HISTORY OF THE ATLANTIC WORLD
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Bibliography
- Delivery method
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
No prerequisite required
The final learning test consists of a partial written test and an oral final test, both aimed at ascertaining the knowledge and skills expected above described.
1) PARTIAL WRITTEN TEST (without the aid of notes or books) lasting a total of two hours, as follows:
- 20 multiple-choice questions relating to the volume indicated in the "Texts" section as the "General Part";
- 2 open-ended questions always relating to the volume indicated in the "Texts" section as "General Part";
The entire written partial test, aimed at verifying the knowledge of the dynamics that characterize the long centuries of modern age, will be evaluated in thirtieths according to the following criteria:
- Multiple-choice test: exact answer 1 point
- Open questions: each answer maximum 5 points
To enter the final oral test the student must have reached the total score of 18/30.
2) FINAL ORAL TEST. The test concerns the assessment of the acquisition and correct understanding of the contents of the reference texts indicated in the "Texts" section as "Monographic part" and on the teaching material available on the e-learning platform. To this end, two questions will be formulated with respect to which the knowledge of the subject, the exhibition capacity, the capacity for critical analysis will be evaluated.
The final oral test grade (assessed in thirtieths) will take into account the accuracy and quality of the answers (60%), as well as the communicative ability and the ability to adequately motivate statements, analysis and judgments shown during the interview (40%).
The final grade will be the average of the grade obtained in the written partial test and the grade obtained in the oral test.
In order to pass the learning test, the student must have reached the total score of 18/30.
It should be noted that both the written test and the oral test must be sustained in the context of the same appeal.
The aim of the course is to investigate the dynamics that have characterized the "long centuries" of European domination in the Atlantic space and the networks of relations that, during the 16th-19th centuries, have been woven between Europe, Africa and America. Especially the course focuses on the slave trade, one of the most important components of the “Atlantic World”.
The course is divided into two closely integrated parts:
- a "general" part in which the historical elements necessary for a knowledge and understanding of the different forms of social and political-institutional organization of the Old World are provided;
- a "monographic" part in which the theme of Atlantic trafficking is explored, the active role played by African states in relations with Europe and in the construction of the Atlantic world, in the spread of the trade in human beings and in the construction of American society, and the stages that led to the abolition of slavery.
The expected learning outcomes include:
- knowledge of the dynamics that characterize the long centuries of modern age dealt with in class and in reference texts.
- ability to interpret the information acquired in the light of historical and historiographic processes.
- ability to argue and disseminate information acquired in the light of historical and historiographic processes.
GENERAL PART (approximately 30 hours)
The course will analyse the main processes that have characterized the formation of European societies to conquer the world, and specifically:
- The society of the ancient regime: orders, classes and forms of political representation
- European political systems
- The great religious conflagration and the trials of religious pacification
- The Mediterranean border
- European wars of domination
- The game of the dynasties and the resulting European political structures
MONOGRAPHIC PART (approximately 34 hours)
The course will focus specifically on the following topics:
- Europe and the Atlantic: conquest and systems of domination
- The formation of merchant empires
- The America of plantations, the role of Africa and the Atlantic trade
- Freed from slavery and access to freedom
- The economic and social conditions of the "free" of color in American society
Required texts.
“GENERAL” PART
The study of the following manual is required:
Francesco Benigno, TL' età moderna. Dalla scoperta dell'America alla Restaurazione, Laterza
“MONOGRAPHIC” PART
The study of the following texts is required:
John Thorton, L’Africa e gli africani nella formazione del mondo atlantico, 1400-1800, il Mulino, Bologna, 2010
John Elliott, Imperi dell’Atlantico. America britannica e America spagnola 1492-1830, Einaudi, Torino, 2010
Further material
Students are expected to have read and studied material (notes, reviews, newspaper articles etc.) will be uploaded on the lecturer’s e-learning webpage
Frontal lessons: the lecturer explains the contents of the course, in the classroom and interacts with the students through discussions, debates.
Office hours: every Friday, from 4.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. at the DiSTA Department (Via Mazzini, 5 – Varese).
It is recommended to contact the lecturer via e-mail