CONTEMPORARY HISTORY
Instructional goals
The course provides an essential knowledge of contemporary history of Italy, Europe and the world from 1815 until today.
Intended learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students will have acquired a basic knowledge of key historical processes and events of the last two centuries. Also, the course aims to provide the essential tools to analyze and discuss specific categories, concepts, ideas, and political and social phenomenon (such as Nationalism, Imperialism, Decolonization, Socialism, Communism).
Course Contents
The course deals with the main historical events of the last two centuries adopting a primarily chronological approach. Besides, there will be a series of classes devoted to Italian politics and institutions since 1861 and to specific regions and subjects, particularly the Middle East and Russia.
Reference Books
Antony Best, Jussi Hanhimaki, Joseph A. Maiolo, Kirsten E. Shulze (2018), International History of the Twentieth Century and Beyond, Routledge.
The teacher will assign additional readings and material (book chapters, articles, podcasts) for each class.
Teaching Methods
Next to traditional teaching, students will have to actively participate in class, both on campus and online. Also, students will get acquainted with primary historical sources to be analyzed during the online classes. Besides, the teacher will integrate traditional teaching with film excerpts, documentary, films, podcasts, regular references to the literature to provide students with a sense of the evolution of the cultural landscape and political ideas and ideals throughout the last two centuries.
Assessment Method
The exam is made of the following parts:
• A mid-term written exam (50%)
• A final oral exam (50%) on the entire program
Thesis assignment criteria
Proved high interest in the subject, regular and very active participation.
Week 1 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus
The Age of Revolutions, 1815-1871
On campus:
Nationalism and Empires from the Concert of Europe until the unification of Italy and Germany
Online class:
The Social Idea from Mazzini to Marx and the Socialist Parties
Week 2 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus
THE FIRST WORLD WAR
On campus:
Origins and outbreak of the First World War
Online class:
The Russian Revolution
Week 3 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus
FASCISM AND NAZISM
On campus:
The rise of Fascism in Italy 1922-1935/38
Interwar Germany (Weimar and the rise of Hitler)
Online class:
The Paris Peace Conference and Eastern Europe
Week 4 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus
THE SECOND WORLD WAR
On Campus:
The rise of the Soviet power and Japanese imperialism
The Second World War (1938-1945)
Online class:
The Spanish Civil War
Week 5 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus
THE BEGINNING OF THE COLD WAR
On Campus:
The First Cold War and the “loss of China” 1945-49
1943-1953- The birth of contemporary Italy from the civil war to the Christian democrats
Online class:
Mao Tse-Tung
Week 6 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus
THE 1950S
On campus:
US-USSR relations from Stalin’s death to Cuba
The end of the colonial empires: from India’s independence to Algeria
Online class:
Latin America in the XIXth and XXth Century
Week 7 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus
THE MIDDLE EAST
On campus:
The Middle Eastern Question Part I (from 1917 to 1948)
The Middle Eastern Question Part II (from 1949 to 1973)
Online class:
Enrico Mattei and the OPEC
Week 8 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus
THE AGE OF DÉTENTE AND THE RISE OF ISLAM
On campus:
The age of Détente
The rise of Islam as a world actor (Middle East part III)
Online class:
Vietnam and the Year 1968
Week 9 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus
ITALY AND EUROPE
On campus:
Italy from the “economic boom” to the “lead years” (1953-1978)
The European integration from 1950 to 1992
Online class:
The end of European Dictatorships (Spain, Greece, Portugal)
Week 10 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus
THE 1980’S AND THE END OF THE COLD WAR
On campus:
The Eighties
The fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the USSR
Online class:
The Post-Soviet Conflicts
Week 11 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus
EUROPE AND ITALY
On campus:
European integration from Maastricht to today
The Second Italian Republic
Online class:
Berlusconi and the Rise of Populism
Week 12 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus
THE CURRENT ERA
On campus:
The contemporary world – the Nineties
A New Millennium: from the Twin towers to Ukraine, via Covid
Online class:
Final discussion. The world in the next twenty years