Modern humanities

PIETRO VANNICELLI
PIETRO VANNICELLI

The students will acquire high level knowledge in History of Ancient Greece, paying attention to the latest developments in the disciplinary debate and bibliography. The students will be able to collect data for a critical judgment, even in the ethical-social dimension underpinning the discipline. The students will therefore be able to use their knowledge in critical thinking, in addressing open issues, in implementing methods of study and research. The students will manage to communicate the results of their work both to specialists and to a broader audience. Finally, the students will be provided with the necessary skills to successfully undertake a future degree that includes History of Ancient Greece.

In accordance with the educational objectives of the Course of Study in which it is included (Dublin Descriptors 1), the course aims to provide knowledge and comprehension skills ('learning skills', Dublin Descriptors 5) in the field of Greek History, with the support of advanced textbooks, and to enable the student to apply the knowledge acquired in a competent and reflective way (Dublin descriptors 2), formulating judgements autonomously (Dublin descriptors 3), communicating ideas, problems and reflections clearly and correctly, and thus developing the necessary skills to undertake possible further studies. Specifically, the teaching aims to provide students with general and fundamental notions of Greek History.

Knowledge of classical languages (ancient Greek and Latin): useful
Ability to read academic texts in English and French: useful
Familiarity with the physical and historical geography of the Mediterranean world: indispensable

This is a general introduction to Greek history from the Mycenaean to the Roman period. Attention will be paid to the political and institutional history, as well as to economic, social and cultural aspects.

Topics are tentatively arranged according to the following syllabus:
- introduction to the main sources, to aspects of modern historiography and to the periodization
- the Mycenaean and the early archaic periods
- Colonization, tyranny and earliest lawgives
- the VI century BC
- the Persian Wars and the Pentecontetia
- the Peloponnesian War
- the IV century BC
- Alexander the Great and the origins of the Hellenistic period
- Hellenism down to the Roman conquest

The lectures may be supplemented by complementary teaching activities, both off-campus (visits to Museum, exhibits, archaeological sites in Rome and nearby) and lectures and seminars held by invited speakers.

- Lectures’ notes and didactic materials distributed by the instructor or uploaded in his personal webpage;
- D. Musti, Storia greca. Linee di sviluppo dall’età micenea all’età romana, Roma-Bari 2006.
Additional bibliography will be given during the lessons.

Students who will not be able to attend the course will substitute the literary and documentary texts distributed by the instructor with Thucydides' Book 1 (in translation).

Teaching will mainly consist of frontal lessons, which will be supplemented by visits to archaeological sites, collections and museums, and seminars in collaboration with other professors.
Attendance of the lessons and of the additional didactic activities is not compulsory, but is strongly recommended.

Attendance of the lessons and of the additional didactic activities is not compulsory, but is strongly recommended.

The assessment of acquired knowledge and comprehension skills will be carried out through a single oral test, with open-ended questions (on syllabus topics and on topics of suggested readings).
The exam, to be given at the end of the course, is aimed at verifying the acquired knowledge and the ability to apply the acquired knowledge in a competent and reflective way, and also the ability to communicate the acquired knowledge with an appropriate language.

To pass the exam the student must achieve a grade of not less than 18/30.The student must demonstrate that he/she has acquired sufficient or higher knowledge of the topics covered in class and of the topics of suggested readings; he/she is also expected to be able to present them appropriately.
In order to achieve a score of 30/30 cum laude, the student must instead demonstrate that he/she has acquired excellent knowledge of all the topics covered in class and of the topics of suggested bibliography, being able to connect them in a logical and consistent way.

The same assessment methods are also valid for non-attending students (for whom supplementary readings are provided).