SCIENZE UMANISTICHEScience of Language for interculture and educationAcademic Year 2022/2023
55527 - STORIA CONTEMPORANEA
Teacher: MARGHERITA BONOMO
Expected Learning Outcomes
The aim of the course is to introduce students to in-depth knowledge of the main aspects of the processes
of secularization and the spread of civil rights, the study of the family institution, society, with particular attention to the feminist movement in Italy, and the
relationship between State and Church in the 20th century. The aim of the course also is to provide the
fundamental methodological tools of the discipline, to develop students' critical spirit and their ability to
expound fully and articulately what they have learned. By the end of the course, students will be able: to
identify the main elements that differentiate historical knowledge of the period and contemporary issues
from that offered by other social sciences; to distinguish the main stages of the processes of secularization
in the West, analyzed in its political, religious, cultural and social aspects; to know the basic features of the
relationships between the religious world, the (catholic) political world, and secular society, in a vision not
domestic but European; to have adequate knowledge of family history in the 20th century; to understand
the evolution and retreat on the civil rights front in the twentieth century, with a constant interplay of
achievements and conflicts; to know the main aspects and events of two important "case studies" on the
phenomenon of secularization in Italy, the Divorce and Abortion Act (laws) during the 1970s; to have
learned key elements for understanding the phenomena of secularism, religious intransigence, cultural,
political and religious mediation carried out by parties, movements, associations; to understand the major
issues of Church-State relations in Italy and Europe.
Course Structure
The course will be conducted through a series of face-to-face lectures, in which historiographical
debates on various issues will be focused on, historical sources will be analyzed, and materials
such as anthologies of historiographical texts and films will be used. The method used to
construct the course and convey its contents to students consists first of all of incorporating into
the basic general structure, in-depth critical reading of specific monographs and various
historiographical sources. Students will have to learn as much to connect the two levels, the
general and the monographic, as to go deep inside the monographs, to grasp the specificity of
historical interpretations on certain themes and contexts.
Required Prerequisites
Knowledge of the basic contents of contemporary history
Attendance of Lessons
Course attendance is recommended but optional.
Detailed Course Content
The course will open with some preparatory lectures on the meaning of secularization and laicism
in the 20th century and the role of family, society, Church and State on the issue of civil rights in
Italy and Europe. Some nodes pertaining to national and European history in the relations
between the religious, political and social worlds will then be examined, with attention to
continuities and discontinuities in historiographical debate. The course will address some of the
major events in 20th-century history, with particular attention to the following pivotal moments:
1. Religion and laicism in Europe in the XX century
2. Family and civil rights: a comparative history
3. Relationship between State and Church in the XX century
4. Two "case studies" on secularization: the Divorce and Abortion Act (laws) in Italy in the
1970s.,5.The feminist movement in Italy
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
Students will be examined by means of an oral exam on the topics covered in class, on the
analysis of documents, anthologies and historiographical sources provided in class, and on
volumes selected from the bibliography. The aim is to assess students’ achievement of the
expected learning outcomes. Students will be required to demonstrate an suitable historical
understanding of the topics on the syllabus, to be able to communicate information, ideas,
problems and solutions with regard to the main issues addressed in the course. Rather than
focusing on general (notionistic) concepts, the exam will specifically assess the ability to think
and reason in a historical way. Students will be asked at least three questions.
Evaluation grid for Contemporary History exams :
- The student's possession of good critical and in-depth skills, the ability to link together the main
themes addressed in the course, the use of appropriate language with respect to the specificity of
the discipline will result, during the examination, in evaluations of excellence (30/30 with high
honors).
- The student's possession of mnemonic knowledge of the content, relative critical and linking
skills among the topics covered, and use of appropriate language will result in fair evaluations
(29-25).
- The student's attainment of minimal knowledge on the topics covered (although there are some
formative gaps), use of inappropriate language will result in sufficient evaluations (24-18).
The student's difficulty in orientation on the topics covered in the examination texts, formative
gaps, use of inappropriate language will result in negative evaluations (failed exam).
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
the birth of the movement
the specificities
feminism in the factory
the division of the movement in relation to the law for abortion
feminist groups
Versione in italiano