HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE MIDDLE AGES

Academic year
2025/2026 Syllabus of previous years
Official course title
STORIA DEL CRISTIANESIMO DALLE ORIGINI AL MEDIOEVO
Course code
FT0477 (AF:591345 AR:329706)
Teaching language
Italiano
Modality
On campus classes
ECTS credits
6
Degree level
Bachelor's Degree Programme
Academic Discipline
M-STO/07
Period
2nd Term
Course year
3
Where
VENEZIA
The course is part of the core educational activities of the "History - Ancient and Medieval Mediterranean" curriculum, and of the interdisciplinary activities of the "History - From European Hegemony to Globalization" and "Antrophology" curricula of the Bachelor’s Degree Programme in History.
The course aims at the following objectives:
- an advanced knowledge of the main aspects and problems of the history of Christianity from the Beginning to the 14th century;
- the ability to apply historical methodology to the history of Christianity;
- the learning of skills for analysing historical sources concerning the history of Christianity;
- the ability to study and debate historical phenomena related to the Early, Late Ancient and Medieval Christianity.
The course aims at the following learning objectives:
1. Knowledge and Understanding
- knowledge of the main aspects and problems of the history of Christianity (I-XIV centuries);
- knowledge of the historical methodology;
- basic knowledge of historical sources concerning the history of Christianity (I-XIV centuries).
2. Application of Knowledge and Understanding
- ability to apply historical methodology to the history of Christianity;
- ability to analyse historical sources concerning the history of Christianity from the Beginning to the 14th century.
3. Making judgements
- capacity to communicate and debate main developments and problems of the history of Christianity from the Beginning to the 14th century.
4. Communication skills
- ability to communicate the peculiarities of the history of Christianity (I-XIV centuries), using appropriate terminology;
- ability to interact with peers and with the tutor, in a critical and respectful way, both face-to-face and on the forum of the virtual classroom.
5. Learning Skills
- development of those learning skills that are necessary to continue to undertake, with a high degree of autonomy, further study in history of Early Christianity, Christianity during Late Antiquity, Christianity during the Middle Ages.
Basic knowledge of History (I-XIV centuries).
The course provides fundamental knowledge concerning the history of Christianity from the beginning to the 14th century. It aims to clarify the developments of the Christian Churches, the doctrinal debates, the spread of Christianity in the European and Mediterranean areas. It helps to develop a general understanding of the history of Christianity.
For all students:
G.L.Potesta, G.Vian, Storia del cristianesimo, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2014, New Edition, pp. 1-290, ISBN 9788815252593.
Written test consisting of ten open questions on fundamental themes and more specific aspects of the history of Christianity (1st-14th centuries). Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the contents of the lectures and the bibliography, and to discuss them critically.
Students will have to demonstrate that they are familiar with the topics developed during the course and learned from the bibliography, and that they are able to present them critically.
The use of books, notes and electronic media is not allowed during written tests.
The highest score achievable is 30/30 with honors.
written
Regarding the grading scale (how grades will be assigned), regardless of attending or non-attending modem, scores will be assigned according to the following criteria:
A. scores in the 18-20 range will be awarded for a sufficient knowledge of the historical aspects, historiographical issues and primary sources presented in class and in the reference text;
B. scores in the 21-23 range will be awarded for a fair knowledge of the historical aspects, historiographical issues and primary sources presented in class and in the reference text;
C. scores in the 24-27 range will be awarded for a good knowledge of the historical aspects, historiographical issues and primary sources presented in class and in the reference text;
D. scores in the 28-30 range will be awarded for an excellent knowledge of the historical aspects, historiographical issues and primary sources presented in class and in the reference text;
E. Honors will be awarded for an outstanding knowledge of the historical aspects, historiographical issues and primary sources presented in class and in the reference text.
Teaching method: lectures. Students are invited to contribute to the discussion with critical questions and comments.

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

This programme is provisional and there could still be changes in its contents.
Last update of the programme: 04/03/2025