Ateneo - UPO

Modern history and Environmental history and Contemporary European History: methods, debates and teaching tools.

The course consists of 2 modules: A) “modern history” ("Environmental history") and B) Social and Economic History of Europe. Two programmes are foreseen for attending and non-attending students.

The course focuses on issues of modern history and environmental history, and on its interdisciplinary applications, and on social and cultural history of post-war Europe, and its meanings and transformations in different periods and contexts, both with an interdisciplinary approach.
The course has the following objectives at a basic level: -to know chronology, themes and categories of the environmental history dynamics and the development of social and cultural of Europe in modern and contemporary period; -Ability to discuss in a critical way the historiography on environmental history, on modern history and European history from Cold War until today; -Ability to analyze issues of the history of environment and of comparing the social and cultural development in different countries in modern and contemporary history in an essential but fairly critical manner; -Ability to communicate issues discussed during the lessons, with a proper language; -Ability to approach the historiographic literature and the sources of the history of environmental history, modern history and European social history.
To achieve an advanced level, the student must also demonstrate that he/she has: -an organic vision of the topics; -capacity for personal and critical processing of the historiographical texts; -ability to consciously evaluate and argue the dynamics related to the genesis environmental history and contemporary Europe; - ability to communicate, also in a popular manner and with appropriate scientific terminology, the specificity of the environmental issues and those of European society; -ability to critically evaluate and use texts and sources suitable for the historical analysis of the environment and of the history of European countries after the Secondo World War.

Basic historical knowledge (chronology and main issues of modern and contemporary history).

Frontal lessons; critical reading of the bibliography and primary sources; critical analysis of the main historiographic methodologies related to modern history, environmental history and contemporary European history, also in an interdisciplinary way, with particular attention to teaching methods; presentations by students of the bibliography, with regard to communication skills. Important: the participation of students in lectures in seminar form is strongly encouraged; active participation in the course allows for a specific programme.

Part of bibliography and other texts will be provided on DIR – Didattica In Rete for both modules. Students are therefore advised to register on DIR, where notices and communications will also be posted.
Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, 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 teacher to define the examination modalities, concerning teaching aspects.

The course consists of both "Environmental history" and “Social and Economic History of Europe”. The examination of the achievement of the learning outcomes are the same for both modules: an oral exam, about 20 minutes. The questions will assess: the student's ability to contextualize the topics learned in time and space; the acquisition of an organic vision of the disciplinary issues; the ability to use them into a coherent and correct exposition, also with a scientific language; the personal critical elaboration of the topics. The exam is divided into 3-4 questions for each module and concerns on the indicated bibliography, as well as for students attending, on the topics discussed during the lessons. Vote, expressed in thirtieths, takes place on the basis of the following parameters: 1) knowledge of the fundamental notions of bibliography and, for attending students, of the topics covered during the lessons (20 points out of 30); 2) reasoning skills critic on the topics (5 points out of 30); 3) ability to express and communicate, and to use a scientific language (5 points out of 30). The exam will be successful if the sum of 18/30 is reached or exceeded. It will be evaluated as excellent: an accurate knowledge of topics, articulated synthesis and criticism skills; excellent expressive mastery. It will be evaluated as fairly good: knowledge of topics that is not entirely punctually, and the use of correct but not completely scientific language. It will be evaluated as adequate: basic knowledge of the program that does not go beyond the brief presentation of the issues, the inability to express a critical approach, and the use of a language not entirely correct and appropriate. It will be evaluated as inadequate: obvious gaps in the study, inability to orient themselves within the issues and use of incorrect and inappropriate language. These criteria apply to both modules. The overall assessment of the examination could take into account the student's ability to improve their ability to answer questions and their general ability to organise their work.

The course consists of 2 modules A) “modern history” ("Environmental history") and B) Social and Economic History of Europe and it is structured as follows. The first module will focus on: -The critical definition of the discipline. -Environmental history as a new historiographic and historical teaching theme. -The debate on environmental history. -History of the environment and environmental debate. -The concept of Anthropocene. -Climate history. -Commons, forms of ownership and use of agro-forestry-pastoral resources: a historical issue. -The history of water and coastal environments. -Woodland history. -Animal history. -The landscape, the environment and the concept of biodiversity as elements of cultural heritage. -The history of tourism and the relationship with the environment. -The communication of environmental history: historiographic language, interdisciplinary comparisons and scientific communication.
The topics of the course will be constantly analyzed in connection with the current applications in history research and teaching methodology, also through the exemplification and development of didactic exercises. During the first lessons, the implications of the discussion on gender in the field of environmental history will be discussed.
The topics of the course will be constantly analyzed in connection with the current applications in history research and teaching methodology, also through the exemplification and development of didactic exercises.
The lessons of the second module will take place according to the following outline:
- Lesson 1: Introduction to the course and practical information. Europe at the end of the Second World War.
- Lesson 2: The basis for reconstruction 1947-1953.
- Lesson 3: The economic boom of the 1950s.
- Lesson 4: Brief global history of the welfare state.
- Lesson 5: The 1960s and the cultural revolution.
- Lesson 6: The turning point of the 1970s.
- Lesson 7: Crisis and the end of the old order (1980s).
- Lesson 8: US preeminence and the neoliberal vulgate.
- Lesson 9: Terrorism, populism and the recession of 2008-2009.
- Lesson 10: The crisis of the European model: PIGS and de-Europeanization of Russia and Turkey.
- Lesson 11: The environmental question and the COVID-19 crisis.
- Lesson 12: The Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
- Lesson 13: Seminar presentations.
- Lesson 14: Seminar presentations.
- Lesson 15: Seminar presentations.
Gender issues: as indicated above, specific insights are foreseen in both modules.

To achieve sufficient knowledge and skills, the student has to demonstrate: Knowledge: -to know chronology, themes and categories of the environmental history, and European history in modern and contemporary period, and their interdisciplinary applications. -to know the main problems concerning the environmental history, and social and cultural history of Europe in the post-war period. -to know the general features of the historiographical discussions on the themes of environmental history, and social and cultural history of Europe in the last seventy years. Competence: -ability to analyze issues of environmental history and social European history in a critical way. Transversal skills: -ability to clearly communicate issues discussed during the lessons, with a proper language and with a scientific terminology. To achieve an advanced level, the student must also demonstrate that he has: -An organic vision of the topics; -Capacity for personal and critical processing of the topics; -Ability to deepen theoretical and methodological issues of history in general, and in particular concerning modern history, environmental history and Europe’s social and cultural development.