Unit CULTURAL HISTORY IN THE EARLY MODERN AGE
- Course
- Italian, classical studies and european history
- Study-unit Code
- A000195
- Curriculum
- Letteratura e filologia italiana
- Teacher
- Erminia Irace
- Teachers
-
- Erminia Irace
- Hours
- 36 ore - Erminia Irace
- CFU
- 6
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2026
- Offered
- 2026/27
- Learning activities
- Caratterizzante
- Area
- Discipline storiche, filosofiche, antropologiche e sociologiche
- Sector
- HIST-02/A
- Type of study-unit
- Opzionale (Optional)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa monodisciplinare
- Language of instruction
- italian
- Contents
- For Carlo Ginzburg (1939-2026)
Carlo Ginzburg was the most important Italian historian of the 20th and 21st centuries and one of the most internationally acclaimed historians. Considered one of the founders of the research field known as "microhistory," Ginzburg actually explored different genres and languages, bringing history, anthropology, literature, and art history into dialogue. His numerous books were widely read, even among readers outside of academia, making him a globally recognized intellectual. His research taught how to study the history of the lower classes, what the historical method consists of, and how historians must consider not only authentic but also false information, as well as how to tell history to their readers by combining narrative techniques with scientific content.
In honor of Ginzburg, the course will analyze the two books that established his reputation as a modernist historian. The analysis will be accompanied by further readings of his writings and those of Marc Bloch, whom Ginzburg indicated as his own historiographical point of reference. - Reference texts
a) A text of your choice from (all editions and formats are acceptable):
1) Carlo Ginzburg, I benandanti. Ricerche sulla stregoneria e sui culti agrari tra Cinquecento e Seicento, Torino, Einaudi, 1966; subsequent editions Einaudi, 1972, 2002, Milano Adelphi, 2020;
2) Carlo Ginzburg, Il formaggio e i vermi. Il cosmo di un mugnaio del Cinquecento, Torino, Einaudi, 1976; subsequent editions 1999, 2009, Milano, Adelphi, 2019.
b) A text of your choice from (all editions and formats are acceptable):
3) Carlo Ginzburg, Spie. Radici di un paradigma indiziario, in Carlo Ginzburg, Miti, emblemi spie. Morfologia e storia, Torino, Einaudi, 1986, pp. 158-209; subsequent editions Einaudi 1992, 2000, 2016, Milano, Adelphi, 2023, pp. 157-201.
4) Marc Bloch, Riflessioni di uno storico sulle false notizie della guerra, italians editions in Marc Bloch, Storici e storia, Torino, Einaudi, 1997, pp. 163-184, Marc Bloch, La guerra e le false notizie, Roma, Donzelli, 1994, pp. 79-108, Marc Bloch, La guerra e le false notizie, Roma, Donzelli, 1994, Roma, Fazi, 2014.
Non-attending students will study: in section a) text 1 or 2; in section b) both texts 3 and 4.
For students with certified disabilities and / or SLDs, compensatory measures are envisaged as provided for by the indications of the University (https://lettere.unipg.it/home/disabilita-e-dsa). Contact the teacher at the beginning of the lessons.- Educational objectives
- The course intends to be a workshop in the learning of history, deepening the methodologies of analysis of historical sources and the valorisation of the sources in the light of the most recent historiographical interpretations, in order to refine students' knowledge and skills through the analysis of the specific monographic topic of the course. Particular attention will be paid to the development of skills inherent in the analysis and interpretation of historical and historiographical issues concerning the subject matter of the course. The same attention will be paid to the development of skills inherent to historiographical argumentation and skills concerning the interpretation of themes, documents and issues concerning the topic of the course.
- Prerequisites
- A good knowledge of the main chronological scansion, the main events and issues in European history of the early modern era is very important. The ability to use appropriate historical-critical language is important.
