Unit HISTORY OF POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE MIDDLE AGES
- Course
- Italian, classical studies and european history
- Study-unit Code
- A002649
- Curriculum
- Storia europea
- Teacher
- Stefania Zucchini
- Teachers
-
- Stefania Zucchini
- Hours
- 36 ore - Stefania Zucchini
- CFU
- 6
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2025
- Offered
- 2025/26
- Learning activities
- Caratterizzante
- Area
- Discipline storiche, filosofiche, antropologiche e sociologiche
- Academic discipline
- M-STO/01
- Type of study-unit
- Opzionale (Optional)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa monodisciplinare
- Language of instruction
- Italian
- Contents
- The course examines the main institutions and political structures of the Late Middle Ages, with a focus on Italian communal and “signorili” cities (11th–14th centuries) and an in-depth exploration of the concept of liberty.
- Reference texts
- MAIN REFERENCE TEXT:
1) Massimo Vallerani, “Gli assetti istituzionali delle città comunali: forme, lessici e funzioni dal XII al XIV secolo, in "Il Comune medievale. Istituzioni e conflitti politici (secoli XII-XIV)", a cura di Lorenzo Tanzini, Bologna, Clueb, 2023, pp. 7-67.
2) Lorenzo Tanzini, “A consiglio. La vita politica nell’Italia dei comuni”, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2014, cap. 1 e 8 (pp. 3-32, 163-186).
3) Ennio E. Piano, “A theory of the city-state: The rise and decline ofthe rule of law in Medieval Italy”, in “Kyklos”, 77 (2024), pp. 97-117.
4) an essay chosen from among those contained in "Libertas e libertates nel tardo medioevo. Realtà italiane nel contesto europeo", a cura di Andrea Zorzi, Firenze, FIRENZE UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2024.
Additionally, only for ATTENDEES: Lecture notes
Additionally, only FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS:
Lorenzo Tanzini, “A consiglio. La vita politica nell’Italia dei comuni”, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2014, cap. 2-7 (pp. 33-162).
Specific information related to the course and teaching materials will be available on the Unistudium platform: https://www.unistudium.unipg.it/unistudium/login/index.php on the page dedicated to the course “Storia delle Istituzioni politiche nel Medioevo”.
All required books will be provided in digital format: items 1 and 4 on Unistudium, items 2 and 3 on the UNICO platform.
Students with disabilities and/or specific learning disorders (DSA) who, having completed the regular accreditation process via SOL, have obtained access to University services, may request the compensatory tools provided by regulations (e.g., textbooks in digital format; teaching materials in accessible formats: presentations, handouts, exercise collections, provided in advance of lessons if necessary). For details, see: https://www.unipg.it/disabilita-e-dsa.
To make a request, the student is invited to contact the instructor, who will put them in touch with the Department’s Disability and/or DSA Coordinator (Prof. Alessandra Di Pilla: alessandra.dipilla@unipg.it). - Educational objectives
- Detailed knowledge of the main institutions and political structures of the late Middle Ages in Italy; knowledge of the main historiographic tools and of the evolution of historiographic interpretations relating to structures and forms of power in the passage from the late medieval to the early modern age; use of the specific vocabulary of the subject and ability to orient oneself among the different types of sources relating to the topics of study; ability to formulate questions and solve problems through the interpretation of the topics studied. Some indications will also be provided for the in-depth study of the topics of study and the approach to historical research work.
- Prerequisites
- A general knowledge of the political, socio-economic and cultural history of the Middle-Ages is required. The course is an in-depth study of the historiographical interpretations of the Italian "comuni", therefore knowledge of the fundamental events of the medieval period is an indispensable prerequisite for the student who will want to follow the course successfully.
- Teaching methods
- Lectures on all topics of the course, with reading and commenting of sources in Latin or in translation. If it will be possible, lectures will be also provided at the State Archives of Perugia for direct knowledge of the medieval historical sources.
- Other information
- Attendance is optional but strongly recommended.
The teacher receives every week; to arrange an appointment (in person or remotely through the Teams platform), please write to the following email address: stefania.zucchini@unipg.it
Students with disabilities and/or SLD: for any information on University services, consult the page https://www.unipg.it/disabilita-e-dsa and contact the Disability and/or DSA Department Coordinator (prof. Alessandra Di Pilla: alessandra.dipilla@unipg.it)
Students who may be interested are invited to check the possibility of attending the lectures via remote learning on the website.
Procedura DAD - Università degli Studi di Perugia (unipg.it) - Learning verification modality
- The exam consists of a discussion-interview on the topics covered during the course and deepened on the recommended texts.
The purpose of this test is to verify the level of knowledge and the ability to understand and synthesize that the student has achieved; the interview between the student and the teacher will allow the student to demonstrate, in addition to their knowledge, the maturity gained through critical study. The duration of the exam varies depending on how the oral test proceeds.
Students with disabilities and/or specific learning disorders (DSA) who, having completed regular accreditation via SOL, have obtained access to university services, may make use of the compensatory tools, dispensatory measures, and inclusive technologies provided by regulations for the conduct of assessment tests; these must be requested and agreed with the professor sufficiently in advance of the examinations. For information, consult the page https://www.unipg.it/disabilita-e-dsa and contact the Department’s Disability and DSA Coordinator (Prof. Alessandra Di Pilla: alessandra.dipilla@unipg.it). - Extended program
- The course addresses the main institutions and political structures of the late Middle Ages, with a focus on the concept of liberty in the Italian communal and seigniorial cities.
Specifically, the following macro-topics will be covered:
- The city in central-northern Italy in the 11th century: from civitas to commune;
- The initial institutional arrangements of communal governments;
- “Comuni” and “signorie”: forms of power coexistence and institutional changes (13th-15th centuries);
- Liberty in Italian communal and seigniorial cities (variations of liberty; liberty and tyranny). - Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile
- Goals 4 and 5:
- Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all;
- Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.