History of Early Modern Europe
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide an orientation on the process of geo-political and cultural construction of Europe in the modern age starting from the Italian and European historiography of the immediate post-war period. In particular, questions concerning the coexistence of different political and confessional actors (monarchies, republics, confederations) and their complex interaction will be explored.
In addition to lectures, group work and/or individual reports are planned, such as the drafting of short written texts in the form of reviews, useful for understanding the examination texts.
In addition to lectures, group work and/or individual reports are planned, such as the drafting of short written texts in the form of reviews, useful for understanding the examination texts.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
- Know the process of ideal, philosophical and political construction of the idea of Europe starting from some cornerstones of classical culture and historiographical literature;
- Read some basic texts of Italian and European historiography with a critical method;
- Describe the historical development of the concept of Europe and trace the chronological stages of the consolidation of states between the 16th and 18th century;
- Identify the processes of interaction between European states with particular attention to the diplomatic junctures (Cateau-Cambrésis, 1559; Westphalia, 1648) that contributed to fixing the order of international relations;
- Understand the global projection of Europe in the modern age in economic, political, commercial and cultural terms;
- Illustrate the sources (cartographic, documentary, printed) commented on in class;
- Questioning the current constitution of a European cultural policy.
- Know the process of ideal, philosophical and political construction of the idea of Europe starting from some cornerstones of classical culture and historiographical literature;
- Read some basic texts of Italian and European historiography with a critical method;
- Describe the historical development of the concept of Europe and trace the chronological stages of the consolidation of states between the 16th and 18th century;
- Identify the processes of interaction between European states with particular attention to the diplomatic junctures (Cateau-Cambrésis, 1559; Westphalia, 1648) that contributed to fixing the order of international relations;
- Understand the global projection of Europe in the modern age in economic, political, commercial and cultural terms;
- Illustrate the sources (cartographic, documentary, printed) commented on in class;
- Questioning the current constitution of a European cultural policy.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Title of the course:
"Eastern Frontiers: Descriptions, Geopolitics, and Comparisons with Eastern Europe from Paolo Giovio to Voltaire"
The course aims to stimulate reflection on the formation of the political and cultural borders of modern Europe, with particular attention to the construction of borders with the eastern part of the continent. From Paolo Giovio's "Operetta dell'ambasceria de' Moscoviti" (1545) to the Muscovy of the Jesuit Antonio Possevino (1586), from Montesquieu's Persian Letters (1721) to Voltaire's History of the Russian Empire under Peter the Great (1759), we will retrace some of the fundamental stages in the development of a perspective that was both curious and skeptical, sometimes open to dialogue, sometimes conditioned by a mutual feeling of distrust.
During the first two weeks of November, Prof. Stefan Bielanski of the University of Krakow will be the visiting professor, guest lecturer.
"Eastern Frontiers: Descriptions, Geopolitics, and Comparisons with Eastern Europe from Paolo Giovio to Voltaire"
The course aims to stimulate reflection on the formation of the political and cultural borders of modern Europe, with particular attention to the construction of borders with the eastern part of the continent. From Paolo Giovio's "Operetta dell'ambasceria de' Moscoviti" (1545) to the Muscovy of the Jesuit Antonio Possevino (1586), from Montesquieu's Persian Letters (1721) to Voltaire's History of the Russian Empire under Peter the Great (1759), we will retrace some of the fundamental stages in the development of a perspective that was both curious and skeptical, sometimes open to dialogue, sometimes conditioned by a mutual feeling of distrust.
During the first two weeks of November, Prof. Stefan Bielanski of the University of Krakow will be the visiting professor, guest lecturer.
Prerequisites for admission
It is required a quite good knowledge of the Early modern period, with a deep interest toward the Early modern European dynamics and their contemporary exits, focusing the attention on the XVII century as turning point for national and proto-national assets.
Teaching methods
The course is based on frontal lessons, but the dialogue with and among the students will be highly stimulated through the analysis of specific cases-history and the introduction of recent books or works in progress. At least two educational visits to archives and research institutions sensitive to the topics are planned.
