OVERVIEW

The course Elements and Sources of Early Modern History aims to give students an overview of the main themes and issues related to the Ancien Régime period (16th–18th centuries). It also introduces the working methods of historians and the development of historical writing (historiography), especially as the discipline became more professional over time

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to introduce the student to the study of modern history: on the one hand by introducing and outlining in a preliminary way the concepts, themes and problems of the centuries of modernity; on the other hand by providing guidance for the understanding of the historian's work and for the knowledge of the tools he used (sources, methodology, historiography).

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course has two main objectives:

1. to understand the structural features of Ancien Régime society, including its various spheres and related issues;

2. to become familiar with historiographical terminology and with the historian’s essential tools — namely, primary and secondary sources.

PREREQUISITES

Basic textbook knowledge of the early modern period (at high school level)

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures will be delivered in a traditional classroom format, but will remain open to students’ questions and interests in order to explore key themes and issues. Seminars on sources and historiography will focus on explaining the historian’s working methods and how historical knowledge is constructed.

The first part of the course, on themes in early modern history, will be taught by Prof. Luca Lo Basso.
The second part, focused on historical sources, will be taught by Prof. Paolo Calcagno.
The third part, an in-depth focus on the role of women in the early modern period, will be taught by Dr. Francesca Ferrando.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Introduction to Early Modern History: themes, issues, sources, and historiography

8-hour in-depth focus on the role of women in the early modern period

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Syllabus for 9 ECTS Credits

For Attending Students:

• On early modern history topics:
  G. P. Romagnani, La società di antico regime (XVI–XVIII secolo). Temi e problemi storiografici, Carocci, Rome

• On sources:
  Lecture notes taken in class

• On women’s history in the early modern period:
  Two articles to be selected from the following list:

One article from the following group:

• A. Groppi, Ottica di genere e lavoro in età moderna, in Innesti: donne e genere nella storia sociale, Viella, 2011, pp. 259–275

• A. Bellavitis, Donne, cittadinanza e corporazioni tra Medioevo ed età moderna: ricerche in corso, in N.M. Filippini, T. Plebani, A. Scattigno (eds.), Corpi e Storia. Donne e uomini dal mondo antico all’età contemporanea, Viella, 2002, pp. 87–104

• B. Zucca Micheletto, Lavoro, figli ed economia domestica nella Torino di Antico Regime, in Genesis, VII/1–2, 2008, pp. 165–192

• M. Lanzinger, The Visibility of Women’s Work: Logics and Contexts of Documents’ Production, in R. Sarti, A. Bellavitis, M. Martini (eds.), What Is Work? Gender at the Crossroads of Home, Family, and Business from the Early Modern Era to the Present, Berghahn, 2018, pp. 243–264

• P. Lanaro, Le donne velere nell'Arsenale di Venezia. Donne e lavoro operaio in una società preindustriale, in P. Lanaro, C. Austruy (eds.), L'Arsenale di Venezia. Da grande complesso industriale a risorsa patrimoniale, Marsilio, 2020, pp. 57–82

One article from the following group:

1. D. Lombardi, La rilevanza giuridica della fama: oneste e disoneste nei processi criminali per stupro (Firenze, sec. XVIII), in V. Lagioia, M.P. Paoli, R. Rinaldi (eds.), La fama delle donne. Pratiche femminili e società tra Medioevo ed Età Moderna, Viella, 2020, pp. 297–314

2. L. Ferrante, La sessualità come risorsa. Donne davanti al foro arcivescovile di Bologna (sec. XVII), in Mélanges de l'école française de Rome, 99-2, 1987, pp. 989–1016

3. F. Ferrando, Vivere ai margini. Accattonaggio, frode e furto sulle strade di Genova in antico regime, in Storia delle donne, 18–19, 2022–2023, pp. 279–294

For Non-Attending Students:

• On early modern history topics:
  G. P. Romagnani, La società di antico regime (XVI–XVIII secolo). Temi e problemi storiografici, Carocci, Rome

• On sources:
  Nel laboratorio della storia. Una guida alle fonti dell'età moderna, Carocci, Rome (only Part I and Part II)

• On women’s history in the early modern period:
  A. Bellavitis, Il lavoro delle donne nelle città dell’Europa moderna, Viella, 2016

Syllabus for 6 ECTS Credits

For Attending Students:

• G. P. Romagnani, La società di antico regime (XVI–XVIII secolo). Temi e problemi storiografici, Carocci, Rome

• Lecture notes taken during the second part of the course (on early modern sources)

For Non-Attending Students:

• G. P. Romagnani, La società di antico regime (XVI–XVIII secolo). Temi e problemi storiografici, Carocci, Rome

• Nel laboratorio della storia. Una guida alle fonti dell'età moderna, Carocci, Rome (only Part I and Part II)

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

September 15, 2025

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral exam format: One or two questions on the general part (Romagnani), one question on the sources program, and one question on the women’s history program (only for students taking the 9 ECTS option).

For attending students, using arguments, notes, and materials gathered during lectures will be considered a merit, in addition to knowledge of the texts listed in the bibliography.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam will be oral and will focus on one or more specific topics drawn from the assigned texts. The candidate will be asked to present these topics with critical insight, accuracy, and clarity, using appropriate academic language. Additionally, for attending students, their ability to make meaningful connections with other themes discussed in the same text or during lectures will also be assessed.

FURTHER INFORMATION

There is no additional information. However, the professors are available during office hours and can be contacted at any time via email. Dr. Ferrando can be reached at the following address: francesca.ferrando@univr.it