MODERN HISTORY OF THE AMERICAS

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

Single discipline educational activity

Course Sheet

Course code:

MM5007

Academic Year of enrolment:

2023

Year of supply:

2023/2024

Type of Course:

Characterising

Degree:

Course of 2nd Cycle Degree in PHILOLOGY, LINGUISTICS AND LITERARY TRADITIONS

Disciplinary Sector:

MODERN HISTORY

Language:

Italian

Location:

CHIETI

Credits:

Programme Year:

Professor and Collaborators:

PIZZORUSSO Giovanni

Cycle:

First semester

Hours of classroom activity:

Individual study hours:

108

Prerequisites:

Knowledge of the main outlines of the general history of the early modern age based on the textbook indicated for the corresponding exam of the three-year courses is assumed

Objectives

In the context of the educational objectives of the Master's Degree in Philology, Linguistics and Performing Languages, the course History of the Americas in the Modern Age aims to contribute in the various aspects of

knowledge and understanding:
to develop an in-depth knowledge of the developments in the history of European expansion in the global geographical dimension of the modern age (proto-globalization) and in particular the building of empires in the Americas in the 16th century with the broadly relevant themes of the encounter/clash with "other" non-European civilizations; with the theme of "just" war and the exportation from Europe of European Christian culture and religion, contextualizing these phenomena in the general understanding of European and global history; making connections between political, religious, economic, social, cultural history; examining the various historiographical currents on the above themes; activating the use to different sources (biographies, normative texts, charters)

ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
develop the application of knowledge in an overall way, with critical analysis of events contextualizing them within complex and multidisciplinary themes and giving them an accomplished organization through individual work on texts also in foreign languages (English, Spanish) to be discussed in class seminars

autonomy of judgment:
foster a critical and autonomous analytical approach to the sources and texts of historiography on European expansion and global history, with a comparative look at modern history in general

communication skills:
develop ownership of specific language for oral and written communication of acquired knowledge and skills

learning skills: preparation for the attainment of the ability to independently develop a method of study and historiographical analysis that is up to the standard of higher education (PhD) and access to training paths for teaching in schools

Contents

Title: The Americas from Discovery to Conquest, 15th-16th Century (6 CFU)

This course aims to provide an overview of the early late 15th- and 16th-century phase of the gradual expansion of Europeans around the world constituted by the acquisition of geographical knowledge and the founding of the Spanish and Portuguese empires. In addition to reconstructing the initial context that allowed this expansion, religious (development of missions and organization of the Spanish-American Church), demographic (effect of the arrival of Europeans on the Indians), cultural (transmission of geographic, cartographic and ethnographic knowledge about the New World to Europe) and economic (effects of the importation of precious metals) factors will also be explored through the reading of travel reports and testimonies of the time

Extended Syllabus

The following topics will be covered in the course:

Knowledge in the world in the Middle Ages; the legacy of the classical world and recovery in the Renaissance; Europe at the end of the Middle Ages; Spain and Portugal: Motivations for expansion; the Portuguese along Africa and in Asia; the great discoveries; advances in navigation; navigators and the transmission of geographic knowledge; the role of the Italians; the search for the Northwest Passage; the circumnavigation of the globe; cartography; the Conquest of Mexico and Peru; texts on the Conquest; the Spanish empire; the encomienda; the early evangelization of the Indios; the American church; the demographic collapse of the Indians; Conquista rights; Las Casas and the defense of the Indians; the struggle against idolatry; the resistance of the Indians; the role of the Jesuits (José de Acosta); the reductions of Paraguay; the effects of the importation of precious metals into Europe; Portuguese Brazil; the Jesuits in Brazil; the beginning of the slave trade; descriptions of America in 16th century works

Recommended Bibliography

Preparation should be done on THREE volumes according to the following criteria:

Mandatory as a general textbook:
Massimo Donattini, Dal Nuovo Mondo all’America. Scoperte geografiche e colonialismo (secoli XV-XVI), Roma, Carocci, ultima edizione

TWO texts of your choice from the following:
Tzvetan Todorov, La conquista dell’America e il problema dell’”altro”, Torino, Einaudi, 2014
Massimo Livi Bacci, Conquista. La distruzione degli indios americani, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2009
Luca Baccelli, Bartolomé de Las Casas. La conquista senza fondamento, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2016
David Abulafia, La scoperta dell’umanità. Incontri atlantici all’epoca di Colombo, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2010
David Salomoni, Magellano. Il primo viaggio intorno al mondo, Bari-Roma, Laterza, 2022
Antonio Violante, Giovanni Caboto. El gran armirante verso il sogno del Catai, Milano, Mondadori education, 2022

Methods of Provision

Conventional

Teaching Methods

Lectures and seminar-style lectures with possible participation of experts

Evaluation methods

Verification of learning:

The final exam consists of an oral examination on the course content. Knowledge of the content and bibliography provided in the course, quality of oral expression, and critical and methodological skills will be evaluated. The score ranges from 1 to 30 with honors, according to the following: 1-17 insufficient, 18-21 sufficient, 22-24 fair, 25-27 good,
28-29 very good, 30-30 with distinction excellent

Contacts/More Information

The course takes place in the first semester
For exam preparation purposes, knowledge of the topics covered in the course lectures is also extremely useful. The use of a good geographical or historical-geographical atlas or historical maps found on the Web is recommended for exact location of events. Grant materials may be provided during the course. For frequent attendees only (i.e., students who have taken the course continuously and not occasionally), a paper on a monographic volume (list will be provided during the course) is scheduled to be written and presented in the classroom, allowing only one of the two volumes of choice to be taken in the exam. For NON-attenders, there is no textbook addition, but they should contact the professor at least by e-mail: giovanni.pizzorusso@unich.it

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

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