OVERVIEW

This course aims at providing a general understanding of the major issues of the history of Christianity from its origins to the contemporary age, by outlining the evolution of religious cultures and highlighting how church institutions have been changing in relation to society. Particular attention will be paid to some turning points in the development of Western Christianity: the establishment of the Roman Catholic model (11th-13th centuries); the Reformation and the affirmation of the Tridentine paradigm (16th-18th centuries); the response of Christian churches, and in particular of Catholicism, to the transformations brought by secularisation, the Industrial Revolution, bourgeois revolutions, totalitarianisms and globalisation (18th-21st centuries).

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The objective of this course is to provide students with a basic understanding of the two thousand-year-old Christian story as well as the critical tools they'll need in order to evaluate historiographical debates and analyze religious history sources.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

AIMS

The teaching aims to:

- convey knowledge of the main lines of the history of Christianity, with particular attention to the early modern, modern and contemporary age;

- make students appreciate the relevance and specificity of the historical-religious dimension, in its connections with political, cultural and social history;

- encourage the contextualisation of Christian cultures in a long-term diachronic perspective;

- provide a framework of the main historiographical themes and interpretative categories of the history of Western Christianity;

- introduce students to the analysis of sources for religious history (press, documents, images, audiovisual sources);

- provide students with transferable skills (teamwork).

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

(a) demonstrate a basic knowledge of the problems and methods inherent in the history of Christianity;

(b) understand the secondary literature essential for unambiguous orientation in the issues addressed during the course;

c) apply the acquired knowledge to the analysis of specific cases (ability to make connections between the historical-religious processes examined);

d) recognise the nature of the sources for the history of Christianity and identify their significance in the light of the related historiographical issues;

e) value a critical approach, aware of historiographic categories and aimed at avoiding apologetic or polemical judgements;

f) understand and focus on the historical evolution of religious and theological doctrines;

g) use appropriate disciplinary language to illustrate one's point of view (oral communication skills);

h) manage their social interactions with a collaborative attitude, constructive communication and willingness to overcome prejudices (social competence - advanced level).

PREREQUISITES

None.

TEACHING METHODS

Teaching will mainly consist of lectures, although discussion sessions, reading of texts and analysis of iconographic sources will be included. Dialogue with the teacher and other students is a fundamental part of the teaching method and aims to promote a critical approach, consolidate knowledge and acquire the language of the discipline. Regular attendance is therefore recommended.

During the course, working groups may be organised to analyse and comment on a range of sources, based on the knowledge and methodologies acquired in class. Each group may briefly present to the others the result of the discussion, conceived as a concise critical introduction to the analysed source.

The lectures will be held in person. Only those who make an explicit request at the beginning of the course will be able to follow the lectures at a distance. The latter will be considered non-attending students for all purposes (also for the purposes of the syllabus).

All information and teaching materials will be available on Aulaweb.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

This course provides the critical tools needed for understanding the features of Christianity as a plural, multifaceted and changing phenomenon over time.

The introduction of the course will deal with the definition of the scientific field of the history of Christianity and of the churches, by recalling its development as a discipline free from a theological-denominational stance. A second introductory part will frame the mythographic process that transformed Yehoshua, a Jewish preacher from Nazareth, into Jesus Christ, i.e. the founder and object of a new religion, Christianity. Such a highly creative process has over the centuries produced intrusive images, aesthetic forms and moral precepts, intertwining sacred and profane, storytelling of the past and new meanings for the present.

In retracing the stages of this two-thousand-year experience, a thematic-chronological line will be followed. While adopting a diachronic perspective, this will highlight some distinctive elements of the Christian presence in the long term: liturgy, cults and devotions; patterns of sainthood; the relationship between ecclesiastical institutions and political power; government of the churches and, in particular, of the Catholic Church; manifestations of dissent; and gender characterisation.

The following topics will be covered:

1. The quest for the historical Jesus.
2. Christian origins.
3. From martyrs to persecutors: the Constantinian Age.
4. The Christianisation of Europe.
5. "Holy Father": the Gregorian paradigm and the genesis of Roman Catholicism.
6. Myth and reality of the medieval Christendom.
7. The Protestant Reformation.
8. The Tridentine paradigm: Catholic Reformation, Counter-Reformation, confessionalisation.
9. Churches in the Ancien Régime.
10. The shock of 1789: the French Revolution and the rise of intransigent Catholicism.
11. Religious 19th century, between Christian revival and secularisation.
12. Church vs. bourgeoisie: Christianity, national modernity and industrial capitalism.
13. The globalisation of faiths: missionary apostolate, evangelical expansion, and religious internationals.
14. "New Catholicism": modernity, modernisation, modernism.
15. Churches, racisms, anti-racisms.
16. The sacralisation of politics and totalitarian modernity.
17. American modernity: Christianity, the Catholic Church, and religious freedom in the United States.
18. Religious cultures and anxieties of renewal in the long post-WW2 period.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Required readings for students attending the course:

A. Reference texts (required)

• G. Filoramo (ed.), Cristianesimo, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2007 [only the following chapters: G.G. Merlo, Il cristianesimo medievale in Occidente; P. Ricca, La Riforma protestante (1517-1580); D. Menozzi, Il cattolicesimo dal concilio di Trento al Vaticano II; F. Ferrario, Il protestantesimo dalla fine del XVI secolo ai nostri giorni].
• G. Miccoli, Il mito della cristianità, edited by D. Menozzi, Pisa, Edizioni della Normale, 2017.

