Cultural Heritage and Creativity for tourism and territorial development

ACROSS BOUNDARIES. SOCIAL HISTORY OF THE ALPS FROM ANTIQUITY TO THE MEDIEVAL AND EARLY MODERN PERIOD

ACROSS BOUNDARIES. SOCIAL HISTORY OF THE ALPS FROM ANTIQUITY TO THE MEDIEVAL AND EARLY MODERN PERIOD

Academic year 2024/2025

Sommario del corso

• Course objectives
• Results of learning outcomes
• Program
• Course delivery
• Learning assessment methods
• Support activities
• Suggested readings and bibliography
• Notes
• Teaching tools
• Course card

Course objectives

This module offers the essential tools to study pre-modern history. It focuses on mountain areas from the ancient to the early modern period and provides specific notions for understanding cultural heritage in a given area.

The themes and questions, as well as the skills developed during the course, are an essential part of the degree; this teaching module aims therefore at offering specific training in the historical field, especially in the framework of the degree in Cultural Heritage and Creativity for Tourism.

In particular, the course intends to offer knowledge and develop the capacity for critical thinking regarding history and cultural heritage.

Results of learning outcomes

Knowledge and comprehension: at the end of the course, the student should know:

• problems and methods of history
• problems of periodization and the specific terminology of the discipline
• evolution of the structures of mountain areas

Applying knowledge and comprehension / Interpretating data

Students should be able to apply this knowledge to contextualise historical phenomenons and events, with the appropriate ability to analyse and interpret the sources examined throughout the course. Students will also have to make connections between the various themes taken into consideration during the course.

Communicating

The course aims to encourage active participation of attending students, in order to develop the ability to discuss and interact with colleagues. Students should learn the correct vocabulary in relation to institutions, social structures, religious development and economic process in the medieval period.

Learning outcomes

The course aims to improve the students’ skill to understand the complexity of historical development.

Program

Roman History (M. Balbo)

The Alps in Antiquity. The module presents the major space-time coordinates of Roman History, and focuses on the case study of the Alps in Antiquity. It centres on the role of Alpine territories in the economy of the Roman Empire and considers the following topics: human mobility and the Roman presence in the Alps, mountain settlements and towns, the transformation of the territory, the impact of the Roman Empire. The module also addresses specific issues related to the study and dissemination of Roman history related to a particular territory. A selection of the main literary, epigraphic and archaeological sources related to the Alps in Roman times will be presented (all texts are in English).

Medieval History (M. Gravela)

The module presents the main social transformations in medieval history, focusing on the features of Alpine territories. Through scholarly literature and collective analysis of written, material and iconographic sources, various themes will be taken into account: among them, forms and types of human settlement, architecture, demographic and economic change, forms of social stratification, political and institutional development, as well as the relationship between society and ecclesiastical institutions. Particular attention will be devoted to fieldwork and to the dissemination of knowledge on these topics.

Modern History (G. Alonge)

The four lectures dedicated to modern history will focus on four ways of travelling through the Alps during the modern age. First of all, in the modern era people travelled to fight; a case study will be the Italian wars during the 16th century, when armies of the great European monarchies crossed the Alps to seize the Italian peninsula.

But people also crossed the Alps for religious reasons: to make pilgrimages, to Rome, Loreto and other sanctuaries; but also to flee persecution by the Church of Rome. People travelled to guarantee themselves the freedom to believe as they wished, without restrictions and obligations from above.

Great travellers were then the Catholic missionaries: travellers to convert heretics or infidels to the true faith. After the break with the Reformation, missionaries from Italy crossed the Alps to travel to the lands of heretics. Finally, people also travelled to learn: during the Renaissance many artists, men of letters and humanists crossed the Alps in search of success in other European countries. With them, the ideas, knowledge, discoveries and tastes of the Italian Renaissance travelled and spread throughout Europe.

Course delivery

Lessons, for a total amount of 48 hours, will be held in class in English, with the support of powerpoint presentations and multimedia materials; study trips as well as archives and museum visits will be held to better understand the historical features of the territory. Given their educational opportunities, it is highly recommended to attend the lessons, since they cannot be effectively replaced by any other activity. Students who will not be able to attend the course will be provided teaching material on the Moodle platform and will integrate the programme through scholarly literature.

Learning assessment methods

The expected knowledge and skills will be tested by preparing a tourist itinerary on the basis of the knowledge and methodology of the course. Results will be considered appropriate (with a mark on a 30 points scale), if students:

- will prove to have clearly learnt the themes of the course;

- will prove to have acquired explaining ability and good use of the appropriate vocabulary;

- will prove capable of applying the acquired knowledge to the analysis and contextualisation of specific historical moments and texts.

Marks are awarded for individual assessment and declare the level of achievement and the grades of performance and satisfactory or unsatisfactory completion of course objectives:

- (28-30 e lode): Excellent or Outstanding

- (25-27): Good or Above Average

- (21-24): Satisfactory or Average

- (18-20): Below Average or Poor

< 18: Failed

Support activities

For students with physical disabilities, dyslexia, and other specific learning difficulties, please visit the University's support page (https://www.unito.it/servizi/lo-studio/studenti-con-disabilitaopen_in_newopen_in_new) and admission information (https://www.unito.it/accoglienza-studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsaopen_in_newopen_in_new). The procedures for requesting support during exams can be found here: https://www.unito.it/servizi/lo-studio/studenti-e-studentesse-con-disabilita/supporto-studenti-e-studentesse-conopen_in_newopen_in_new.

Students with dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties are required to inform the lecturer at the beginning of the course in order to agree on an individual study programme tailored to their needs, including appropriate compensation and dispensation measures for examinations.

Roman History

Attending students may use notes and texts presented in class (the handouts will be uploaded on the Moodle platform). Non-attending students shall also read the book: M. Beard, SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome.

Medieval History

In addition to studying notes and materials examined in class, students will have to read the book The Middle Ages. A very short introduction. Students who intend to seat the exam as ‘non attending’ must email the lecturer in order to arrange a programme.

Early-modern History

Books, essays and further materials for students attending this course will be provided at the beginning of the course and during the lessons.

Notes

Attending the lessons is highly recommended.

• Teaching material
• Exams and finals
• Class schedule
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