The aim of the course is to provide students with the knowledge of political, institutional, socio-economic and cultural transformations, which occurred during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It also intends to provide the spatial and temporal coordinates along which European and global history unfolds, with the aim of giving impetus to a critical and interpretative capacity of the contemporary.
At the end of the course the student:
- has acquired the knowledge of the facts that characterize contemporary history and the profound changes that have occurred in society between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
- has developed a functional analytical capacity for understanding the political, institutional and cultural changes of the contemporary world.
At the end of the course the student:
- has acquired the knowledge of the facts that characterize contemporary history and the profound changes that have occurred in society between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
- has developed a functional analytical capacity for understanding the political, institutional and cultural changes of the contemporary world.
Curriculum
teacher profile teaching materials
Particular attention is devoted to the major events and transformations that shaped the twentieth century, including institutional change, international conflicts, and profound social transformations. The course examines the processes that led to the reconfiguration of political systems, the emergence of new international orders, and the development of new social structures, while tracing the broader evolution of modern societies throughout the century. Students are introduced to the theoretical and methodological approaches required to interpret these historical developments from a critical and multidisciplinary perspective.
The course then turns to the global and transnational dynamics that shaped the world from the end of the Second World War to the beginning of the twenty-first century. It explores the emergence of an increasingly interconnected global society and its impact on political and social structures, cultural practices, artistic expression, and forms of communication. Particular emphasis is placed on changing patterns of individual and collective behaviour, the emergence of new social actors—including young people, women, and minorities—and major global challenges such as ethnic inequalities, environmental concerns, and the pursuit of peace.
Giovanni Sabbatucci, Vittorio Vidotto, Il mondo contemporaneo,
Marialuisa Lucia Sergio, Pio XII e l’indipendenza algerina. La Chiesa cattolica nella decolonizzazione dell’Africa francese, Edizioni Studium, Rome 2022
M. Mastrociani, V. Riccardi, M.L. Sergio (a cura di), Riformare la cittadinanza. Diario civile di un'Italia incompiuta, Studium, Roma 2025.
Programme
The course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the key dynamics that have shaped the contemporary era, focusing in particular on the development of modern states, social transformations, and processes of modernization. It also introduces the chronological and geographical frameworks of European and global history, equipping students with the critical and interpretive skills needed to engage with the history and complexity of the contemporary world.Particular attention is devoted to the major events and transformations that shaped the twentieth century, including institutional change, international conflicts, and profound social transformations. The course examines the processes that led to the reconfiguration of political systems, the emergence of new international orders, and the development of new social structures, while tracing the broader evolution of modern societies throughout the century. Students are introduced to the theoretical and methodological approaches required to interpret these historical developments from a critical and multidisciplinary perspective.
The course then turns to the global and transnational dynamics that shaped the world from the end of the Second World War to the beginning of the twenty-first century. It explores the emergence of an increasingly interconnected global society and its impact on political and social structures, cultural practices, artistic expression, and forms of communication. Particular emphasis is placed on changing patterns of individual and collective behaviour, the emergence of new social actors—including young people, women, and minorities—and major global challenges such as ethnic inequalities, environmental concerns, and the pursuit of peace.
Prerequisiti
At least a basic familiarity with the contemporary history syllabus typically covered in upper secondary education.Core Documentation
A contemporary history textbook. The following is recommended:Giovanni Sabbatucci, Vittorio Vidotto, Il mondo contemporaneo,
Marialuisa Lucia Sergio, Pio XII e l’indipendenza algerina. La Chiesa cattolica nella decolonizzazione dell’Africa francese, Edizioni Studium, Rome 2022
M. Mastrociani, V. Riccardi, M.L. Sergio (a cura di), Riformare la cittadinanza. Diario civile di un'Italia incompiuta, Studium, Roma 2025.
