History, Anthropology, Religions

ANTONELLA GHIGNOLI

Basic knowledge in order to approach the complexity of critical analysis of medieval written records. Basic knowledge of the historical perspective of the documentary practice in medieval West and the essentials skills in order 'to exercise criticism' both in medieval documents in original transmission and edited documentary sources of the Middle Ages.

A good knowledge of Latin is requested as well as the knowledge of one, at least, of the following modern languages used in the international historical debate: German, French, English, Spanish.

This course, designed for students of Bachelor's degree programs in Medieval history and Palaeography, aims at presenting the history of the documentary practices in the medieval West through a 'global' criticism (involving diplomatics, palaeography and codicology) of some documentary texts (transmitted on single sheets of parchment or in manuscripts) selected among the most representative typologies of documentary sources of the period. The texts will be analyzed on digital reproductions. A detailed syllabus will be provided at the beginning of the course.A detailed syllabus will be provided at the beginning of the course.

1.Harry Bresslau, Manuale di diplomatica per la Germania e l'Italia, Ministero per i beni culturali e ambientali, Ufficio Centrale per i beni archivistici, Roma, 1998 (Pubblicazioni degli archivi di Stato; Sussidi 10), soltanto i seguenti capitoli: cap. I (Nozioni fondamentali e definizioni), pp. 9-17; cap. II (Storia della diplomatica), pp. 18-47; cap. III (Partizione e classificazione dei documenti), da p. 48 fino a p. 70 (attenzione: p. 70 non è il termine del capitolo); cap. XVII (Le materie scrittorie), pp. 1093-1119.T
2. Thomas Frenz, I documenti pontifici nel medioevo e nell'età moderna, ed. it. a cura di S. Pagano, Città del Vaticano, 1989 (e ristampe successive).
3.Alessando Pratesi, Genesi e forme del documento medievale, Roma, Jouvence, 1979 (e rist. succ.), soltanto il cap. XIII: "Gli usi cronologici nei documenti latini medievali", pp. 111-123.
The following book is recommended: P. Cammarosano, Italia medievale. Struttura e geografia delle fonti scritte, Roma, Carocci, 2016.

Further bibliography and other learning material will be provided during the course: it is part of the program. The pdf format of the Bresslau's handbook will be made available to the students.

1) Thomas Frenz, I documenti pontifici nel medioevo e nell'età moderna, ed. it. a cura di S. Pagano, Città del Vaticano, 1989 (e ristampe successive).
2) Paolo Cammarosano, Italia medievale.Struttura e geografia delle fonti scritte,Roma, Carocci, 2016.

Traditional lectures will feature the method of teaching, alternately with tutorials and collegial readings and discussion, where students will take an active and responsible role by preparing written exercises.

Class attendance is recommended.

The exam consists of a written homework and of an oral discussion.

Reading and analysis of the medieval documents analyzed during the course; discussion about the homework and the bibliography.