LEARNING OUTCOMES

The lessons aim to give students the methodological and theoretical tools to acquire and develop skills on how to reconstruct and narrate past events as well as a basic knowledge on the orientations and transformations of the scientific debate on these issues over time. In this context, they specifically aim to provide stimuli to promote reflections, informed by a critical awareness, on the meaning of history, its legitimacy and its yearning for objectivity. In particular, the lessons aim to enable students to master the use of sources, methods of investigation, analytical categories and interpretative perspectives of history.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Teaching has two main objectives. On the one hand, it aims to offer students some basic indications regarding the most relevant methodological and theoretical tools for the knowledge of history, with particular regard to the acquisition of skills on analytical categories as well as on a series of sources that characterize the discipline, their availability, use and interpretation. They will also have acquired skills on the availability, use and interpretation of the sources and will be able to discuss the most significant interpretative paradigms, with particular attention to the centuries of the modern age. Finally, they will be able to draw on a wide range of factual information to identify turning points and possible subsequent periods, aimed at a better understanding of major historical developments.

PREREQUISITES

A basic knowledge of the events and issues of world history from antiquity to the present day.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures, for a total of 54 hours, with audio-video support. In the event that, for health reasons, it is not possible to conduct the lessons in person, they will be conducted in streaming mode via the Microsoft Teams channel. The channel code is: tpfp0ps.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The programme aims to focus on the methods and tools of the historical disciplines, with particular reference to the construction of historiographic narratives, periodizations and the critical study of sources. Particular attention will be paid to the construction of global history.

The first part relating to the theory and history of historiography will be held by Prof. L. Lo Basso and the second part focusing more on the sources will be held by Prof. P. Calcagno.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

M. BLOCH, Apologia della storia, o mestire di storico, Torino, Einaudi, 2009

A. MUSI, La storicità del vivente. Lineamenti di storia e metodologia della ricerca storica, Palermo, Mediterranea, 2012 

J. TOSH, Introduzione alla ricerca storica, Firenze, La Nuova Italia,1989.