Attendance
Attendance is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended, especially for the workshop activities, which are an essential component of the course and cannot be replaced by traditional lectures alone.Type of evaluation
The exam consists of a written test comprising two open-ended questions and a multiple-choice questionnaire with 40 items. The multiple-choice section serves as a preliminary screening: students who do not achieve a minimum mark of 18 (on the Italian grading scale) in this section will not be admitted to the evaluation of the open-ended questions. The final grade is a weighted average: the multiple-choice section accounts for 60% of the overall mark, while the open-ended questions, graded on a scale from 1 to 10, contribute 40%. teacher profile teaching materials
Particular attention is devoted to the major events and transformations that shaped the twentieth century, including institutional change, international conflicts, and profound social transformations. The course examines the processes that led to the reconfiguration of political systems, the emergence of new international orders, and the development of new social structures, while tracing the broader evolution of modern societies throughout the century. Students are introduced to the theoretical and methodological approaches required to interpret these historical developments from a critical and multidisciplinary perspective.
The course then turns to the global and transnational dynamics that shaped the world from the end of the Second World War to the beginning of the twenty-first century. It explores the emergence of an increasingly interconnected global society and its impact on political and social structures, cultural practices, artistic expression, and forms of communication. Particular emphasis is placed on changing patterns of individual and collective behaviour, the emergence of new social actors—including young people, women, and minorities—and major global challenges such as ethnic inequalities, environmental concerns, and the pursuit of peace.
Giovanni Sabbatucci, Vittorio Vidotto, Il mondo contemporaneo,
Marialuisa Lucia Sergio, Pio XII e l’indipendenza algerina. La Chiesa cattolica nella decolonizzazione dell’Africa francese, Edizioni Studium, Rome 2022
M. Mastrociani, V. Riccardi, M.L. Sergio (a cura di), Riformare la cittadinanza. Diario civile di un'Italia incompiuta, Studium, Roma 2025.
Programme
The course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the key dynamics that have shaped the contemporary era, focusing in particular on the development of modern states, social transformations, and processes of modernization. It also introduces the chronological and geographical frameworks of European and global history, equipping students with the critical and interpretive skills needed to engage with the history and complexity of the contemporary world.Particular attention is devoted to the major events and transformations that shaped the twentieth century, including institutional change, international conflicts, and profound social transformations. The course examines the processes that led to the reconfiguration of political systems, the emergence of new international orders, and the development of new social structures, while tracing the broader evolution of modern societies throughout the century. Students are introduced to the theoretical and methodological approaches required to interpret these historical developments from a critical and multidisciplinary perspective.
The course then turns to the global and transnational dynamics that shaped the world from the end of the Second World War to the beginning of the twenty-first century. It explores the emergence of an increasingly interconnected global society and its impact on political and social structures, cultural practices, artistic expression, and forms of communication. Particular emphasis is placed on changing patterns of individual and collective behaviour, the emergence of new social actors—including young people, women, and minorities—and major global challenges such as ethnic inequalities, environmental concerns, and the pursuit of peace.
Prerequisiti
At least a basic familiarity with the contemporary history syllabus typically covered in upper secondary education.Core Documentation
A contemporary history textbook. The following is recommended:Giovanni Sabbatucci, Vittorio Vidotto, Il mondo contemporaneo,
Marialuisa Lucia Sergio, Pio XII e l’indipendenza algerina. La Chiesa cattolica nella decolonizzazione dell’Africa francese, Edizioni Studium, Rome 2022
M. Mastrociani, V. Riccardi, M.L. Sergio (a cura di), Riformare la cittadinanza. Diario civile di un'Italia incompiuta, Studium, Roma 2025.
Attendance
Attendance is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended, especially for the workshop activities, which are an essential component of the course and cannot be replaced by traditional lectures alone.Type of evaluation
The exam consists of a written test comprising two open-ended questions and a multiple-choice questionnaire with 40 items. The multiple-choice section serves as a preliminary screening: students who do not achieve a minimum mark of 18 (on the Italian grading scale) in this section will not be admitted to the evaluation of the open-ended questions. The final grade is a weighted average: the multiple-choice section accounts for 60% of the overall mark, while the open-ended questions, graded on a scale from 1 to 10, contribute 40%.