OVERVIEW

The course aims to provide students with a basic framework for the understanding of the contemporary history of European and non-European countries, through a perspective that highlights the plurality of methodological approaches in historical analysis. The chronological scope of the course ranges from the French Revolution (1789) to the end of the Cold War (1989-91) and includes an analysis of the main historical events and the treatment of the most relevant historiographical issues for the contemporary age

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Aim of the course is to provide a basic framework of the main political, social, economic and cultural phenomena of the contemporary age (from the French Revolution to the end of the Cold War), in a both national and global perspective.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of this course is to provide a basic framework for the understanding of the main political, social, economic and cultural phenomena of the contemporary age (from the French Revolution to the end of the Cold War), setting them into a national as well as into a global perspective.

Specific objectives of the teaching, in the 6cfu version, are the knowledge, understanding and linking of the main processes and problems (economic, social, cultural and political) of the contemporary age. 

In the 9 cfu version, the above-mentioned objectives are supplemented by a critical awareness of the main questions posed by the historiographical debate.

In the 12 cfu version, the ojectives are futher integrated with the ability to analyze critically historical sources.

At the end of the course, students attending the teaching in the 6cfu version will be able to:

- demonstrate a solid understanding of the main turning points of contemporary history (knowledge and understanding);
- develop the ability to build links between phenomena and propose analysis that takes into account historical development also in comparative terms (knowledge and ability of applied comprehension);

-enhancing transversal skills, including functional literacy (basic level), i.e. the ability to communicate effectively in written and oral form, adapting one's communication to the context;
- use an appropriate disciplinary language (written and oral communication skills).

In addition to the above-mentioned outcomes, those attending the 9cfu course are expected to:

- demonstrate to have learnt the rudiments of the historical method (sources and methodology);

Students attending the 12cfu course are also expected to:

- be able to develop a critical approach to historiographic interpretations (autonomy of judgment).

TEACHING METHODS

Frontal teaching will be the main teaching method used during classes, but participation will be strongly encouraged. Discussions and the analysis of cases/problems will be an integral part of the classes activities. Powerpoint presentations will be used.

For all information, please follow the lecturer's communication via Aulaweb 2023/2024.

Lessons will take place in person.

For those who expressly request it at the beginning of the course it will be possible to follow the lessons remotely (in streaming or listening to the recordings of the lessons via the Teams platform). In this case, students will be considered for all intents and purposes not attending and the program to prepare will be the one for non-attending students.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

THE PROGRAM IS THE SAME FOR THOSE ATTENDING THE LECTURES AND THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT ATTENDING.

For all modules ( 9 or 12 cfu) 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 (1  for 9 credits, 2 for 12 credits), in addition to the study of the manual that is common to all modules.

For the 9 cfu module, the student is required to orientate himself/herself with respect to the main temporal articulations of the contemporary age; the has to prove an adequate understanding of causal links that determine the development of historical processes.

For the 12 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.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

THE PROGRAM IS THE SAME FOR THOSE ATTENDING THE LECTURES AND FOR THOSE NOT ATTENDING.

Reference Manual:  A. M. Banti, L’età contemporanea, vol I (Dalle rivoluzioni settecentesche all’imperialismo) and vol. II (Dalla Grande Guerra a oggi), Laterza, Roma-Bari, 2012.

LIST OF BOOKS TO CHOOSE FROM

 

For the 9 cfu program, the student must prepare, in addition to the manual on which he/she will be examined in the written test, 1 monographs chosen from the list below.

For the 12 cfu program, the student must prepare, in addition to the manual on which he/she will be examined in the written test, 2 monographs chosen from the list below.

Students may choose to read the monographs in the original language in which they were published.

Wolfgang Reinhard, Storia del colonialismo, Torino, Einaudi, 2002 [1996]

Alberto Mario Banti, L'onore della nazione. Identità sessuali e violenza nel nazionalismo europeo dal XVIII secolo alla Grande Guerra, Einaudi, Torino, 2005.

Johan Chaputot, La legge del sangue. Pensare e agire da nazisti, Einaudi, Torino 2022 [2014]

Eugen Weber, Da contadini a francesi. La modernizzazione della Francia rurale, 1870-1914, Il Mulino, Bologna 1989 [1976].

Eric J. Hobsbawm, Il trionfo della borghesia. 1848-1875, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2018 [1975].

Cemil Aydin, Il lungo Ottocento. Una storia politica internazionale, Einaudi, Torino 2019 [2016].

