Programme

The course aims to provide a basic understanding of the key issues, historical discontinuities and continuities that have interwoven the histories of North America since its first human settlement. The main focus will be on the history of the United States following European colonisation, whilst maintaining a constant awareness of the comparative dimension of the Americas and the continent’s great ethnic diversity. The tools of comparative history and the perspectives of environmental history, social history and public history will guide the course’s exploration of the complexities of a continent where the battle over history, its political use and its narrative is often a matter of public concern.
The lectures will also provide opportunities to experiment with digital history, in particular through the ‘WikiBook: History of North America’ project in collaboration with Wikimedia Italia. Visits to the Library of the Centre for American Studies in Rome and talks by guest speakers are also planned.

Core Documentation

Mandatory Reading list for everyone:
- Testi, Arnaldo. La formazione degli Stati Uniti. Bologna: Il mulino, 2003 (qualsiasi edizione).
- Testi, Arnaldo. Il secolo degli Stati Uniti. Bologna: Il mulino, 2008 (qualsiasi edizione)

Attendance

Attendance is strongly encouraged and requires active participation.

Type of evaluation

For attending students: 1. Wikibooks assignment: participation in the compilation of a collaborative, open-access digital textbook on the History of North America in Italian, published on the Wikimedia Italia platform. This consists of an in-depth study of the subject, the writing of popularised texts in an encyclopaedic style, the selection and correct citation of sources, the digital editing of multimedia materials, translation and cultural mediation. (50% of the final mark). Those who prefer not to take part in the project should follow the examination instructions for non-attending students. 2. Final oral examination (50% of the total mark). The examination focuses on the study of the two adopted texts on the general history of the United States For non-attending students: Oral examination: focuses on the study of the two general texts on the history of the United States