution

- be able to recognize and analyze sources for the study of contemporary history

- explain the contents learned with clarity and historical language properties

PREREQUISITES

General knowledge of the main historical periods; familiarity with key events and major historical processes; understanding of fundamental concepts such as primary and secondary sources, cause and effect, continuity and change; ability to place events, figures, and phenomena in chronological order.

TEACHING METHODS

Lessons will be in presence for a total of 60 hours. The use of multimedia resources and powerpoint presentations is foreseen. Interventions by expert teachers and researchers on particular topics of the course will be possible.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

For all modules (6 and 9 credits) the program is organized following the topics considered in the reference manual. The different modules are differentiated by the diverse level of historiographical understanding, connected with the study of specific monographs, in addition to the study of the manual that is common to all modules.

For the 6 cfu module, the student is required to be able to orientate himself/herself with respect to the main temporal articulations of the contemporary age; the student has also to prove an adequate understanding of causal links that determine the development of historical processes.

For the 9 cfu module, the student is required to be able to orientate himself/herself with respect to the main temporal articulations of the contemporary age; to prove an adequate understanding of causal links that determine the development of historical processes; to have learned the rudiments of the historical method and to be able to orientate with respect to the main historiographical debates.

Attending students:

6 credits = reference manual + lecture notes

9 credits = reference manual + lecture notes + 1 book chosen (list)

Non-attending students:

6 credits = reference manual + 1 book chosen (list)

9 credits = reference manual + 2 books chosen (list)

Reference Manual:

Salvatore Lupo, Angelo Ventrone, L’età contemporanea, Le Monnier-Mondadori, Firenze 2018.

List of books to choose from:

Babini, Valeria P. Liberi tutti. Manicomi e psichiatri in Italia: una storia del Novecento. Bologna, Il mulino, 2009.

Bini, Daniela. Sovversive. Le donne nella lotta armata. Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2025.

Bonvini, Alessandro. Risorgimento atlantico. I patrioti italiani e la lotta internazionale per le libertà. Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2022.

Caffarena, Fabio. Dal fango al vento. Gli aviatori italiani dalle origini alla grande guerra. Torino, Einaudi, 2010.

Capogreco, Carlo Spartaco. I campi di Salò. Internamento ebraico e shoah in Italia. Torino, Einaudi, 2025.

Colombini, Chiara. Storia passionale della guerra partigiana. Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2023.

Flores, Marcello, Franzinelli, Mimmo. Storia della Resistenza. Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2019.

Gibelli, Antonio. L'officina della guerra. La grande guerra e le trasformazioni del mondo mentale. Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 2007.

Gissi, Alessandra, Stelliferi, Paola. L'aborto. Una storia. Roma, Carocci, 2023.

Gozzini, Giovanni, La mutazione individualista. Gli italiani e la televisione, 1954-2011. Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2011.

Labanca, Nicola. Prigionieri, internati, resistenti: memorie dell'altra Resistenza. Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2024.

Luzzatto, Sergio. Dolore e furore. Una storia delle Brigate rosse. Torino, Einaudi, 2023.

Mamone, Graziano. I frati del popolo. I cappuccini alle elezioni del 18 aprile 1948. Firenze, Le Monnier, 2025.

Milazzo, Fabio. Il tifo violento in Italia. Teppismo calcistico e ordine pubblico negli stadi (1947-2020). Milano, FrancoAngeli, 2022.

Molinari, Augusta. Il ministero delle donne. L’Ufficio notizie della grande guerra. Bologna, Il mulino, 2024.

Pappé, Ilan, Brevissima storia del conflitto tra Israele e Palestina: dal 1882 a oggi, traduzione di Valentina Nicolì, Roma, Fazi, 2024.

Proglio, Gabriele. I fatti di Genova. Una storia orale del G8. Roma, Donzelli, 2021.

Rivetti, Paola. Storia dell'Iran: rivoluzione, guerra e resistenza. 1979-2025, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2026.

Salomoni, Alessandra. Lenin a pezzi. Distruggere e trasformare il passato. Bologna, Il Mulino, 2024.

