GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE HISTORY

The course is a core educational activity in the Master's degrees programme in "History from the Middle Ages to Present".
It analyses the climatic events (variations and extreme events) of the last millennium, at different scales and in relation to territorial diversity. Particular attention is paid to understanding the adaptive responses deployed by human societies and their social and economic outcomes. Consistent with its framing in the degree course, a geohistorical approach is favoured, particularly about the European area.

1. Knowledge and understanding:
1.1 Acquiring the fundamental concepts of geography and climate history, also with reference to the types of historical sources and their critical use
1.2 Know the main socio-cultural response models to climate change and environmental risks put in place by societies

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
2.1 Use disciplinary tools to interpret the geo-historical evolution of the territories, with particular interest in socio-economic aspects
2.2 Recognize the main processes of transformation of society introduced, at different scales, by changes in the geographical-environmental frameworks
2.3 Know the main concepts that characterize the relationship between human communities and the living environment and apply them correctly in interpreting today's socio-environmental dynamics

3. Judgment skills:
3.1 Evaluate the role of environmental changes, and in particular climatic ones, in the permanent redefinition of the territories and their social components

4. Communication skills:
4.1. Exposing and problematizing in writing the acquired knowledge, using argumentative language

Basic knowledge of human and regional geography and the outlines of European history from the Middle Ages to the 20th century

The course deals with some important topics in Geography and Climate History, with specific reference to the European area. Particular reference is made to the role that environmental dynamics, and in particular climate change and extreme events, have played and continue to play in redefining relations between space and society, in social crises and conflicts, and in the relationships between different territories. The Alpine area is cited as the main case study.

Indications on reference texts will be provided later

Written exam with open questions targeted at the measurement of knowledge, the ability to apply knowledge and understanding and the ability to judge. For students attending classes, the exam questions will be on lesson’s notes and on the specified textbooks (and/or articles). For not attending students, questions will be on the specified textbooks (and/or articles).
Attending students will be able to choose a test in the form of a written paper, according to the indications that will be provided during the course.

Lectures with classroom discussions. The possibility of a fieldtrip will be considered

Italian

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Climate change and energy" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development