POPULATION HISTORY

The aim of the course is to provide students with an overview of the recent scholarly debates on Population History, that is the dynamics which led to the changes in world population in the premodern period, especially focusing on migration in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Among the driving factors considered are military conflicts, environmental causes, scientific development, epidemics, discoveries, nutrition and agricultural production, socio-cultural factors (e.g. marriage patterns), migration, urbanization, economic growth and religious/ethnic conflicts. Readings will span between examples from Italy in a global context, including both primary written and visual sources as well as secondary literature. Students will develop a critical view of the topics discussed enabling them to analyze contemporary phenomena in a historical perspective.

Students will enhance their knowledge on topics related to population history and historical demography through an interdisciplinary perspective on early modern history. They will also acquire basic skills in three specific areas: public speaking, peer-to-peer feedback, guided discussion. More specifically students will acquire the following knowledge and skills:

1. Knowledge and understanding:
- a general understanding of population dynamics from a historical perspective
- foundational knowledge of population dynamics in the early modern period
- a basic understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of the topic
2. Ability of applying knowledge and understanding:
- the ability to engage in discussions applying specialist terminology
- the ability to connect historical phenomena to contemporary global challenges
- the ability to analyze historical topics through an interdisciplinary approach
3. Judgement abilities
- the ability to relate the course materials to contemporary global issues
- the ability to organize the course content in a coherent manner
4. Communicative abilities
- the ability to deliver short, independent presentations applying specialist language
- the ability to provide constructive peer feedback
5. Learning abilities
- the ability to take effective notes
- the ability to perform a critical reading of the assigned bibliography

A general knowledge of European history (15th – 19th centuries)

Historical demography, voluntarily migration, forced migration (i.e. slavery), nutrition, agricultural production, commercial revolution, Proto- globalization/first global age, scientific innovations, discoveries, urbanization, epidemics, cultural norms (marriage, offspring, elderly care)

The final exam is based on the slides and reading assignments available on Moodle.




3. P. Morland, Tomorrow's people: the future of humanity in ten numbers, Cham, Palgrave, 2022

Suggested readings (for students who cannot / do not wish to attend lessons):
1.P. Morland, Tomorrow's people: the future of humanity in ten numbers, Cham, Palgrave, 2022
2.J. L. A. Webb, Globalization of disease, 1300 to 1900, in The Cambridge World History. Vol. VI The Construction of a Global World, 1400-1800 CE, Part I: Foundations, ed. By J. H. Bentley, S. Subrahmanyam, M. E. Wiesner-Hanks, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2015, pp. 54-75
3.R. Marks, Exhausting the Earth, in The Cambridge World History. Vol. VI The Construction of a Global World, 1400-1800 CE, Part I: Foundations, ed. By J. H. Bentley, S. Subrahmanyam, M. E. Wiesner-Hanks, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2015, pp. 29-53
4.M. Harrison, Disease and world history from 1750, in The Cambridge World History. Vol. VII Production, Destruction and Connection, 1750-Present, Part I: Structures, Spaces and Boundary Making, ed. by J. R. McNeill, K. Pomeranz, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2015, pp. 237-257
5.E. Manela, The politics of smallpox eradication, in The Cambridge World History. Vol. VII Production, Destruction and Connection, 1750-Present, Part I: Structures, Spaces and Boundary Making, ed. by J. R. McNeill, K. Pomeranz, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2015, pp. 258-284
6.M. Livi Bacci, Demography and Population, in The Cambridge World History. Vol. VII Production, Destruction and Connection, 1750-Present, Part I: Structures, Spaces and Boundary Making, ed. by J. R. McNeill, K. Pomeranz, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2015, pp. 187-211
7.A. Bashford, Population politics since 1750, in The Cambridge World History. Vol. VII Production, Destruction and Connection, 1750-Present, Part I: Structures, Spaces and Boundary Making, ed. by J. R. McNeill, K. Pomeranz, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2015, pp. 212-236
8. L. Hollen Lees, World Urbanization, 1750 to present, The Cambridge World History. Vol. VII Production, Destruction and Connection, 1750-Present, Part II, Cambridge University Press, 2015
9. J.R. McNeill, Energy, Population, and environmental change since 1750, The Cambridge World History. Vol. VII Production, Destruction and Connection, 1750-Present, Part I, Cambridge, 2015
10. S. Harper, Demography: a very short introduction, Oxford, 2018
11. G. Delogu, Inventing Public Health in the Early Modern Age: Venice and the Northern Adriatic, Pavia-Como, 2022

1. Reading the assignment(s) for each class (5-10 pages) – verified through short quizzes
2. Active participation in the discussions
3. One oral presentation (ca.10 minutes)
4. Final oral exam

oral

The lecturer has a duty to ensure that the rules regarding the authenticity and originality of exam tests and papers are respected. Therefore, if there is suspicion of irregular conduct, an additional assessment may be conducted, which could differ from the original exam description.

Grading is based on a 0–30 scale and consists of three components

1. Active participation in class (Reading the assignment(s) & Participation in the debate) (20%)
2. Oral presentation (20%)
3. Final exam (60%)

In the absence of points 1. and 2., grading will be based entirely on the final exam.

Passing grade: 18-30

Guided discussion (in pairs, in group)
Power Point presentations
Short lectures
Case study analyses
Digital humanities

For questions and queries please contact me
at: katalin.prajda@unive.it
or via zoom: Thursdays 11am-1pm
in person: following each class

Students with disabilities can contact the Disability and Accessibility Office (disabilita@unive.it) to learn about the services available (e.g. alternative examination methods, readers, etc.).

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development