OVERVIEW

The course is developed, for those taking the 9 CFU examination, in two modules of a total of 60 hours. The first module is dedicated to a broad overview of the main documentary typologies of the medieval millennium, their genesis, their trajectory, the different thematic and problematic approaches that historians of various disciplinary orientations have developed over time; it will be illustrated how to construct a thematic bibliography and how to access online resources. The second module consists of an in-depth study of the topics dealt with in the first, with classroom exercises on sources and bibliography and with proposals for different filing methods.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching of "Sources and methods for medieval history" aims to provide knowledge of the main documentary typologies of the Middle Ages, the uses and problems in dealing with such documentation; the ability to orient oneself in the bibliographic collection and to manage the data collected from the documentation.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide an understanding of the evolution of medieval sources, with reference to the documentary production of the 12th-15th centuries in the Italian context. At the end of the course, students will be able to recognise the main types of documents, place them in time and space, and critically analyse different historiographical approaches. They will acquire the ability to exploit the information provided by these written sources and an awareness of the complexity inherent in their interpretation. At the end of the course, students will also be able to independently construct a thematic bibliography and compile source files to facilitate the analysis of the collected data.

PREREQUISITES

No specific prerequisites are required.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures, also with the use of slides; part of the material will be provided during the lecture, a part will be available in various formats on Aulaweb.

Lectures will be held in presence. It will be possible to follow the lectures remotely (streaming/recordings via Teams platform) only in exceptional circumstances and for those students who make express request for it at the beginning of the course by writing to the lecturer. Those who follow the lectures from home will be considered non-attendees.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Overview of medieval sources, approaches to, and problems in, the study of sources, historiographical and practical updates on the sources.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

For those taking 9 credits (CFU)

Compulsory text for those attending the lectures

1. P. Cammarosano, Italia medievale. Struttura e geografia delle fonti scritte, Roma, 1991

2. collection of sources analysed in class

texts for those who do not attend lessons

1. P. Cammarosano, Italia medievale. Struttura e geografia delle fonti scritte, Roma, 1991

2. In addition, one of the following options:

• Bruno Andreolli e Massimo Montanari, L’azienda curtense in Italia. Proprietà della terra e lavoro contadino nei secoli VIII-XI, Clueb, 1983.
• Stefano Gasparri, Voci dai secoli oscuri. Un percorso nelle fonti dell’alto Medioevo, Carocci, 2017.
• Tommaso di Carpegna Falconieri, Amedeo Feniello e Christian Grasso (ed.), Fonti medievali: un’antologia, Carocci, 2017.
• Carlo M. Cipolla, Introduzione allo studio della storia economica, Il Mulino, 2000, p. 33-110 and 113-225.

For those taking 6 credits (CFU)

Compulsory texts for those attending the lectures:

1. two chapters of your choice from the text P. Cammarosano, Italia medievale. Struttura e geografia delle fonti scritte, Roma, 1991.

2. part of the anthology of sources analysed in class, to be agreed with the lecturer.

Text for those who do not attend lessons:

1. P. Cammarosano, Italia medievale. Struttura e geografia delle fonti scritte, Roma, 1991.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

21/09/2025

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy