EARLY MEDIEVAL HISTORY

The course is part of the core educational activities of the Master's degree programme in Storia dal medioevo all'età contemporanea and in Storia delle arti e conservazione dei beni artistici. The teaching is an introduction to the history of generally less studied European regions of the Middle Ages.

By the end of the course, the students will have gained knowledge of the European frontier-societes and of the evidence necessary for their study. They will also learn how to approach complex and fragmentary sources.

No one, in particular, but students are suggested to attend a class in Medieval History first. Some knowledge of English and Latin could also help.

A history of Britain: from Saint Patrick to the Harald Hardrada.

I returned to a long strand,
the hammered curve of a bay,
and found only the secular
powers of the Atlantic thundering.

I faced the unmagical
invitations of Iceland,
the pathetic colonies
of Greenland, and suddenly...

Seamus Heaney, 'North'


We tell the story of the British Isles, beyond the shores of the Ocean, at the edge of the ancient world. A world beyond the frontiers of the written word, empires and Christendom. It is a kaleidoscopic universe about which we know little but which, illuminated by fragmentary and fascinating evidence, glows in the dark.
We will witness the conversion of Ireland, the return of the gods to Britain, the funeral of King Rædwald at Sutton Hoo, the arrival of the Vikings and the defeat of Stamford Bridge in 1066. We will discuss the sources that provide access to this lost world, in material, written data and thanks to numerous suggestions from the social sciences.

1) The lecture notes, including literature and sources discussed and read in class.

2) Karol Modzelewski, L’Europa dei barbari: Le culture tribali di fronte alla cultura romano-cristiana, Torino: Boringhieri, 2008;
together with:
A. Barbero, L’Europa dei barbari: Barbero legge Modzelewski, "Storica" 43-45 (2009) 433-48
F. Borri, Review of Modzelewski: http://www.sehepunkte.de/2013/06/20716.html (in inglese)

Non attending students, will present:

1) One of the following textes:
Richard Fletcher, La conversione dell’Europa: Dal paganesimo al cristianesimo 371 – 1386 d.C. (rist.) Milano: TEA, 2003 (a long, but easy book)
Peter Heather, L'impero e i barbari: Le grandi migrazioni e la nascita dell’Europa, Milano: Garzanti, 2010 (this is also a very long text, but easy and pleasant to read)
Alternatives could be discussed with the teacher.
I. Barbiera, Memorie sepolte. Tombe e identità nell'alto Medioevo (secoli V-VIII), Roma: Carocci, 2012 (an exellent introduction to material culture).

2) Karol Modzelewski, L’Europa dei barbari: Le culture tribali di fronte alla cultura romano-cristiana, Torino: Boringhieri, 2008 (there is also an English translation);
together with:
A. Barbero, L’Europa dei barbari: Barbero legge Modzelewski, "Storica" 43-45 (2009) 433-48
F. Borri, Review of Modzelewski: http://www.sehepunkte.de/2013/06/20716.html (in inglese)

Oral. The exam will focus on the topics discussed in class and the literature assigned. Students may also write a brief essay (max 3.500 words) to be discussed at the exam.

Lessons will be held as seminars. Students are asked to intervene during the frontal lectures with questions and commentaries as well with the presentation of their homework during the class' final units.

Italian

oral