History, Anthropology, Religions

THE RENAISSANCE PAPACY: POLITICAL PROCESSES AND INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE The course intends to retrace the main political events of the Papacy in a period between the end of the Great Schism and 1492. Through the perspective of the popes who succeeded one another on the papal throne during the 15th century, the various political contexts and the profound changes that characterized Italy at the time will be analyzed, with a glance also at European and Eastern contexts. The study of the curial context and its evolutions will be addressed with the aim of understanding the institutional developments of the 15th-century papacy, as well as the evolution of the Curia as an Italian and European diplomatic crossroads.

A basic knowledge of Medieval History is required. For foreign students, both attending and non-attending, a strong command of the Italian language is essential, including the ability to read, comprehend, and speak fluently.

ATTENDING STUDENTS - M. Pellegrini, Il papato nel Rinascimento, il Mulino, Bologna 2023 (o edizioni precedenti) - S. Carocci, Lo Stato pontificio, in Lo Stato del Rinascimento in Italia, a cura di A. Gamberini e I. Lazzarini, Viella, Roma 2014, pp. 69-85 - G. Chittolini, Papato e Stati italiani, in Lo Stato del Rinascimento in Italia, a cura di A. Gamberini e I. Lazzarini, Viella, Roma 2014, pp. 421-439 NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS - M. Pellegrini, Il papato nel Rinascimento, il Mulino, Bologna 2023 (o edizioni precedenti) - A. Esch, Roma dal Medioevo al Rinascimento, Viella, Roma 2021

Attendance is not mandatory but it is strongly recommended.

There will be no exemptions, interim assessments, or written assignments. Exam dates will be announced on InfoStud. Attending students will be expected to provide a summary of the course material, including the assigned readings, class discussions, and any additional resources provided throughout the course. Non-attending students will be required to supplement the reference bibliography to ensure an equivalent workload.

The course will follow a traditional lecture format. A range of primary sources will be examined and discussed. Students are encouraged to engage in open dialogue with the professor and to ask questions.