Teaching Resources
The selection criteria for the texts on the syllabus, based on credits and examination methods (attending/non-attending students), will be indicated in the first lessons of the course.
Reference books:
F. Chabod, Storia dell'idea d'Europa, Laterza, Roma - Bari 2007 (I ed. 1969)
B. A. Raviola, L'Europa dei piccoli Stati. Dalla prima età moderna alla crisi dell'Antico regime, Carocci, Roma 2008 (nuova edizione print on demand)
Monographic books:
G. Botero, Relazioni universali, a cura di B.A. Raviola, 3 voll., Nino Aragno Editore, Torino 2015-2017, vol. I, lib. I
H. Mikkeli, Europa. Storia di un'idea e di un'identità, il Mulino, Bologna 2002
Montesquieu, Le lettere persiane (edizione a scelta)
P. Prodi, Homo Europaeus, il Mulino, Bologna 2015
M. Raeff, La Russia degli zar, Laterza , Roma-Bari, I ed. 1984 (edizione a scelta)
G. Schmidt, La Guerra dei Trent'anni, il Mulino, Bologna 2008
M. Verga, Storie d'Europa. Secoli XVIII-XXI, Carocci, Roma 2004
M. A. Visceglia (a cura di), Le radici storiche dell'Europa. L'età moderna, Viella, Roma 2007
A.Zannini, Storia minima d'Europa. Dal Neolitico a oggi, il Mulino, Bologna 2025
To complete :
E. Colombo, Possevino, Antonio, in Dizionario Biografico degli italiani, vol. 85 (2016)
T.C. Price Zimmermann, Giovio, Paolo, in Dizionario Biografico degli italiani, vol. 56 (2001)
https://www.ledonline.it/index.php/ECPS-Journal/article/download/558/513
https://montesquieu.unibo.it/article/download/12594/12404/44525
Reference books:
F. Chabod, Storia dell'idea d'Europa, Laterza, Roma - Bari 2007 (I ed. 1969)
B. A. Raviola, L'Europa dei piccoli Stati. Dalla prima età moderna alla crisi dell'Antico regime, Carocci, Roma 2008 (nuova edizione print on demand)
Monographic books:
G. Botero, Relazioni universali, a cura di B.A. Raviola, 3 voll., Nino Aragno Editore, Torino 2015-2017, vol. I, lib. I
H. Mikkeli, Europa. Storia di un'idea e di un'identità, il Mulino, Bologna 2002
Montesquieu, Le lettere persiane (edizione a scelta)
P. Prodi, Homo Europaeus, il Mulino, Bologna 2015
M. Raeff, La Russia degli zar, Laterza , Roma-Bari, I ed. 1984 (edizione a scelta)
G. Schmidt, La Guerra dei Trent'anni, il Mulino, Bologna 2008
M. Verga, Storie d'Europa. Secoli XVIII-XXI, Carocci, Roma 2004
M. A. Visceglia (a cura di), Le radici storiche dell'Europa. L'età moderna, Viella, Roma 2007
A.Zannini, Storia minima d'Europa. Dal Neolitico a oggi, il Mulino, Bologna 2025
To complete :
E. Colombo, Possevino, Antonio, in Dizionario Biografico degli italiani, vol. 85 (2016)
T.C. Price Zimmermann, Giovio, Paolo, in Dizionario Biografico degli italiani, vol. 56 (2001)
https://www.ledonline.it/index.php/ECPS-Journal/article/download/558/513
https://montesquieu.unibo.it/article/download/12594/12404/44525
Assessment methods and Criteria
Method: oral exam. - Evaluation criteria: capacity to demonstrate and elaborate knowledge; capacity for critical reflection on the completed work; quality of exposition, competence in the use of specialised lexicon, efficacy and clarity. - Type of evaluation method: mark in 30s. The format of the exam for students with disabilities should be arranged in advance with the professor, as well as the relevant office.
Professor(s)