Sangiovanni, Andrea. Specchi infiniti. Storia dei media in Italia dal dopoguerra ad oggi. Roma, Donzelli, 2021.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Attending students:

6 credits = reference manual + lecture notes

9 credits = reference manual + lecture notes + 1 book chosen (list)

Non-attending students:

6 credits = reference manual + 1 book chosen (list)

9 credits = reference manual + 2 books chosen (list)

Reference Manual:

Salvatore Lupo, Angelo Ventrone, L’età contemporanea, Le Monnier-Mondadori, Firenze 2018.

List of books to choose from:

Babini, Valeria P. Liberi tutti. Manicomi e psichiatri in Italia: una storia del Novecento. Bologna, Il mulino, 2009.

Bini, Daniela. Sovversive. Le donne nella lotta armata. Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2025.

Bonvini, Alessandro. Risorgimento atlantico. I patrioti italiani e la lotta internazionale per le libertà. Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2022.

Caffarena, Fabio. Dal fango al vento. Gli aviatori italiani dalle origini alla grande guerra. Torino, Einaudi, 2010.

Capogreco, Carlo Spartaco. I campi di Salò. Internamento ebraico e shoah in Italia. Torino, Einaudi, 2025.

Colombini, Chiara. Storia passionale della guerra partigiana. Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2023.

Flores, Marcello, Franzinelli, Mimmo. Storia della Resistenza. Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2019.

Gibelli, Antonio. L'officina della guerra. La grande guerra e le trasformazioni del mondo mentale. Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 2007.

Gissi, Alessandra, Stelliferi, Paola. L'aborto. Una storia. Roma, Carocci, 2023.

Gozzini, Giovanni, La mutazione individualista. Gli italiani e la televisione, 1954-2011. Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2011.

Labanca, Nicola. Prigionieri, internati, resistenti: memorie dell'altra Resistenza. Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2024.

Luzzatto, Sergio. Dolore e furore. Una storia delle Brigate rosse. Torino, Einaudi, 2023.

Mamone, Graziano. I frati del popolo. I cappuccini alle elezioni del 18 aprile 1948. Firenze, Le Monnier, 2025.

Milazzo, Fabio. Il tifo violento in Italia. Teppismo calcistico e ordine pubblico negli stadi (1947-2020). Milano, FrancoAngeli, 2022.

Molinari, Augusta. Il ministero delle donne. L’Ufficio notizie della grande guerra. Bologna, Il mulino, 2024.

Pappé, Ilan, Brevissima storia del conflitto tra Israele e Palestina: dal 1882 a oggi, traduzione di Valentina Nicolì, Roma, Fazi, 2024.

Proglio, Gabriele. I fatti di Genova. Una storia orale del G8. Roma, Donzelli, 2021.

Rivetti, Paola. Storia dell'Iran: rivoluzione, guerra e resistenza. 1979-2025, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2026.

Salomoni, Alessandra. Lenin a pezzi. Distruggere e trasformare il passato. Bologna, Il Mulino, 2024.

Sangiovanni, Andrea. Specchi infiniti. Storia dei media in Italia dal dopoguerra ad oggi. Roma, Donzelli, 2021.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Classes will start in the second semester, according to the timetable (semester starts on 15/02/2027).

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam (for both attending and non-attending students) is oral. Optional midterm tests are scheduled.

The exam program changes according to the following scheme:

Attending students:

6 credits = reference manual + lecture notes

9 credits = reference manual + lecture notes + 1 book chosen (list)

Non-attending students:

6 credits = reference manual + 1 book chosen (list)

9 credits = reference manual + 2 books chosen (list)

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The examination committee verifies the achievement of the course’s objectives, taking into account the following factors: a) level of mastery of the fundamental notions; b) ability to apply knowledge (source analysis); c) ability of critical reasoning on the topics studies; d) ability to organize knowledge discursively, using a specific language appropriate for the discipline.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students are invited to consult the page (http://www.aulaweb.unige.it/) where all information and teaching materials will be published.

For students with disabilities or specific learning disorders (DSA).

Students with disabilities or specific learning disorders (SLD) can find information on how to request services, compensatory tools, dispensatory measures, and specific aids in the document available at the following link: https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/modulistica