History of Christianity LM. Advanced Course – 2024-2025

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Teacher: Prof. Tommaso Caliò
E-mail:
CFU: 6
Course code: 804001973
Degree: Master’s Degree “Scienze della Storia e del documento”
Course delivery modalities: In-presence
Language: Italian
Pre-requisites: None
Attendance: Optional
Assessment method: Oral examination
Period: 1st  term 
Starting day: 
Class hours
Program:
The martyr in contemporary Italy
The course proposes a survey of the history of Christianity from the Nineteenth to the Twentieth Century. The main subject is the transformations undergone by the figure of the martyr. From the 19th Century on, the martyr is a figure that profoundly contributed to shape Italian mass culture, playing a central role in the nation’s great narrative. Although the Catholic Church continued to play a leading role in the promotion of martyrial hagiography, this narrative pattern ceased to belong exclusively to the religious discourse, to become integrated in the political language, military propaganda and institutional rhetoric.
During the course, some sessions will be devoted to the theme of “civil” and “patriotic” martyrdom in post-unification Italy, through seminar work and discussion of the some chapters from the book “L’Italia e i santi. Agiografie, riti e devozioni nella costruzione dell’identità italiana”, diretto da Tommaso Caliò e Daniele Menozzi, Roma, Istituto della Enciclopedia italiana, 2017 (for the list of the selected chapters see the “Testi adottati” section, item 3). Students who are unwilling or unable to take part in the seminar meetings should study the texts independently and discuss them in the final oral examination.
Text books:
1. Daniele Menozzi, Storia della Chiesa, 4. L’età contemporanea, Bologna, EDB, 2022. 

2. T. Caliò, Una terra di martiri, Roma, Viella, 2022. 

3. L’Italia e i santi. Agiografie, riti e devozioni nella costruzione dell’identità italiana, diretto da Tommaso Caliò e Daniele Menozzi, Roma, Istituto della Enciclopedia italiana, 2017 (only the following chapters, that can be requested to the teacher):
A) Simon Levis Sullam, Pro patria mori. Il martirio politico nel Risorgimento.
B) Jacopo De Santis, «Garibaldi è un santo!» La costruzione di un’agiografia garibaldina.
C) Giovanni Cavagnini, I ‘martiri’ della Grande Guerra.
D) Guri Schwarz, Martiri della libertà e santi partigiani.
E) Lucia Ceci, Santi contesi. Il controllo delle devozioni tra criminalità organizzata e lotta alla mafia. 

Bibliography:

Storia del cristianesimo, direzione di E. Prinzivalli, IV. L’età contemporanea (secoli XVI-XVIII), a cura di Giovanni Vian, III ed., Roma, Carocci, 2023.

Educational goals and expected learning outcomes:
A) Learning Outcomes: Depth knowledge of the essentials of the History of Christianity between the 19th and 21th centuries.
B) Knowledge and Understanding: During classes, the student will learn the fundamentals of historical research methodology, with particular reference to the field of historical-religious studies, 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.
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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.
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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.
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