The enlargement of geographical horizons realised between the XV and XVI Century by Iberian countries with their voyages of exploration and discovery did radically change not only the aspect of the world known until those days but, in a long term, it also produced a variety of changes between the Old and the New Continent, especially in economic, social and cultural field. By studying the European expansion in Asia and in the New World, the course aims to offer the keys to understanding historical problems connected to that great globalisation process whose perception is nowadays quite clear.

The course will be developed in two parts: a general and a monographic part.

In the general part, after discussing methodology matters (history and historiography, historical sources, the idea of modern age), attention will be focused on outlining a generic framework about principal themes and problems of modern age, from the end of the XV century to the European Restoration (1492-1815).
The monographic part will be centred on studying the European colonial expansion, especially towards the Asiatic continent and the New World (XV-XVIII Centuries), with broad references to the contemporary historiographical debate and to the use of primary sources.

Knowledge and understanding
To know historical research methodologies, chronological criteria and the typology of sources.
To know and understand general guidelines of European modern history from the geographical discoveries to the European Restauration.
To develop specific understanding on a thematic of considerable importance in the early modern age by referring to the contemporary historiographical debate and to primary sources.

Applying knowledge and understanding
To be able to contextualise the studied historic events and phenomena by an appropriate use of spatial and temporal coordinates.To be able to connect and distinguish differences between events.
To identify persistence and changes in long term historical processes.

Making judgements
To acquire the understanding about the ideological conditioning of historical narration and to be able to autonomously elaborate the acquired knowledge.

Communication skills
To be able to clearly enunciate the studied and acquired contents by using with proficiency the specific and technical language of the historical discipline.

Communication skills
The learning ability will be reinforced by using complementary learning activities: general history lectures, monographic lectures, reading and analysing primary sources.
Factual knowledge of political, economic, social and cultural dynamics about previous European societies will have to allow the development of a historical background which aims to a better understanding of the contemporary world.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Lectures.

Course books

In preparation for the general part, it is advised: C. Capra, Storia moderna (1492-1848), Firenze, Le Monnier, 2011.

In preparation for the monographic part, it is advised to choose two books (to be agreed with the professor) between the following: T.Todorov, La conquista dell'America. Il problema dell' "altro", Torino, Einaudi, 1992; L.N.McAlister, Dalla scoperta alla conquista. Spagna e Portogallo nel Nuovo Mondo 1492-1700, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2000; F.Surdich, Verso il Nuovo Mondo. L'immaginario europeo e la scoperta dell'America, Firenze, Giunti, 2002; E.J.Leed, Per mare e per terra. Viaggi, missioni, spedizioni alla scoperta del mondo, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2005; A.Pagden, Signori del mondo. Ideologie dell'impero in Spagna, Gran Bretagna e Francia 1500-1800, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2008; M.Livi-Bacci, Conquista. La distruzione degli Indios americani, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2009; J.H.Elliot, Imperi dell'Atlantico, America britannica e America spagnola 1492-1830, Torino, Einnaudi, 2010; C.M.Cipolla, Vele e cannoni, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2011; Glenn J.Ames, L'età delle scoperte geografiche 1500-1700, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2011; L.A.Lindsay, Il commercio degli schiavi, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2011; G.Abbatista, L'espansione europea in Asia (secc. XV-XVIII), Roma, Carocci, 2012; R.Mazzei, Per terra e per acqua. Viaggi e viaggiatori nell'Europa moderna, Roma, Carocci, 2013; A.Brilli, Mercanti avventurieri. Storie di viaggi e di cannoni, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2013; M.Donattini, Dal Nuovo Mondo all'America, Roma, Carocci, 2014.

Assessment

Oral exam.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Course books

Non-attending students should add to the above mentioned books the following one: R.Bizzocchi, Guida allo studio della storia moderna, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2014.

Assessment

Oral exam.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.