OVERVIEW

Modern History (Scienze politiche e dell'amministrazione, I semestre, 8 CFU; Scienze Internazionali e diplomatiche, II semestre, 10 CFU)

The course provides an accurate knowledge of characteristics, events and typical processes of the Modern Age (XV-XVIII centuries), meant as a crucial period of historical evolution from Ancient age to contemporaneity.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course provides an appropriate knowledge of the most peculiar and significant  themes of the history of the modern world (XV-XVIII), meant as a crucial period of historical evolution from Ancient age to contemporary one.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course the student that was actively involved during the lessons and/or made adequately preparations on the recommended texts, must own the following requirements (According to Dublin’s Descriptions):

a) the student will know the main events  of  modern age, with particular reference to the aspects and issues that determine the evolution of politics and international relations inside and outside the European continent. He/she will know the most important factors that caused these changes, and he/she will have critical tools for analysing the social, political, economical, and cultural system (knowledge and understanding)

b)  in order to develop a better understanding of causes and consequences of social and economical phenomena (applying knowledge and understanding), the student will be capable to apply the knowledge and the critical tools achieved during the accademic activities,

c) the student will have to explore and judge the processes which characterized the historical becoming as well as the multifaced causes of contemporary times. The use of both historical research method(s) and historical secondary sources represent the first step for the acquisition of such abilities (making judgements).

d) the student will be capable to communicate efficiently his own ideas and opinions while confronting with colleagues and professor in the classroom about topics proposed (communication skills)

e) the student will know notions and concepts in order to develop and complete the exam of Storia Moderna within the course of study in Scienze Internazionali e Diplomatiche, useful for obtaining  basic notions and concepts related to the course (learning skills).

These goals will be obtained through lectures, seminars, scheduled exercises during the semester and through the study of indicated materials with the ultimate purpose of developing a critical understanding of links, articulations, interruptions and persistences in a chronological-temporal context that connect the past and the present, and consequently connect the past, the present and the future.

In the academic year 2023/24, the teaching of modern history continues to participate in the Educational Innovation program structured within the framework of the Educational Innovation Project at Unige.

In this context, the course will largely be conducted through non-traditional methods. It involves a process that implements a methodology of "continuous assessment" of the attending students. Out of the three weekly lessons (each lasting two hours), two will be carried out through traditional teaching methods (lectures by the instructor on topics of modern history, according to the program outlined in the course syllabus), while one will be dedicated to the experimentation of different innovative teaching methodologies, such as brainstorming, debates, discussions, flipped classroom, collaborative readings, and written reports.

Active participation of students, both individually and in groups, in the different activities proposed on a weekly basis is a necessary and indispensable condition to be considered participating students in the "educational innovation project." This participation will be continuously evaluated based on individual and/or group activities and will replace two-thirds of the exam curriculum (students will have the option to bring either Rosa Verga's manual or the book on the New Spirituality of the Modern Age to the exam, in addition to the topics covered in the lectures). Students who do not participate in at least 70% of the project will take the final exam through traditional methods and cover the entire recommended curriculum.

The individual and/or group assessment conducted by the instructor during the activities will serve as proof of participation and as a starting point for the evaluation in the final interview.

In the first and second semesters of the academic year 2023/24, students can also participate in the "Playing History" Workshop conducted by the instructor and Unige trainers. This activity is voluntary and extracurricular and does not provide additional academic credits. Participants will be engaged in playful activities using board games and/or role-playing games set in historical contexts, experimenting with Game-Based Learning techniques.

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching will be conducted in a traditional format, with face-to-face lectures and activities.

The teaching of Modern History  participates in the educational innovation project supported by our University. Throughout the semester, innovative teaching activities will be proposed, which are further specified in the "Educational Objectives (Details)" section.

Participation in the different activities will grant the students the acquisition of the following open badges related to basic (B) or advanced (A) soft skills:

Brainstorming: Functional Alphabetical B; Personal B

Debate: Functional Alphabetical A; Personal A; Social A; Learning B

Discussions: Functional Alphabetical B; Personal B; Learning B

Flipped classroom: Functional Alphabetical A; Personal A; Social B; Learning A

Collaborative readings: Functional Alphabetical B; Social B; Learning A

Written reports: Functional Alphabetical A; Learning A

Game-based learning: Personal A; Social A; Learning B

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Course Introduction;

What is History; Etymology and Meanings

History and periodization;

Hints at the methodology of historical research;

The characters of modernity;

The Renaissance;

The birth and affirmation of modern states;

Protestant Reformation and Catholic Reformation;

The Crisis of the Seventeenth Century;

England between the two Revolutions;

The Age of Enlightenment;

The French Revolution;

N.B. During the course students will be offered an integrative seminar on Public history. The participation in the seminar will count for the acquisition of 1 or 2 CFU

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. M. ROSA - M. VERGA, La storia moderna. 1450-1870, Bruno Mondadori ed., 2003.

2. V. FRAJESE, Il processo a Galileo. Il falso e la sua prova, Ed. Morcelliana, 2021

3. R. REPETTI, La nuova spiritualità dell'età moderna, Genova, ECIG, 2021.

N.B.
The contents exposed in class, for attending students, serve to integrate, clarify and deepen the study of texts.
For students interested in deepening individual study themes, specific readings will be indicated during the course or meetings through the e-learning portal of Genoa University  (Aulaweb).

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

RENZO REPETTI (President)

LUCA LO BASSO (President Substitute)

CECILIA BERGAGLIO (Substitute)

AGOSTINO CALVI (Substitute)

FAUSTO FIORITI (Substitute)

LEONARDO SCAVINO (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Second semester, 2023 January

Class schedule

MODERN HISTORY

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The final exam takes place in oral form and in italian language. It consists of an interview between the teacher and the student, lasting about 20 minutes. For attending students, most of the interview will focus on the topics covered in class and in the recommended texts. For non-attending students, the interview will focus on the topics of the texts indicated in the program.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

During the final exam, the candidate is required to demonstrate a good preparation on the adopted texts and, if attending, on the topics covered in class. This preparation is assessed through a discussion with the examiner.

In principle, the grade will take into account the following ranges:

evaluation of the notional aspects: up to 10/30;
evaluation of elaboration skills: up to 15/30;

evaluation of communication skills: up to 5/30

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students with certified DSA, disability or other special educational needs are advised to contact both the contact person Prof. Aristide Canepa (aristide.canepa@unige.it) and the lecturer at the beginning of the course in order to agree on teaching and examination methods that, while respecting the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning methods and provide suitable
compensatory tools.