The aim of the course is to provide students with an overview in the general European history of early modern times. The lecturer will describe the chronological sequence of the main historical events, and expose the different interpretations that can be given about them, also with the help of historical documents.

The topics that will be treated in the lessons are:

1. Introduction: History, Historiography, and primary sources

2. The general framework: demography, economy and society in early modern Europe.

3. The geographical discoveries (XV-XVIII cent.)

4. Politics, war and State building in early modern Europe

5. Reformation and Counter-Reformation

6. The general crisis of the seventeenth century

7. The American and French revolutions

8. The industrial revolution.

At the end of the course the students:

• will have a general knowledge on early modern European history; besides, they will have a more specific knowledge of a single topic, through the study and the analysis of texts and documents;
• will learn the historical events of the early modern age, and to communicate and to argue their ideas abour historical events and about the different interpretations of them;
• will learn how to make bibliographical research concerning history and to assume information from a history book. They will learn how to speak in public about history and to use historical arguments.

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

Frontal lessons

Innovative teaching methods

Course books

The study of one textbook ("manual") AND of a supplementary textbook is required.

1. Main textbook. The students can freely choose between the following:

a. Francesco Benigno, L'età moderna. Dalla scoperta dell'America alla Restaurazione, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2005 (and other editions);

b. Carlo Capra, Storia moderna (1492-1848), Firenze, Le Monnier, 2004 (and other editions. This text has to be studied only until the Napoleonic period).

c. [For the students interested in "global history" there is also the textbook: Introduzione alla storia moderna, a cura di Marco Bellabarba e Vincenzo Lavenia, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2018. It is a very complex text, and it deals also with topics that will not be treated in the lessons]

2. Supplementary textbook. The students can freely choose between the following:

a. Giampaolo Romagnani, La società di antico regime (XVI-XVIII secolo). Temi e problemi storiografici, Roma, Carocci, 2010.

b. Guido Dall'Olio, Storia moderna. I temi e le fonti. Nuova edizione, Roma, Carocci, 2017

Assessment

Written examination

There will be just one written examination for each session

The written proof aims to test the students' knowledge as for the general issues (nouns, dates, events). Besides, it shows the students' ability to explain historical topics with coherent and consistent exposition, which connects historical events with each other. In a written proof the students can also express freely their opinions (if well argued) about history.

Assessment

In general, completeness, accuracy and accuracy of answers will be considered, regardless of their length.

Particular criteria

A. Knowledge of nouns, dates, and events

• Level 1 (insufficient): poor knowledge of the events and of their location in space and time. Reference to space and time are missing (or almost missing); wrong sequence of the events.
• Level 2 (from 18 to 22): inaccurate knowledge of nouns, locations and dates; sufficient knowledge of historical events
• Level 3 (from 22 to 26): good knowledge of nouns, locations and dates; good capability to narrate historical events.
• Level 4 (from 26 to 30): comprehensive knowledge of nouns, locations, dates and event, also of historical figures and facts of secondary significance 

B. Deep knowledge. The historical meaning of events, and their relationship with the previous and subsequent history.

• Level 1 (insufficient): Little or no knowledge of the previous and subsequent history or the event in question.
• Level 2 (from 18 to 22): Rigid and mechanical connection between events (for example: "The cause of the Reformation was the immorality of the clergy").
• Level 3 (from 22 to 26): Good connections between previous and subsequent history and the event in question.
• Level 4 (from 26 to 30): articulated and precise connections between previous and subsequent history and the event in question. The event in question is placed into its context, with all the necessary elements.

C. Knowledge of he historiographical debate, of the different interpretations of the historical events, and of their importance for the present times.

• Level 1 (insufficient): Little or no knowledge of the existence of different interpretations of the event in question.
• Level 2 (from 18 to 22): Generic knowledge of the different interpretations of the event in question.
• Level 3 (from 22 to 26): Correct knowledge and narration of the different interpretations of the event in question.
• Level 4 (from 26 to 30): Good knowledge and narration of the different interpretations of the event in question, and of their foundations upon theory or documentary sources.

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

Course books

The study of one textbook ("manual") AND of a supplementary textbook is required.

1. Main textbook. The students can freely choose between the following:

a. Francesco Benigno, L'età moderna. Dalla scoperta dell'America alla Restaurazione, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2005 (and other editions);

b. Carlo Capra, Storia moderna (1492-1848), Firenze, Le Monnier, 2004 (and other editions. This text has to be studied only until the Napoleonic period).

c. [For the students interested in "global history" there is also the textbook: Introduzione alla storia moderna, a cura di Marco Bellabarba e Vincenzo Lavenia, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2018. It is a very complex text, and it deals also with topics that will not be treated in the lessons]

2. Supplementary textbook. The students can freely choose between the following:

a. Giampaolo Romagnani, La società di antico regime (XVI-XVIII secolo). Temi e problemi storiografici, Roma, Carocci, 2010.

b. Guido Dall'Olio, Storia moderna. I temi e le fonti. Nuova edizione, Roma, Carocci, 2017.

Non-attending students must also read and study one of these books:

Ottavia Niccoli, Storie di ogni giorno in una città del Seicento, Roma, Officina Libraria, 2021 (First Edition Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2000)

Raffaella Sarti, Vita di casa. Abitare, mangiare, vestire nell'Europa moderna, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2003 (and other editions)

Assessment

(the same as for attending students)

Written examination

There will be just one written examination for each session

The written proof aims to test the students' knowledge as for the general issues (nouns, dates, events). Besides, it shows the students' ability to explain historical topics with coherent and consistent exposition, which connects historical events with each other. In a written proof the students can also express freely their opinions (if well argued) about history.

Assessment

In general, completeness, accuracy and accuracy of answers will be considered, regardless of their length.

Particular criteria

A. Knowledge of nouns, dates, and events

• Level 1 (insufficient): poor knowledge of the events and of their location in space and time. Reference to space and time are missing (or almost missing); wrong sequence of the events.
• Level 2 (from 18 to 22): inaccurate knowledge of nouns, locations and dates; sufficient knowledge of historical events
• Level 3 (from 22 to 26): good knowledge of nouns, locations and dates; good capability to narrate historical events.
• Level 4 (from 26 to 30): comprehensive knowledge of nouns, locations, dates and event, also of historical figures and facts of secondary significance 

B. Deep knowledge. The historical meaning of events, and their relationship with the previous and subsequent history.

• Level 1 (insufficient): Little or no knowledge of the previous and subsequent history or the event in question.
• Level 2 (from 18 to 22): Rigid and mechanical connection between events (for example: "The cause of the Reformation was the immorality of the clergy").
• Level 3 (from 22 to 26): Good connections between previous and subsequent history and the event in question.
• Level 4 (from 26 to 30): articulated and precise connections between previous and subsequent history and the event in question. The event in question is placed into its context, with all the necessary elements.

C. Knowledge of he historiographical debate, of the different interpretations of the historical events, and of their importance for the present times.

• Level 1 (insufficient): Little or no knowledge of the existence of different interpretations of the event in question.
• Level 2 (from 18 to 22): Generic knowledge of the different interpretations of the event in question.
• Level 3 (from 22 to 26): Correct knowledge and narration of the different interpretations of the event in question.
• Level 4 (from 26 to 30): Good knowledge and narration of the different interpretations of the event in question, and of their foundations upon theory or documentary sources.

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.