Program Overview

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HISTORY OF SOCIETY AND CULTURE IN MODERN AGE

OVERVIEW

The course explores early modern-age society (16th-18th centuries) and its cultural characteristics, providing tools to understand its forms, explain its dynamics, and decipher its meanings.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the course is to provide students with basic knowledge for studying the history of social dynamics and cultural processes of the modern age in Europe. The course analyzes the persistence factors, development, and change of this period, considered crucial in historical evolution from ancient to contemporary age.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course objectives are twofold:

• Understand the structural aspects of modern-age society in its various fields and problems.
• Master historiographical vocabulary and tools for analyzing and interpreting sources.

At the end of the course, students will:

• Know how to use important tools for understanding historical processes in their social and cultural dimensions.
• Be able to interpret the links between institutional development, cultural development, and social developments in the modern and early contemporary ages.
• Understand contemporary society in the light of social, cultural, economic, and political-institutional changes of previous centuries.
• Be familiar with the main forms of resistance to power that developed in the modern age.

PREREQUISITES

General knowledge of early modern history is required.

TEACHING METHODS

Lessons will take place in person, with non-traditional teaching methods tested, including Game-Based Learning (GBL) and Game making experiences. Attending students will participate in writing a game set in the modern age, aiming to produce a playable prototype.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course covers:

• Attempts to define social history
• Social and cultural changes between the Middle Ages and the Ancien Régime
• Scholarly and popular culture
• The birth of the modern state
• Revolts and revolutions (15th-18th centuries)
• Forms of resistance against power, including:
  • The situation of women
  • Witch-hunting and witchcraft
  • The 'peasants' war
  • Banditism and brigandage

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Attending students prepare for the exam based on topics covered in lectures and one chosen book from the recommended list. Non-attending students prepare based on four chosen books from the list, which includes:

• C. Pancino, Storia sociale. Metodi, esempi, strumenti
• R. Repetti, Alle origini dei diritti dell'uomo. Cultura della dignitŕ e dei diritti tra XV e XVI secolo
• R. Repetti, La nuova spiritualitŕ dell'etŕ moderna
• G. Romagnani, La societŕ d'antico regime (XVI-XVIII sec.). Temi e problemi
• C.M. Cipolla, Contro un nemico invisibile. Epidemie e strutture sanitarie nell'Italia del Rinascimento
• C. Ginzburg, I Benandanti
• C. Ginzburg, Storia notturna. Una decifrazione del sabba
• E. J. Hobsbawm, I banditi. Il banditismo sociale nell'etŕ moderna

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

• RENZO REPETTI (Teacher and President of the Exam Board)
• LUCA LO BASSO
• EMILIANO BERI (Substitute)
• PAOLO CALCAGNO (Substitute)

LESSONS

• Lessons start: February 13, 2026
• Class schedule available on Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

• Exam description: The final exam is in oral form and Italian language, consisting of an interview between the teacher and student.
• Assessment methods: The candidate must demonstrate good preparation on adopted texts and topics covered in class (for attending students).
• Exam schedule:
  • December 16, 2025
  • January 13, 2026
  • January 27, 2026
  • June 3, 2026
  • June 17, 2026
  • July 1, 2026
  • September 10, 2026

FURTHER INFORMATION

Disabled students or students with DSA should contact the teacher by email, copying the Services sector for the inclusion of students with disabilities and DSA, and the contact teacher, Prof. Elisabetta Colagrossi.

Agenda 2030 - Sustainable Development Goals

The course contributes to:

• Quality education
• Gender equality
• Peace, justice, and strong institutions

OpenBadge

Students can acquire OpenBadges related to transversal skills, including:

• SOFT SKILLS - Gestione progettuale base 1 - A
• SOFT SKILLS - Creazione progettuale avanzato 1 - A
• SOFT SKILLS - Creazione progettuale base 1 - A
• SOFT SKILLS - Imparare a imparare avanzato 1 - A
• SOFT SKILLS - Imparare a imparare base 1 - A
• SOFT SKILLS - Sociale base 1 - A
• SOFT SKILLS - Personale avanzato 1 - A
• SOFT SKILLS - Personale base 1 - A
• SOFT SKILLS - Alfabetica avanzato 1 - A
• SOFT SKILLS - Alfabetica base 1 - A