B. Course materials, slides e texts  made available on Aulaweb. 

C. One book/pair of essays from the following ones:

1. M. Al Kalak, Mangiare Dio. Una storia dell’eucarestia, Torino, Einaudi, 2021; M. Paiano, Culto eucaristico e restaurazione di una società cristiana: «L’Aurora del secolo del Sacramento» sotto il pontificato di Leone XIII, «Rivista di storia del cristianesimo», II, 1, 2005, pp. 95-131.
2. P. Cozzo, In cammino. Una storia del pellegrinaggio cristiano, Roma, Carocci, 2021.
3. C. Furlan, Storia delle missioni cristiane. Dalle origini alla decolonizzazione, Bologna, il Mulino, 2023.
4. A. Vauchez, Francesco d'Assisi. Tra storia e memoria, Torino, Einaudi, 2010.
5. A. Prosperi, Tribunali della coscienza. Inquisitori, confessori, missionari, Torino, Einaudi, 2009.
6. R. Po-chia Hsia, La Controriforma. Il mondo del rinnovamento cattolico (1540-1770), Bologna, il Mulino, 2009.
7. M. Walzer, La rivoluzione dei santi. Il puritanesimo alle origini del radicalismo politico, Torino, Claudiana, 1996. 
8. V. Lavenia, Un’eresia indicibile. Inquisizione e crimini contro natura in età moderna, Bologna, EDB, 2015; F. Torchiani, Il «vizio innominabile». Chiesa e omosessualità nel Novecento, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 2021.
9. U.L. Lehner, lluminismo cattolico. La storia dimenticata di un movimento globale, Roma, Studium, 2022.
10. M. Caffiero, Profetesse a giudizio. Donne, religione e potere in età moderna, Brescia, Morcelliana, 2020; L. Gazzetta, Virgo et Sacerdos. Idee di sacerdozio femminile tra Ottocento e Novecento, Roma, Edizioni di storia e letteratura, 2020.
11. D. Menozzi, Chiesa e diritti umani. Legge naturale e modernità politica dalla Rivoluzione francese ai nostri giorni, Bologna, il Mulino, 2012.
12. M. Lagrée, La bénédiction de Prométhée. Religion et technologie, XIXe–XXe siècle, Paris, Fayard, 1999.
13. É. Poulat, Chiesa contro borghesia. Introduzione al divenire del cattolicesimo contemporaneo, Casale Monferrato, Marietti, 1984.
14. J.T. McGreevy, Catholicism and American Freedom: A History, New York, W.W. Norton & Company, 2003.
15. G. Miccoli, Antisemitismo e cattolicesimo, Brescia, Morcelliana, 2013.
16. G. Vian, Il modernismo. La Chiesa cattolica in conflitto con la modernità, Roma, Carocci, 2012; D. Menozzi, I papi e il moderno. Una lettura del cattolicesimo contemporaneo (1903-2016), Brescia, Morcelliana, 2016.
17. M. Caponi, Una Chiesa in guerra. Sacrificio e mobilitazione nella diocesi di Firenze, 1911-1928, Roma, Viella, 2018.
18. L. Ceci, L’interesse superiore. Il Vaticano e l’Italia di Mussolini, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2013.
19. I. Turina, Chiesa e biopolitica. Il discorso cattolico su famiglia, sessualità e vita umana da Pio XI a Benedetto XVI, Milano, Mimesis, 2013.
20. R. Perin, La radio del papa. Propaganda e diplomazia nella seconda guerra mondiale, Bologna, il Mulino, 2017.
21. P. Zanini, Il «pericolo protestante». Chiesa e cattolici italiani di fronte alla questione della libertà religiosa (1922-1955), Firenze, Le Monnier, 2019; P. Caretti, Costituzione italiana: articolo 8, Roma, Carocci, 2017.
22. P. Naso, Martin Luther King. Una storia americana, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2021; T. Kaufmann, Gli anabattisti. Dalla Riforma radicale ai battisti, Torino, Claudiana, 2022.
23. R. Rusconi, Joseph Ratzinger Benedetto XVI. Teologo, cardinale, papa, Brescia, Morcelliana, 2021; D. Menozzi, Il papato di Francesco in prospettiva storica, Brescia, Morcelliana, 2023.

