Oriental languages and civilizations

The course is dedicated to the history of Shiite Islam, the main religious minority within the Muslim world. Its being a minority will be brought to the attention of the audience: its history, in fact, will be investigated and discussed according to the analytical tools and historiographical and anthropological approaches that characterize the history of minorities. The main space of the lessons will be used to provide tools for knowledge and understanding of the birth and formation of a religious culture promoting a Shiite identity. Particular attention will be paid to the division of Shiism into sects, documented in the first centuries of Islam by heresiographic production. The development of Shiism and its ramifications will therefore be observed from the origins to the affirmation of the Safavid dynasty (15th century), with which Iran experienced a process of conversion to the majority current of Shiism - Imami Shiism. The syllabus is composed of two basic texts, introductory to the history and geographical distribution of the Shiite constellation, and heterogeneous materials – classical sources and academic literature produced by the Shiite studies current – on which the teaching will be conducted.

No prerequisites are required. However, it is desirable for students to have taken the History of Islamic World or any other teaching related to SSD L-OR/10 in the three-year degree course.

L. Capezzone-M. Salati, L'islam sciita. Storia di una minoranza, Roma, Edizioni Lavoro, 2006. B. Scarcia Amoretti, Sciiti nel mondo, Roma, Jouvence, 1994.

Attendance is not mandatory. However, it is an important evaluation criterion at the time of the exam. To aspire to the maximum grade, an attendance of at least 70% of the lessons is required. The teacher will record attendance randomly during the course.

The criteria for evaluating the knowledge acquired are in line with the expected learning outcomes. However, it should be added that attendance at the course, although not compulsory, is another criterion for positive evaluation, given the importance attached by the teacher to the active participation of the audience in the discussions that characterise the progress of the course.

The course bibliography is given as the course progresses, and is based on the in-depth studies requested directly by students.

Since the course is aimed at acquiring new knowledge, lessons will be held in traditional frontal teaching. Ample room will be devoted to the discussion of the topics covered, to verify the ability of critical thinking and connection between transversal skills.

The course is dedicated to the history of Shiite Islam, the main religious minority within the Muslim world. Its being a minority will be brought to the attention of the audience: its history, in fact, will be investigated and discussed according to the analytical tools and historiographical and anthropological approaches that characterize the history of minorities. The main space of the lessons will be used to provide tools for knowledge and understanding of the birth and formation of a religious culture promoting a Shiite identity. Particular attention will be paid to the division of Shiism into sects, documented in the first centuries of Islam by heresiographic production. The development of Shiism and its ramifications will therefore be observed from the origins to the affirmation of the Safavid dynasty (15th century), with which Iran experienced a process of conversion to the majority current of Shiism - Imami Shiism. The syllabus is composed of two basic texts, introductory to the history and geographical distribution of the Shiite constellation, and heterogeneous materials – classical sources and academic literature produced by the Shiite studies current – on which the teaching will be conducted.

No prerequisites are required. However, it is desirable for students to have taken the History of Islamic World or any other teaching related to SSD L-OR/10 in the three-year degree course.

L. Capezzone-M. Salati, L'islam sciita. Storia di una minoranza, Roma, Edizioni Lavoro, 2006. B. Scarcia Amoretti, Sciiti nel mondo, Roma, Jouvence, 1994.

Attendance is not mandatory. However, it is an important evaluation criterion at the time of the exam. To aspire to the maximum grade, an attendance of at least 70% of the lessons is required. The teacher will record attendance randomly during the course.

The criteria for evaluating the knowledge acquired are in line with the expected learning outcomes. However, it should be added that attendance at the course, although not compulsory, is another criterion for positive evaluation, given the importance attached by the teacher to the active participation of the audience in the discussions that characterise the progress of the course.

The course bibliography is given as the course progresses, and is based on the in-depth studies requested directly by students.

Since the course is aimed at acquiring new knowledge, lessons will be held in traditional frontal teaching. Ample room will be devoted to the discussion of the topics covered, to verify the ability of critical thinking and connection between transversal skills.