The course is structured to enable students to acquire an in-depth awareness of the main cognitive tools of contemporary historical methodology applied to medieval studies, with reference both to the historical processes that occurred during the medieval period and to their subsequent interpretations and reinterpretations both in the historiographical sphere and in a broader sphere of the uses and reuses of the Middle Ages by post-medieval societies (medievalism). This is why the course is entitled History and Fortune. 

The course will develop around the figure of Cola di Rienzo (1313-1354), who was the most famous Roman citizen of the Middle Ages. It can be argued that, with the exception of a few figures of saints, artists and rulers, he is also one of the most famous men of that time who had the good fortune to have been born on the Italian peninsula. Cola was in contact with the pope, with the emperor, with Francesco Petrarca; he put himself at the head of the Roman people, assuming the title of 'tribune augustus', to restore the Urbe to its ancient splendour, but failed in his endeavour and died an atrocious death. Of this cultured, ambitious, contradictory man, still mysterious and elusive in many ways, it is not easy to reconstruct his life.

Through the in-depth analysis of this character, three themes in particular will be addressed: 

- from a historical point of view, Cola di Rienzo will be presented by placing him within the 14th century, one of the most fascinating and complex periods in European history. Particular use will be made of the reading and commentary of passages from the Cronica by Anonymous Roman; 

- from a methodological point of view, the problem of "biography" will be tackled, which is the genre of writing that, while belonging in its own right to historiography, is closest to the literature of fiction;

- From the point of view of medievalism, the subject of the wide fortune of Cola di Rienzo, who was a much-loved character especially in the 19th century (think for example of Richard Wagner's opera Rienzi) and in the first half of the 20th century (biography published by D'Annunzio, political reinterpretations in the fascist, anti-fascist and national-socialist spheres) will be addressed.

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

Teaching

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

Innovative teaching methods

Self-assessment exercises; group seminars.

Attendance

Prerequisites: it is advisable to have taken the three-year undergraduate course exam in Medieval History. Attendance is not mandatory, but it is recommended. Frequency: at least 2/3 of the lessons. 

Course books

T. di Carpegna Falconieri, Nel labirinto del passato. Dieci modi di riscrivere la storia, Bari-Roma, Laterza, 2020

T. di Carpegna Falconieri, Cola di Rienzo, Roma, Salerno editrice, 2024

(or: T. di Carpegna Falconieri, Il se voyait déjà empereur. Cola di Rienzo: un Romain au Moyen Âge, traduit de l’italien par M. Grévin, Grenoble, Uga Éditions-Université Grenoble Alpes, 2019; or: A. Collins, Greater than Emperor. Cola di Rienzo (ca. 1313-54) and the World of Fourteenth-Century Rome, Ann Arbor, The Univ. of Michigan Press, 2002; or: R. Musto, Apocalypse in Rome. Cola di Rienzo and the Politics of the New Age, Berkeley, Univ. of California Press, 2003)

Anonimo romano, Cronica, a cura di G. Porta, Milano, Adelphi, 1981

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.

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. Achieving a full understanding of the program topics requires a greater commitment, in terms of individual study, for those who have not attended the lessons. It is therefore recommended that extensive and careful use of the materials included on the Moodle platform be made, particularly for non-attending students.

Attendance

Prerequisites: it is advisable to have taken the three-year undergraduate course exam in Medieval History. 

In order to give non-attending students (less than 2/3 attendance in class) the opportunity to compensate with independent study for what has been done by attending students during lectures, in addition to studying three books like attending students, non-attending students must write a term paper of approximately 20,000 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

T. di Carpegna Falconieri, Nel labirinto del passato. Dieci modi di riscrivere la storia, Bari-Roma, Laterza, 2020

T. di Carpegna Falconieri, Cola di Rienzo, Roma, Salerno editrice, 2024

(or: T. di Carpegna Falconieri, Il se voyait déjà empereur. Cola di Rienzo: un Romain au Moyen Âge, traduit de l’italien par M. Grévin, Grenoble, Uga Éditions-Université Grenoble Alpes, 2019; or: A. Collins, Greater than Emperor. Cola di Rienzo (ca. 1313-54) and the World of Fourteenth-Century Rome, Ann Arbor, The Univ. of Michigan Press, 2002; or: R. Musto, Apocalypse in Rome. Cola di Rienzo and the Politics of the New Age, Berkeley, Univ. of California Press, 2003)

Anonimo romano, Cronica, a cura di G. Porta, Milano, Adelphi, 1981

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.

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 websites: www.tommasodicarpegna.it; https://uniurb.academia.edu/TommasodiCarpegnaFalconieri

In compliance with the University guidelines, the course takes place face-to-face. Attendance and active class participation is strongly recommended. Using the Moodle environment is essential for sharing information and learning materials.

Foreign students (Erasmus+ or other exchange programmes) are invited to contact the teacher.