Required readings for students NOT attending the course:

A. Reference texts (required)

• G. Filoramo (ed.), Cristianesimo, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2007 [only the following chapters: G. Jossa, Dalle origini al concilio di Nicea; S. Pricoco, Dal concilio di Nicea a Gregorio Magno; G.G. Merlo, Il cristianesimo medievale in Occidente; P. Ricca, La Riforma protestante (1517-1580); D. Menozzi, Il cattolicesimo dal concilio di Trento al Vaticano II; F. Ferrario, Il protestantesimo dalla fine del XVI secolo ai nostri giorni].
• G. Miccoli, Il mito della cristianità, edited by D. Menozzi, Pisa, Edizioni della Normale, 2017.

C. Two books/pairs of essays from the following ones:

1. M. Al Kalak, Mangiare Dio. Una storia dell’eucarestia, Torino, Einaudi, 2021; M. Paiano, Culto eucaristico e restaurazione di una società cristiana: «L’Aurora del secolo del Sacramento» sotto il pontificato di Leone XIII, «Rivista di storia del cristianesimo», II, 1, 2005, pp. 95-131.
2. P. Cozzo, In cammino. Una storia del pellegrinaggio cristiano, Roma, Carocci, 2021.
3. C. Furlan, Storia delle missioni cristiane. Dalle origini alla decolonizzazione, Bologna, il Mulino, 2023.
4. A. Vauchez, Francesco d'Assisi. Tra storia e memoria, Torino, Einaudi, 2010.
5. A. Prosperi, Tribunali della coscienza. Inquisitori, confessori, missionari, Torino, Einaudi, 2009.
6. R. Po-chia Hsia, La Controriforma. Il mondo del rinnovamento cattolico (1540-1770), Bologna, il Mulino, 2009.
7. M. Walzer, La rivoluzione dei santi. Il puritanesimo alle origini del radicalismo politico, Torino, Claudiana, 1996. 
8. V. Lavenia, Un’eresia indicibile. Inquisizione e crimini contro natura in età moderna, Bologna, EDB, 2015; F. Torchiani, Il «vizio innominabile». Chiesa e omosessualità nel Novecento, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 2021.
9. U.L. Lehner, lluminismo cattolico. La storia dimenticata di un movimento globale, Roma, Studium, 2022.
10. M. Caffiero, Profetesse a giudizio. Donne, religione e potere in età moderna, Brescia, Morcelliana, 2020; L. Gazzetta, Virgo et Sacerdos. Idee di sacerdozio femminile tra Ottocento e Novecento, Roma, Edizioni di storia e letteratura, 2020.
11. D. Menozzi, Chiesa e diritti umani. Legge naturale e modernità politica dalla Rivoluzione francese ai nostri giorni, Bologna, il Mulino, 2012.
12. M. Lagrée, La bénédiction de Prométhée. Religion et technologie, XIXe–XXe siècle, Paris, Fayard, 1999.
13. É. Poulat, Chiesa contro borghesia. Introduzione al divenire del cattolicesimo contemporaneo, Casale Monferrato, Marietti, 1984.
14. J.T. McGreevy, Catholicism and American Freedom: A History, New York, W.W. Norton & Company, 2003.
15. G. Miccoli, Antisemitismo e cattolicesimo, Brescia, Morcelliana, 2013.
16. G. Vian, Il modernismo. La Chiesa cattolica in conflitto con la modernità, Roma, Carocci, 2012; D. Menozzi, I papi e il moderno. Una lettura del cattolicesimo contemporaneo (1903-2016), Brescia, Morcelliana, 2016.
17. M. Caponi, Una Chiesa in guerra. Sacrificio e mobilitazione nella diocesi di Firenze, 1911-1928, Roma, Viella, 2018.
18. L. Ceci, L’interesse superiore. Il Vaticano e l’Italia di Mussolini, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2013.
19. I. Turina, Chiesa e biopolitica. Il discorso cattolico su famiglia, sessualità e vita umana da Pio XI a Benedetto XVI, Milano, Mimesis, 2013.
20. R. Perin, La radio del papa. Propaganda e diplomazia nella seconda guerra mondiale, Bologna, il Mulino, 2017.
21. P. Zanini, Il «pericolo protestante». Chiesa e cattolici italiani di fronte alla questione della libertà religiosa (1922-1955), Firenze, Le Monnier, 2019; P. Caretti, Costituzione italiana: articolo 8, Roma, Carocci, 2017.
22. P. Naso, Martin Luther King. Una storia americana, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2021; T. Kaufmann, Gli anabattisti. Dalla Riforma radicale ai battisti, Torino, Claudiana, 2022.
23. R. Rusconi, Joseph Ratzinger Benedetto XVI. Teologo, cardinale, papa, Brescia, Morcelliana, 2021; D. Menozzi, Il papato di Francesco in prospettiva storica, Brescia, Morcelliana, 2023.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

MATTEO CAPONI (President)

GURI SCHWARZ

ENRICA ASQUER (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

20 February 2024.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral exam.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral exam will assess the achievement of the training objectives, and in particular the following points: a) knowledge of the topics covered; b) degree of critical awareness; c) ability to apply knowledge to a specific topic; d) use of the specialized language of the discipline.

Exam schedule