Ateneo - UPO

During the lessons of Module A, the main issues, events and figures of the Euro-Mediterranean Middle Ages will be addressed, starting with the crisis of the Roman world in the West up to the second half of the 15th century, with the transition to the modern age. Module B, on the other hand, will address the main issues, events and figures in the history of Christianity in the medieval millennium, mainly from the 5th to the 15th century (with some reference to the classical and late antique periods).

For Module A:

In addition to the topics covered in class, attending students will be tested on the handbook of P. Grillo, Storia Medievale. Italia, Europa, Mediterraneo, 2024 [Pearson], and on ONE of the following volumes:

• P. Grillo, I giganti silenziosi. Il Medioevo in dieci alberi, 2025 [Mondadori]
• D. Boquet, P. Nagy, Medioevo sensibile. Una storia delle emozioni (secoli III-XV), 2018 [Carocci]
• A. Barbero, Dante, 2020 [Laterza]
• G. Albini, Poveri e povertà nel Medioevo, 2016 [Carocci].

Non-attending students will be examined on the same handbook of medieval history, plus TWO of the following volumes:

• P. Grillo, I giganti silenziosi. Il Medioevo in dieci alberi, 2026 [Mondadori]
• D. Boquet, P. Nagy, Medioevo sensibile. Una storia delle emozioni (secoli III-XV), 2018 [Carocci]
• A. Barbero, Dante, 2020 [Laterza]
• G. Albini, Poveri e povertà nel Medioevo, 2016 [Carocci]

For Module B:
Attending students will be tested on the material discussed in class, as well as on the volume R. Rusconi, Storia del cristianesimo e delle Chiese, 2019 [Morcelliana], ONLY parts 1 and 2.

And on ONE of the following books at their choice:
• G. Todeschini, Ricchezza francescana. Dalla povertà volontaria alla società di mercato, 2023 [Il Mulino]
• A. Barbero, Un santo in famiglia. Vocazione religiosa e resistenze sociali nell’agiografia latina medievale, 2024 [ Rosenberg & Seiler]
• P. Cozzo, In cammino. Una storia del pellegrinaggio cristiano, 2021 [Carocci]
• P. Brown, Il culto dei santi, 2002 e ristampe [Einaudi]

Non-attending students will be tested on their knowledge of R. Rusconi, Storia del cristianesimo e delle Chiese, 2019 [Morcelliana], ONLY parts 1 and 2.

And of TWO of the following books at their choice:
• G. Todeschini, Ricchezza francescana. Dalla povertà volontaria alla società di mercato, 2023 [Il Mulino]
• A. Barbero, Un santo in famiglia. Vocazione religiosa e resistenze sociali nell’agiografia latina medievale, 2024 [ Rosenberg & Seiler]
• P. Cozzo, In cammino. Una storia del pellegrinaggio cristiano, 2021 [Carocci]
• P. Brown, Il culto dei santi, 2002 e ristampe [Einaudi]

Basic level: 1. knowledge and understanding: acquisition and understanding of the main themes and problems of medieval history. Advanced level: 1. ability to apply knowledge and understanding: being able to critically interpret the sources and literature on the subject; 2. expression of judgements: being able to evaluate and debate the problems related to medieval history; 3. communication skills: being able to clearly expound the acquired knowledge; 4. study skills: acquiring an autonomous and personally revised knowledge of the study contents.

The 6 credits to be earned are broken down as follows for attending students: 2.4 credits for classroom-based and interactive teaching, and 9.6 credits for self-study.

Basic historical knowledge acquired in high school.

Lectures with occasional direct readings from sources translated into Italian. Sources and materials used in lectures will be made available on the DIR platform.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via reference office consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-students-physical-or-learning-disabilities. Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.
Erasmus/exchange students are invited to contact the lecturer at their earliest convenience, in case they wish to prepare a list of agreed readings in English and/or in French instead of the Italian titles listed above.

The final examination consists of an oral exam lasting approximately 20 to 30 minutes for each of the two modules. It is intended to verify the knowledge included in the objectives and the expected learning outcomes by means of an examination involving questions on the main problems dealt with in the course, with the aim of verifying: 1) the learning of basic notions; 2) the acquisition of a critical capacity in the analysis of problems; 3) the acquisition of a critical capacity in the use of sources; 4) the use of appropriate scientific terminology; 5) the ability to establish links between topics. In particular, the following weight will be given to the verification of the aforementioned achievement of the educational objectives: 1) 40%; 2) 15%; 3) 15%; 4) 10%; 5) 20%.

Demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the topics covered in class, combined with good critical thinking skills, expressive fluency and command of specialist terminology, will be awarded marks of ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ (28–30 with honours); a predominantly notionist or poorly developed grasp of the content, combined with linguistic and logical skills that are not always adequate, will be assessed with a mark ranging from ‘satisfactory’ (22–24) to ‘good’ (25–27); a minimum level of knowledge of the course content, combined with gaps in learning or inadequate linguistic and logical skills, will result in a ‘pass’ mark (18–21); a lack of even a minimum level of knowledge of the course content, combined with inadequate linguistic and logical skills and gaps in learning, will result in a mark of ‘fail’ (

The main topics covered in Module A include: •   The concept of the Middle Ages •   The successor kingdoms of the Roman Empire •   Outlines of Byzantine and Islamic history •   The Carolingian Empire •   The concept of feudalism •   The Gregorian Reform •   The 'rebirth' of the year 1000 •   The Italian communes •   The 'commercial revolution' of the late Middle Ages •   The Crusades •   The formation of national monarchies in England, France and the Iberian Peninsula •   Late medieval spirituality •   The 'crisis' of the 14th century •    The development of regional states and national monarchies between the 14th and 15th centuries •   The concepts of humanism and the Renaissance The main topics covered in Module B will be: •   Ancient and late antique Christianity •   Models of early medieval sainthood •   Benedictine monasticism and its reforms •   Eastern and insular monasticism •   Religiousness in the Carolingian era •   The new orders of the 10th-12th centuries •   The apostolic life movement in Italy and Europe •   The Mendicant Orders •   The 'pastoral revolution' of the 13th century •   Late medieval heresies •   Crusades and spirituality •   Religious minorities in Italy (Jews, Eastern Christians, Muslims) •   Models of late medieval holiness •   The Avignon papacy and the Great Schism •   The Observances and religious reform movements of the 15th century

Basic level (knowledge): students are expected to have acquired 'solid knowledge of historical background' (cf. SUA A4.b.2) in the field of medieval history. Advanced level (competences and transferable skills): students are expected to be able to 'demonstrate a professional approach to the analysis of historiographical texts and sources' (cf. SUA A4.b.2)