The same prerequisites are also required for students taking the examination as non-attenders. - Teaching methods
- Frontal lessons in the classroom with the use of powerpoint presentations. The use of synchronous telematic mode (Teams platform) will be organized on the basis of the information provided by the University.
- Other information
- a) further information will be provided during lessons;
b) information and materials useful for exam preparation can be found on the Unistudium platform: https://www.unistudium.unipg.it/unistudium/login/index.php on the page dedicated to this teaching.
Attention: Students who are unable to attend classes (e.g. working students) and students with disabilities and/or DSA must contact the teacher by email (at erminia.irace@unipg.it) at the beginning of class in order to arrange an interview (in person or on Teams) to agree on how to conduct the examination. - Learning verification modality
- Oral exam that lasts about 20 minutes around the course topics. In particular, the critical-interpretative skills of the students will be evaluated, attesting to the good understanding and the ability to expose the subject matter of analysis in a complex and arguable way.
The achievement by the student of the ability to express an in-depth vision of the topics addressed (also elaborated on the basis of the careful study of the texts included in the program), combined with a good command of the expression and historiographical language, will allow to evaluate with good o excellent evaluations (from 27/30 to 30 e lode/30). A more superficial knowledge of the topics, combined with inadequate expressive skills, will lead to fair evaluations (from 24/30 to 26/30). Training gaps and / or inappropriate language - albeit in a context of minimal knowledge of the exam program - will lead to sufficient grades (from 18/30 to 23/30). Significant training gaps, inappropriate language and the inability to orient themselves in the topics under consideration will be evaluated negatively.
For students with certified disabilities and / or SLDs, compensatory measures are envisaged as provided for by the indications of the University (https://lettere.unipg.it/home/disabilita-e-dsa). Contact the teacher at the beginning of the lessons. - Extended program
- For Carlo Ginzburg (1939-2026)
Carlo Ginzburg was the most important Italian historian of the 20th and 21st centuries and one of the most internationally acclaimed historians. Considered one of the founders of the research field known as "microhistory," Ginzburg actually explored different genres and languages, bringing history, anthropology, literature, and art history into dialogue. His numerous books were widely read, even among readers outside of academia, making him a globally recognized intellectual. His research taught how to study the history of the lower classes, what the historical method consists of, and how historians must consider not only authentic but also false information, as well as how to tell history to their readers by combining narrative techniques with scientific content.
In honor of Ginzburg, the course will analyze the two books that established his reputation as a modernist historian. The analysis will be accompanied by further readings of his writings and those of Marc Bloch, whom Ginzburg indicated as his own historiographical point of reference.
a) A text of your choice from (all editions and formats are acceptable):
1) Carlo Ginzburg, I benandanti. Ricerche sulla stregoneria e sui culti agrari tra Cinquecento e Seicento, Torino, Einaudi, 1966; subsequent editions Einaudi, 1972, 2002, Milano Adelphi, 2020;
2) Carlo Ginzburg, Il formaggio e i vermi. Il cosmo di un mugnaio del Cinquecento, Torino, Einaudi, 1976; subsequent editions 1999, 2009, Milano, Adelphi, 2019.
b) A text of your choice from (all editions and formats are acceptable):
3) Carlo Ginzburg, Spie. Radici di un paradigma indiziario, in Carlo Ginzburg, Miti, emblemi spie. Morfologia e storia, Torino, Einaudi, 1986, pp. 158-209; subsequent editions Einaudi 1992, 2000, 2016, Milano, Adelphi, 2023, pp. 157-201.
4) Marc Bloch, Riflessioni di uno storico sulle false notizie della guerra, italians editions in Marc Bloch, Storici e storia, Torino, Einaudi, 1997, pp. 163-184, Marc Bloch, La guerra e le false notizie, Roma, Donzelli, 1994, pp. 79-108, Marc Bloch, La guerra e le false notizie, Roma, Donzelli, 1994, Roma, Fazi, 2014. - Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile