UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI ROMA TOR VERGATA
| Teacher: Prof. Sandro Carocci |
| E-mail: carocci@lettere.uniroma2.it |
| CFU: 6 Course code: 804002389 Degree: Master’s Degree “Scienze della Storia e del documento” Course delivery modalities: In-presence |
Language: Italian Pre-requisites: Basic knowledge of medieval history Attendance: Optional Assessment method: Oral examination |
| Period: 2nd term |
| Starting day: |
| Class hours |
| Program: |
| The age of the knights: new perspectives on the Italian countryside (11th – 13th century) |
|
The time between the 11th and the 13th century has been the age of the knights, the age in which horse-mounted fighters across Europe were the protagonists of the re-definition of power on the local stage. In Italy, studies have dealt mainly with the seigneurial aristocracy and the militiae of the urban Comuni. However, the presence of horse-mounted fighters (milites, equites, scutiferi, masnadieri, cortesi, etc.) was also pervasive in castle and village communities, where knights were often the highest social stratum. Overall, they were much more numerous than urban knights. Historiography, however, has very rarely considered them, mostly just contextualising them in the environment of the feudal aristocracy, or evaluating their role as armed auxiliaries of the domini. Thus, several economic, social and cultural aspects of the history of rural knights have remained in the background. Likewise, we have yet to clarify the great number of ways in which the knights could determine local life at all levels, outside of the scholarly paradigms centred on the dominator loci. The course examines the first results of a collective research that begins to fill this gap by systematically investigating rural milites in some Italian regions. |
| Text books: |
|
| Bibliography: |
| P.R. Coss, The aristocracy in England and Tuscany, 1000-1250, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2020. |
| Educational goals and expected learning outcomes: |
| A) Learning Outcomes: Students will acquire an in depth knowledge of the topics covered treated during the lectures. B) Knowledge and Understanding: During classes, the student will learn the fundamentals of historical research methodology, with particular reference to the field of medieval history, becoming familiar with a specific vocabulary and conceptual tools peculiar to that discipline. C) Applying Knowledge and Understanding: The consolidation of the fundamental principles of the historiographical method will be useful for the student to profitably pursue his or her course of study and then spend his or her skills both in research and teaching and in other professional fields. D) Making Judgements: The student will be asked, both in classes and in examinations, to develop his or her ability to critically evaluate the topics discussed and the texts analyzed. E) Communication Skills: In the course of lectures, students will be called upon to actively participate, with the aim of strengthening their ability to expound informations, argue his or her positions and exchange views with the lecturer and colleagues; these communication skills will be part of the final assessment in the examination. F) Learning Skills: The teaching module will provide the tools for understanding the topics covered and the critical study of textbooks. |
| Methods and criteria for verifying the learning: |
| The exam assesses the student’s overall preparation, the ability to combine knowledge about each part of the syllabus, the coherence of argumentation, the analytical ability, and the autonomy of judgment. In addition, the student’s command of language and clarity of presentation are also assessed, in adherence with the Dublin descriptors (1. knowledge and understanding; 2. applying knowledge and experience; 3. making judgments; 4. learning skills; 5: communication skills). The final grade will be based 70% on the student’s depth of knowledge and 30% on the student’s ability for expression (written and oral) and independent critical thinking. The exam will be evaluated according to the following criteria: – Failed: significant deficiencies and inaccuracies in the knowledge and the understanding of the subject matter; poor analytical and synthesizing skills, recurrent generalizations, limited critical and judgmental skills; the arguments are exposed inconsistently and with inappropriate language. – 18-20: Knowledge and understanding of topics barely adequate, with occasional generalizations and imperfections possible; sufficient capacity for analysis synthesis and autonomy of judgment, the arguments are frequently exposed in an incoherent manner and with inappropriate/non technical language. – 21-23: Fair knowledge and understanding of the subject; proper analysis and synthesis skills with coherent, logical argumentation, but with language that is often inappropriate/non technical. – 24-26: Moderate knowledge and understanding of the subjects; good analytical and synthesis skills with arguments expressed rigorously but with language that is not always appropriate/technical. – 27-29: Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the subjects; remarkable analytical and synthesis skills. Good autonomy of judgment. Topics expounded rigorously and with appropriate/technical language. – 30-30L: Excellent level of in-depth knowledge and understanding of the subjects. Excellent skills in analysis, synthesis, and independent judgment. Arguments are expressed in an original way and with appropriate technical language. |
| Teaching methods: |
| Lectures with PowerPoint presentations; collective work on reading and commenting sources; class discussion on specific readings and themes. |
| Attendance modalities: |
| Attendance, which is optional, is strongly recommended. |
| Previous year | Following year |