OVERVIEW

The course aims to introduce students to the themes and methodologies of global history, through a discussion of the historiographical debate that has influenced historical research after the global turn, an analysis of the concept of globalization and its related chronologies, and the presentation of a selected set of topics specific to the discipline.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Global History has emerged as a methodological challenge to predominantly Eurocentric perspectives, as well as the dominance of the national dimension in the study of political, economic, and cultural processes. This course will address these issues, grappling with questions of scale and the underlying analytical categories: national-transnational-global.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide students with the tools to become familiar with the methodologies and themes of global history. It will cover the following topics: a) the creation and conceptualization of global history as a new necessity in historical research; b) the main approaches, theories, and paradigms of global history; c) the role of global history in offering alternative perspectives to Eurocentric views, as well as overcoming historiographical traditions anchored in the concepts of nation and nationality. Additionally, the course will encourage debate on the concept of globalization, considering different chronologies identified and discussed by various historiographical currents.

By the end of the course, students will have acquired the following knowledge and skills: a) identifying the main currents of scholarly debate within global history; b) mastering innovative methods of analysis and research from a theoretical standpoint, with particular emphasis on the geographical and spatial dimensions; c) producing an individual research based on analytical methodologies specific to global history.

PREREQUISITES

None

TEACHING METHODS

The course will combine traditional frontal lectures by the instructor, necessary for presenting the main themes and methodologies of global history, with seminar-style collective discussions, including the presentation of individual papers by students. The lectures will be held in person.

Only for those who explicitly request it at the beginning of the course, it will be possible to attend the lectures remotely (via live streaming or by accessing recordings of the lectures through the Teams platform). In this case, they will be considered non-attending students, and the program to be completed will be specific for non-attending students.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course is structured into three parts: 

1. The development of global history as a discipline and the most common approaches and methodologies.
2. The evolution of the concept of globalization and its chronology.
3. Seminar-based discussion covering a wide range of topics and methodologies in global history (such as global commodities, global lives, micro-global history, global labor history, subaltern studies, post-colonial studies, etc.), also through individual research presentations. 

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

ATTENDING STUDENTS: 

For the sections 1 and 2, the bibliography will be provided in class. The reading of the following books is not mandatory:

1. S. Conrad, Storia globale. Un'introduzione, Carocci, Roma 2015; 
2. F. Trivellato, Microstoria e storia globale, Officina Libraria, Roma 2023. 

A book of your choice among:  

1. D. Armitage, S. Subrahmanyam (eds.), The Age of Revolutions in Global Context, c. 1760-1840, Palgrave, Basingstoke 2010. 
2. K. Pomeranz, La grande divergenza. La Cina, l’Europa e la nascita dell’economia mondiale moderna, Il Mulino, Bologna 2012. 
3. C. De Vito, A. Gerritsen, Micro-spatial histories of Global Labour, Palgrave, Basingstoke 2018. 
4. K. O’Rourke, J.G. Williamson, Globalizzazione e storia. L’evoluzione dell’economia atlantica nell’Ottocento, Il Mulino, Bologna 2005. 
5. A. Gerritsen, G. Riello (eds.), The Global Lives of Things. The Material Culture of Connections in the Early Modern World, Routledge, Londra 2015. 
6. S. Beckert, L’Impero del cotone. Una storia globale, Einaudi, Torino 2016. 
7. D.R. Headrick, Il predominio dell'Occidente. Tecnologia, ambiente, imperialismo, Il Mulino, Bologna 2011.
8. S. Conrad, Verso il mondo moderno: una storia culturale, Einaudi, Torino 2022. 
9. D.R. Wright, The World and a very small place in Africa. A History of Globalization in Niumi, the Gambia, M.E. Sharpe, New York 2010. 

Additional materials will be agreed upon with the instructor for the presentation of an individual research. 

NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS : 

S. Conrad, Storia globale. Un'introduzione, Carocci, Roma 2015.  

Two books of your choice among: 

1. D. Armitage, S. Subrahmanyam (eds.), The Age of Revolutions in Global Context, c. 1760-1840, Palgrave, Basingstoke 2010. 
2. K. Pomeranz, La grande divergenza. La Cina, l’Europa e la nascita dell’economia mondiale moderna, Il Mulino, Bologna 2012. 
3. C. De Vito, A. Gerritsen, Micro-spatial histories of Global Labour, Palgrave, Basingstoke 2018. 
4. K. O’Rourke, J.G. Williamson, Globalizzazione e storia. L’evoluzione dell’economia atlantica nell’Ottocento, Il Mulino, Bologna 2005. 
5. A. Gerritsen, G. Riello (eds.), The Global Lives of Things. The Material Culture of Connections in the Early Modern World, Routledge, Londra 2015. 
6. S. Beckert, L’Impero del cotone. Una storia globale, Einaudi, Torino 2016. 
7. D.R. Headrick, Il predominio dell'Occidente. Tecnologia, ambiente, imperialismo, Il Mulino, Bologna 2011.
8. S. Conrad, Verso il mondo moderno: una storia culturale, Einaudi, Torino 2022. 
9.  D.R. Wright, The World and a very small place in Africa. A History of Globalization in Niumi, the Gambia, M.E. Sharpe, New York 2010. 

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

LEONARDO SCAVINO (President)

FULVIA ZEGA (President Substitute)

LUCA LO BASSO (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

18th September 2023

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

ATTENDING STUDENTS

In-class presentation of an individual research project, based on a topic and bibliography agreed upon with the instructor; oral examination.

NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS

Oral examination

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Evaluation criteria for attending students: knowledge of the historiographical debate related to the emergence and development of global history; mastery of disciplinary vocabulary; ability to navigate different chronologies related to the concept of globalization; knowledge and proficiency in various research methodologies of global history, demonstrated through an in-class presentation of a case study.

Evaluation criteria for non-attending students: knowledge of the historiographical debate related to the emergence and development of global history; mastery of disciplinary vocabulary; ability to navigate different chronologies related to the concept of globalization; knowledge and proficiency in various research methodologies of global history, demonstrated through reading and comparison of different approaches.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

In-class attendance is highly recommended.