Using one narrative source of the XIIth century, the Narracio de Mirabilibus Urbis Romae, the course is structured to help students acquire a deeper knowledge of the fundamental themes that characterise the Medieval period. As well, it allows them to become familiar with the primary cognitive tools of contemporary historiography of the Middle Ages.

The course is divided into two parts.  The introductory part will present various types of historical source materials produced during the Middle Ages – with particular attention to narrative source materials and those relating the city of Rome.  The second part of the course will focus on the critical interpretation and reading of the Narracio de Mirabilibus Urbis Romae, written around 1150 by the English 'magister Gregorius.'  The analysis of this source will allow an immersion into the image of Rome in the late middle ages, at the boundary between history and legend, between topographic reality and dream paths, and through the sensitivities of an extraordinary author will expose greatly important themes, e.g. the production of historical memory and the relations between observation and description of a place.  The syllabus will be handed out during the first lesson, then available online.

Prerequisites: it is advisable to have taken the three-year undergraduate course exam in Medieval History. It is advisable, as well, to have at least an elementary knowledge of Latin.

Knowledge and understanding
Students must demonstrate knowledge and understanding that extends beyond and reinforces that typically associated with the three-year undergraduate programme and that permits the student to develop and apply original ideas, including research ideas, in reference to content, methodological and applied content regarding medieval history.

Applying knowledge and understanding
Students must be able to apply their knowledge, understanding and problem-solving skills to new and unfamiliar topics in broader interdisciplinary contexts associated with the study of medieval history.

Making judgements
Students must have the ability to integrate their knowledge and manage complexity, as well as make judgements on the basis of limited or incomplete information, including reflection on the social and ethical responsibility connected with the application of their knowledge and judgement in full awareness of the fundamental importance of the use and public role of History.

Communication skills
Students must know how to communicate clearly and succinctly their conclusions, their knowledge and the reasoning behind these to specialists and non-specialists. They must be able to evaluate maturely information related to both themes and events of medieval history as well as methodological, epistemological, communicational, social and ethical problems related to the discipline of medieval history.

Learning skills
Students must have developed learning, analytical and applied skills that allow them to continue to study autonomously and thus permit access to the third cycle of university study or other specialized levels as well as to the world of professional work.

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

Power Point presentations.

Teaching

Lectures and thematic seminars, held by the professor and guest speakers; attending students will carry out short research projects and present their results.

Attendance

Attendance is not mandatory, but it is recommended. Frequency: at least 2/3 of the lessons.

Course books

a) One of the following Medieval history textbooks:

• G. Vitolo, Medioevo. I caratteri originali di un'età di transizione, Milano, Sansoni, 2000
• M. Montanari, Storia medievale, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2002
• C. Warren Hollister, Medieval Europe: a Short History, McGraw-Hill Europe, 2005 10th
• G. Piccinni, I mille anni del medioevo, Milano, B. Mondadori, 2007

b) The following medieval source:

• Magistri Gregorii Narracio de mirabilibus urbis Romae, in C. Nardella, Il fascino di Roma nel Medioevo. Le "meraviglie di Roma" di Maestro Gregorio, Roma, Viella, 1997, 2nd ed. 2007

c) One of the following books:

• T. di Carpegna Falconieri, Cola di Rienzo, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2002 (or the French edition, UGA, in press)
• B. Smalley, Historians in the Middle Ages, Thames & Hudson Ltd , 1974 [or any other edition]
• ten chapter of yourn choice of Roma antica nel Medioevo. Mito, rappresentazioni, sopravvivenze nella 'Respublica Christiana' dei secoli IX-XI, Milano, Vita e Pensiero, 2001.

Assessment

Oral exam.This exam consists of some questions (usually three) about the texts and the topics discussed in class. The questions are general in nature and posed in the form of a conversation.

- They will give rise to evaluations from excellent to very good (30 cum laude-27): the student's possession of excellent- very good critical and in-depth skills; the ability to connect the topics dealt with in the course; the use of an appropriate language with respect to the specific nature of the discipline.

- They will give rise to good-discrete evaluations (26-23): the student's possession of a mnemonic knowledge of the contents; a relative critical capacity and connection between the themes dealt with: the use of an appropriate language.

-  They will give rise to sufficient evaluations (22-18): the achievement of minimal knowledge on the subjects dealt with by the student, even if there are some training gaps; the use of inappropriate language.

- They will give rise to negative evaluations: difficulty of orientation of the student with respect to the topics dealt with in the exam texts; training gaps; the use of inappropriate language.

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.

Teaching

Individual study.

Attendance

As well as the three books that attending students must read, non-attending students (less than 2/3 of lessons of frequency) must also must write a term paper of approximately 25,000 characters on a topic of medieval history to be approved with the professor.The paper should be sent to the professor at least one week before the exam.

Course books

a) One of the following Medieval history textbooks:

• G. Vitolo, Medioevo. I caratteri originali di un'età di transizione, Milano, Sansoni, 2000
• M. Montanari, Storia medievale, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2002
• C. Warren Hollister, Medieval Europe: a Short History, McGraw-Hill Europe, 2005 10th
• G. Piccinni, I mille anni del medioevo, Milano, B. Mondadori, 2007

b) The following medieval source:

• Magistri Gregorii Narracio de mirabilibus urbis Romae, in C. Nardella, Il fascino di Roma nel Medioevo. Le "meraviglie di Roma" di Maestro Gregorio, Roma, Viella, 1997, 2nd ed. 2007

c) One of the following books:

• T. di Carpegna Falconieri, Cola di Rienzo, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2002 (or the French edition, UGA, in press)
• B. Smalley, Historians in the Middle Ages, Thames & Hudson Ltd , 1974 [or any other edition]
• ten chapter of yourn choice of Roma antica nel Medioevo. Mito, rappresentazioni, sopravvivenze nella 'Respublica Christiana' dei secoli IX-XI, Milano, Vita e Pensiero, 2001.

Assessment

Oral exam and evaluation of the term paper. This exam consists of some questions (usually three) about the texts and the topics discussed in class. The questions are general in nature and posed in the form of a conversation.

- They will give rise to evaluations from excellent to very good (30 cum laude-27): the student's possession of excellent- very good critical and in-depth skills; the ability to connect the topics dealt with in the course; the use of an appropriate language with respect to the specific nature of the discipline.

- They will give rise to good-discrete evaluations (26-23): the student's possession of a mnemonic knowledge of the contents; a relative critical capacity and connection between the themes dealt with: the use of an appropriate language.

-  They will give rise to sufficient evaluations (22-18): the achievement of minimal knowledge on the subjects dealt with by the student, even if there are some training gaps; the use of inappropriate language.

- They will give rise to negative evaluations: difficulty of orientation of the student with respect to the topics dealt with in the exam texts; training gaps; the use of inappropriate language.
 

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.

Professor's website: www.tommasodicarpegna.it