Insegnamento a.a. 2023-2024

- better understand the concept of globalization in its different manifestations.

- apply historical knowledge to assessing contemporary phenomena by understanding them in a broader context.

- better understand the historical roots of present international relations framework and dynamics in the realm of contemporary geopolitics.

- discuss interrelations between developments in different spheres such as economy, politics, and culture.

- analyze, dissect, and reflect on historical components of contemporary economic, social, political, and cultural trends.

- gain analytical tools in the examination of historical material, sources, and documents.

- compare events and perspectives by evaluating different sources.

- improve skills in academic writing.

The learning method in this course blends traditional frontal lecturing with discussion-based class activities. Students who consistently and constructively participate in class discussion may receive up to 2 extra points on their course grade at the discretion of the instructor.

Lecture- and discussion-based sessions are accompanied by the viewing of two significant films which offer historical reconstructions of major events. Both films will be discussed in class before students produce a short individual response essay on each of them.

In addition, students will work in groups to critically engage with historical sources under the guidance of the instructor during two separate sessions (called Being Historians), focusing on themes of the course. They will produce an assignment for each session that interprets and contextualizes the material under scrutiny as graded homework.

• Written individual exam (traditional/online)

• Individual assignment (report, exercise, presentation, project work etc.)

• Group assignment (report, exercise, presentation, project work etc.)

• Active class participation (virtual, attendance)

The assessment of attending students consist of:

- A final written exam combining multiple-choice and open questions, which allows the instructor to evaluate students’ acquired knowledge and understanding of central facts and key concepts from lectures and activities. The exam acccounts for the 50% of the final grade and is based on the syllabus.

This is graded out of a maximum of 30 points, 18 is the threshold for passing.

- Two group assignments engaging primary and secondary sources, written in the aftermath of Being Historians sessions (continuous assessment), each accounting for 15% (combined: 30%) of the final grade. These assignments test students’ ability to apply the knowledge acquired during the course to critique, review, and evaluate historical evidence.

These are each graded out of maximum of 30 points, 18 is the threshold for passing. The grade is valid for up to 3 exam sessions.

- Two individual short response essays written in class after the viewing and discussion of the films (continuous assessment), each accounting for 10% (combined: 20%) of the final grade. The assignments test students’ ability to evaluate historical reconstructions.

These are each graded out of maximum of 30 points, 18 is the threshold for passing. The grade is valid for up to 3 exam sessions.

- Class participation (discussion, pop-up questions and other) to add up to 2 additional points to the final grade, strictly as the discretion of the instructor.

The course is considered as passed if the average of these components is equal or above 18 points.

The assessment of attending students consist of:

- A final written exam combining multiple-choice and open questions based on the full syllabus for the attending students plus a number of extra readings assigned by the instructor. The exam allows the instructor to evaluate students’ acquired knowledge and understanding of central facts and key concepts from lectures and activities. The exam acccounts for the 50% of the final grade.

This is graded out of a maximum of 30 points, 18 is the threshold for passing.

- An academic essay of ca. 1500 words that critically engages a book assigned by the instructor. The academic essay acccounts for the 50% of the final grade.

This is graded out of a maximum of 30 points, 18 is the threshold for passing.

Attending students benefit from a selection of different course materials such as slides and source material in addition to a main text:

Andrea Colli (ed), A Global History of Globalization (Egea, 2018).

Further readings will be published with the full syllabus before the start of the course and as the semester progresses.

Not attending students base their preparation on the textbook:

- The full volume: Andrea Colli (ed), A Global History of Globalization (Egea, 2018), plus all material in the syllabus for attending students.

- A second book assigned by the instructor.