Arno J. Mayer, Il potere dell’Ancien Régime fino alla prima guerra mondiale, Laterza, Roma-Bari 1999 [1981].

Sven Beckert, L’impero del cotone. Una storia globale, Einaudi, Torino 2016 [2014]

Sebastian Conrad, Verso il mondo moderno. Una storia culturale, Einaudi, Torino, 2022.

James Gelvin, Storia del Medio Oriente moderno. Nuova edizione ampliata, Einaudi, Torino, 2021 [2020]. 

Stéphane Audoin-Rouzeau, Annette Becker, La violenza, la crociata, il lutto. La Grande guerra e la storia del Novecento,Einaudi, Torino 2002 [2000].

Eric D. Weitz, La Germania di Weimar. Utopia e tragedia, Torino, Einaudi, 2008 [2007].

Karl Polanyi, La grande trasformazione. Le origini economiche e politiche della nostra epoca, Einaudi, Torino, 2010 [1944].

Franz Neumann, Behemoth. Struttura e pratica del nazionalsocialismo, Bruno Mondadori, Milano 2007 [1942].

George L. Mosse, Le guerre mondiali. Dalla tragedia al mito dei caduti, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2002 [1990].

Cristopher R. Browning, Uomini comuni. Polizia tedesca e "soluzione finale" in Polonia, Einaudi, Torino 2004 [1992].

Robert O. Paxton, Il fascismo in azione, Mondadori, Milano 2005 [2004].

Angelo Tasca, Nascita e avvento del fascismo, Edizioni Pigreco, Roma 2012 [1950].

István Deák, Europa a processo. Collaborazionismo, resistenza e giustizia tra guerra e dopoguerra, il Mulino, Bologna 2019 [2015].

Claudio Pavone, Una guerra civile. Saggio storico sulla moralità nella Resistenza, Bollati Boringhieri, Torino, 2013 [1991].

Holly Case, L'età delle questioni. Politica e opinione pubblica dalla Rivoluzioni alla Shoah, Carocci, Roma 2021 [2018].

Victoria de Grazia, L'impero irresistibile: la società dei consumi americana alla conquista del mondo, Torino, Einaudi, 2006 [2005]

Tony Judt, Postwar. La nostra storia 1945-2005, Roma-Bari, Laterza 2017 [2005]

David S. Landes, Prometeo liberato. Trasformazioni tecnologiche e sviluppo industriale nell’Europa occidentale dal 1750 ai giorni nostri, Einaudi, Torino, 2016 [1969]

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

GURI SCHWARZ (President)

ENRICA ASQUER

ELENA CADAMURO (Substitute)

MATTEO CAPONI (Substitute)

LUCA FIORITO (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

SECOND SEMESTER

Class schedule

CONTEMPORARY HISTORY

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

For students attending the lectures there will be a written test divided into two parts that will take place during the course.

For those students who have passed both written tests, the oral exam will concern the discussion of the chosen monograph(s).

For those students who have passed just one written test, the oral exam will concern the discussion of the volume of the manual referenced in the test that was NOT passed, in addition to the monograph(s) of choice.

For students not attending the lectures the exam will take place orally. The oral exam is dedicated to the verification of the student's critical elaboration and argumentation skills, and it will be focused on the discussion of the two volumes of the manual and of the monograph(s) chosen.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The examination committee verifies the achievement of the course’s objectives, as follows.

The written tests (for those attending 6 cfu and 9 cfu) and the oral exam for those not attending or those who do not pass the written test(s), will assess the student's ability to:

- demonstrate a solid understanding of the main turning points of contemporary history (knowledge and understanding);
- demonstrate the ability to build links between phenomena and propose analysis that takes into account historical development also in comparative terms (knowledge and ability of applied comprehension);
- show transversal skills, including functional literacy (basic level), i.e. the ability to communicate effectively in written and oral form, adapting one's communication to the context;

- use an appropriate disciplinary language (written and oral communication skills).

For those attending the 9cfu version of the course, in addition to the above, the oral examination will assess, also discussing the monograph of their choice, the students' ability to:

- show that they have learnt the rudiments of the historical method (sourcer and methodology);

For those attending the 12 cfu course, the commitee wil also verify the student's ability to:

- develop a conscious critical approach to historiographic interpretations (autonomy of judgment).

FURTHER INFORMATION

Class attendence is highly reccomended.

Erasmus students may discuss changes to the content of the program with the course instructor.

Erasmus students may take the exam in Enghlish.