History of Religions LM – 2023-2024

Teacher: Prof. Daniele Arru
E-mail: daniele.arru@uniroma2.it
CFU: 6
Course code: 804002617
Degree: Master’s Degree “Scienze della Storia e del documento”
Course delivery modalities: In-presence
Language: Italian
Pre-requisites: No prerequisites
Attendance: Optional
Assessment method: Oral exam
Period: 1st  term
Program:
The course is divided in two parts. The first part studies the ancient Italic religions, with particular attention to those professed by the Etruscans, by the Osco-Umbrians, by the Latins and by the Romans. The investigation focuses on the myths and rituals specific to them. The second part deepens the study of the concept of “paganism”, in the historical-religious context, and the concept of “traditional religions”, especially applied to African and South American religious traditions.
Text books:
1. Renato Del Ponte, Dei e miti italici, quarta edizione, Genova, Arya, 2020.
2. Laura Rangoni, Il paganesimo, Milano, Xenia, 2005.
3. Marco Dal Corso, Religioni tradizionali, Verona, 2013.
Bibliography:
Bibliographic references of the manual adopted.
Educational goals and expected learning outcomes:
A) Learning outcomes: The course aims to provide students with a set of knowledge, skills and competencies (cultural, disciplinary and methodological) which allow them to understand in a general way the ancient italic religions considered in their historical development. The course then frames the historical-religious concept of “paganism”, also considered on the basis of contemporary experience. The concept of “traditional religions”, frequently used in recent years, is also frame.
B) Knowledge and understanding: At the end of the course, the student will be able to know the historical development of the religions studied, to better understand their distinctive characteristics and peculiarities but also to identify the concept of “paganism” and the category of “traditional religions”.
C) Applying knowledge and understanding: At the end of the course, the student will acquire the ability to apply the knowledge of the data received and the understanding of the same to the current reality of the religions considered, also from a comparative perspective.
D) Making judgements: At the end of the course, the student will be able to formulate an independent personal judgement with respect to the subjet studied, applying it to the many issues addressed. He will have sufficient skill to integrate the acquired knowledge with broader and more general issues and to interpret them in relation to the context of the past and the current events.
E) Communication skills: At the end of the course, the student is able to clearly present the major themes of the subject studied, in order to be understood by a wider audience and to elicit requests for clarifications and deepening.
F) Learning skills: At the end of the course, the student acquires the ability to learn new knowledge, based on the data acquired and the in-depth tools used in the course.
Methods and criteria for verifying the learning:
The student’s assessment included an oral exam in which questions of a general nature are proposed, relating to the different thematics studied. The student must demonstrate knowledge of the historical and systematic data presented in the course and the ability to offer a personal interpretation even in a comparative key. The score of the exam is given by a mark expressed in thritieths. In the evaluation of the exam, the determination of the final grade takes into account class attendance, ongoing assessments, ability to summarize and clarity of exposition. Students who satisfy all the above-mentioned aspects are assigned a grade higher than 27/30.
Teaching methods:
Frontal teaching. Readings and insights of religious literature.
Attendance modalities:
In attendance.