he course aims to foster in students a critical engagement with the written sources of medieval Europe. Particular attention will be devoted to issues concerning the structure and geography of the sources, the complex relationship between authors, scribes, and recipients, and the documentary typologies in relation to the information they convey. In this way, students will develop an awareness of how historians approach the fundamental problems of medieval societies and construct their historical narratives.
Curriculum
teacher profile teaching materials
The course is divided into two parts.
PART I
The first part provides a general introduction to the system of sources for medieval European history. It examines the main issues concerning medieval sources, including their typologies, quantity and quality, chronological and geographical distribution, contexts of production and preservation, as well as the informational potential and limitations of each category of source.
PART II
The second part takes the form of a seminar and source-analysis workshop. Students will engage in the close reading, critical analysis, and interpretation of a coherent corpus of primary sources addressing some of the fundamental issues of medieval society. This year's course focuses on the question of sexuality in the eleventh and twelfth centuries through a close reading of the Liber Gomorrhianus by Peter Damian (1007–1072). This work is regarded as one of the principal sources for the study of sexuality in medieval Europe, particularly male sexuality. Through a close textual analysis, the course will explore the major issues raised by the work, the context in which it was written, and its subsequent reception. This work will provide students with hands-on experience in the critical analysis and interpretation of several types of sources characteristic of medieval Europe, including theological treatises, epistolary sources, canon law texts, chronicles, and diplomatic documents.
Pier Damiani, Liber Gomorrhianus: omosessualità ecclesiastica e riforma della Chiesa, a cura di E. D'Angelo, Edizioni dell'Orso, Alessandria 2001
Programme
THE SYSTEM OF SOURCES FOR MEDIEVAL EUROPEAN HISTORY: PERSPECTIVES AND LIMITATIONSThe course is divided into two parts.
PART I
The first part provides a general introduction to the system of sources for medieval European history. It examines the main issues concerning medieval sources, including their typologies, quantity and quality, chronological and geographical distribution, contexts of production and preservation, as well as the informational potential and limitations of each category of source.
PART II
The second part takes the form of a seminar and source-analysis workshop. Students will engage in the close reading, critical analysis, and interpretation of a coherent corpus of primary sources addressing some of the fundamental issues of medieval society. This year's course focuses on the question of sexuality in the eleventh and twelfth centuries through a close reading of the Liber Gomorrhianus by Peter Damian (1007–1072). This work is regarded as one of the principal sources for the study of sexuality in medieval Europe, particularly male sexuality. Through a close textual analysis, the course will explore the major issues raised by the work, the context in which it was written, and its subsequent reception. This work will provide students with hands-on experience in the critical analysis and interpretation of several types of sources characteristic of medieval Europe, including theological treatises, epistolary sources, canon law texts, chronicles, and diplomatic documents.
Core Documentation
Paolo Cammarosano, Italia medievale. Struttura e geografia delle fonti scritte, 1991 (and subsequent editions)Pier Damiani, Liber Gomorrhianus: omosessualità ecclesiastica e riforma della Chiesa, a cura di E. D'Angelo, Edizioni dell'Orso, Alessandria 2001
Attendance
Attendance is not mandatory; however, given the seminar format of the course, it is strongly encouraged. Students are considered to have fulfilled the attendance requirement if they attend at least 70% of the classes.Type of evaluation
Final oral examination. Students who wish to do so may present in class the reading and interpretation of a document assigned by the professor. This presentation, along with the corresponding written report, will be taken into account for the final assessment. teacher profile teaching materials
The course is divided into two parts.
PART I
The first part provides a general introduction to the system of sources for medieval European history. It examines the main issues concerning medieval sources, including their typologies, quantity and quality, chronological and geographical distribution, contexts of production and preservation, as well as the informational potential and limitations of each category of source.
PART II
The second part takes the form of a seminar and source-analysis workshop. Students will engage in the close reading, critical analysis, and interpretation of a coherent corpus of primary sources addressing some of the fundamental issues of medieval society. This year's course focuses on the question of sexuality in the eleventh and twelfth centuries through a close reading of the Liber Gomorrhianus by Peter Damian (1007–1072). This work is regarded as one of the principal sources for the study of sexuality in medieval Europe, particularly male sexuality. Through a close textual analysis, the course will explore the major issues raised by the work, the context in which it was written, and its subsequent reception. This work will provide students with hands-on experience in the critical analysis and interpretation of several types of sources characteristic of medieval Europe, including theological treatises, epistolary sources, canon law texts, chronicles, and diplomatic documents.
Pier Damiani, Liber Gomorrhianus: omosessualità ecclesiastica e riforma della Chiesa, a cura di E. D'Angelo, Edizioni dell'Orso, Alessandria 2001
Programme
THE SYSTEM OF SOURCES FOR MEDIEVAL EUROPEAN HISTORY: PERSPECTIVES AND LIMITATIONSThe course is divided into two parts.
PART I
The first part provides a general introduction to the system of sources for medieval European history. It examines the main issues concerning medieval sources, including their typologies, quantity and quality, chronological and geographical distribution, contexts of production and preservation, as well as the informational potential and limitations of each category of source.
PART II
The second part takes the form of a seminar and source-analysis workshop. Students will engage in the close reading, critical analysis, and interpretation of a coherent corpus of primary sources addressing some of the fundamental issues of medieval society. This year's course focuses on the question of sexuality in the eleventh and twelfth centuries through a close reading of the Liber Gomorrhianus by Peter Damian (1007–1072). This work is regarded as one of the principal sources for the study of sexuality in medieval Europe, particularly male sexuality. Through a close textual analysis, the course will explore the major issues raised by the work, the context in which it was written, and its subsequent reception. This work will provide students with hands-on experience in the critical analysis and interpretation of several types of sources characteristic of medieval Europe, including theological treatises, epistolary sources, canon law texts, chronicles, and diplomatic documents.
Core Documentation
Paolo Cammarosano, Italia medievale. Struttura e geografia delle fonti scritte, 1991 (and subsequent editions)Pier Damiani, Liber Gomorrhianus: omosessualità ecclesiastica e riforma della Chiesa, a cura di E. D'Angelo, Edizioni dell'Orso, Alessandria 2001
Attendance
Attendance is not mandatory; however, given the seminar format of the course, it is strongly encouraged. Students are considered to have fulfilled the attendance requirement if they attend at least 70% of the classes.Type of evaluation
Final oral examination. Students who wish to do so may present in class the reading and interpretation of a document assigned by the professor. This presentation, along with the corresponding written report, will be taken into account for the final assessment.