Programme

The seminar deals with the political history of the Nineteenth century from the perspective of the idea of ​​nation, investigating the dialectic between the national rise of peoples without political representation and the great multinational empires. The history of the Nineteenth century, in fact, can be read as a continuous confrontation between these two models of political power: on the one hand the nations that, led by local elites, built new types of state aggregations and, on the other, the Empires ( Ottoman, Russian, Austrian, German and British) with their respective governments, expression of an universalistic power, founded on dynastic legitimism and projected onto multiethnic territories. The topics covered during classes deal with the main political crises (both revolutionary and diplomatic) of the Nineteenth century and address the crucial points of Italian, German and Central-Eastern Europe peoples' history (in particular in the Balkans) in the time span between Napoleonic era and the First World War: from Forty-Eight revolutions to the processes of Italian and German unification, from the various Eastern crises (linked to the
Ottoman decline in Europe) to the Great War. The global conflict and the peace treaties following World War I completely reshaped the face of Europe and represented the final act of a long historical journey begun from the Age of Restoration. The seminar aims to give students tools of analysis and critical knowledge to understand the so-called century of nationalities, whose knowledge is essential for understanding contemporary Europe.
The topics covered during the eight classes will be:
1) The century of nationalities and multinational empires;
2) The Italian Risorgimento: figures, moments, memories (part I);
3) The Italian Risorgimento: figures, moments, memories (part II);
4) Central-Eastern Europe and national questions;
5) The historical knot of the Forty-eight;
6) Cavour and Bismarck: a comparison between the Italian and German unification;
7) Europe between 800 and 900;
8) The Great War and the "New Europe".

Core Documentation

Specific information will be given during the course.

Reference Bibliography

There are no compulsory study texts for students. Numerous optional bibliographic indications regarding the course topics will be provided to attending students during class and reception hours.

Type of delivery of the course

Lectures with the active participation of students in discussions about the topics of the course

Attendance

The attendance to seminar's lectures is mandatory. Students attending classes must have attended at least 75% of the lessons and, for this purpose, the students' signatures will be collected.

Type of evaluation

Oral examination, composed of various questions, to evaluate the assimilation of the seminar's content. The assessment will take into account the knowledge of the seminar's topics, the clarity of presentation and the critical skills of the students.