The course provides students with the skills to understand and critically reflect on the facts, processes and interpretations of Italy in the contemporary world. It also constantly recalls the issue of the public use of history, intending to acquire critical reading skills of this phenomenon.

At the end of the course, students know, in a global context, the specific characteristics of the history of Italy in the contemporary age and, in particular, the social transformations and cultural policies of the twentieth century. They also include the main issues relating to the Contemporary era.

The course offers students the essential tools and knowledge to interpret, in a global context, the Italian history of the twentieth century through an analysis that takes into account the political, social, economic, mentality and customs. Some central interpretative nodes of Italy in the contemporary world are, therefore, addressed, privileging the perspective of the interweaving between political history, social history and cultural history. Following this direction, the course deepens, in particular, gender history through a double perspective: the political militancy of a protagonist of the twentieth century, Teresa Noce; the role of the Presidentesse, wives, and daughters of the Presidents of the Italian Republic who, although not having official roles, have distinguished themselves by a significant presence on the public scene.

Main topics:

Fascism

Italy in the Second World War

The "Republic of Parties"

The economic miracle

The 1968 movement

The strategy of tension

Black and red terrorism

National solidarity

Feminism

The Moro crime

The economy in the eighties

The collapse of the "Republic of Parties"

There are no propedeuticities to respect.

Students have to reach these goals:

1. Understanding of the main issues and problems relating to research methodology in contemporary history. Knowledge of the main tools to do scientific research in contemporary history.

1.1. Students will attain this knowledge by participating in lectures and studying the scientific texts proposed by the teacher and discussed in the classroom.

2. Applying knowledge and understanding: students should consolidate skills and ability to define simple research projects and to deal with some typical problems.

2.1. Classroom discussions, tutorials, study of texts.

3. Capacity of judgment: students should achieve criticism about the methods used in the most common empirical investigations.

4. Communication skills: discussion coordinated by the teacher on the course topics.

4.1. Development of opportunities for dialogue in the classroom.

5. Learning skills: development of critical skills, logic and problem analysis.

5.1. Classroom discussions, tutorials, study of texts

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Traditional lesson with the teacher teaching the whole class, seminars, conferences with external scholars, support of multimedia materials.

Innovative teaching methods

Flipped classroom

Debate

Course books

Miguel Gotor, L’Italia del Novecento. Dalla sconfitta di Adua alla vittoria di Amazon, Einaudi, Torino 2019 (no cap. I-II-III For more details see Blended Learning);

Anna Tonelli, Nome di battaglia Estella. Teresa Noce, una donna comunista del Novecento, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2020; 

Anna Tonelli, Presidentesse. Le donne del Quirinale nell'Italia repubblicana, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2025.

Assessment

The written or oral exam based on textbooks suggested. The aim is to evaluate both student's comprehension of the content and his ability to rework concepts and to argue.

Excellent grades will be given in presence of: a good critical perspective and in-depth study; knowing how to link among them the main subjects addressed during the course; the use of appropriate language.

Good grades will be given in presence of:  good mnemonic knowledge of the contents; a relatively good critical perspective and connection skills related to the treated topics; the use of appropriate language.

Sufficient grades will be given in presence of: the achievement of minimal knowledge on the treated themes, even in presence of some gaps; the use of a not appropriate language.

Negative grades will be given in presence of: a difficult orientation related to the treated topics; knowledge gaps; the use of a not appropriate language.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Students and non-attending students are invited to keep in touch with the teacher and view the teaching material uploaded to Moodle during the course.

The teacher is available for clarification, suggestions, and explanations by email, appointment, and Skype.

Course books

To provide the opportunity for non-attending students to balance out their individual study with the content of the lessons and gain a full understanding of the course, the programme includes following supplementary materials:

Miguel Gotor, L’Italia del Novecento. Dalla sconfitta di Adua alla vittoria di Amazon, Einaudi, Torino 2019 (no cap. I-II-III For more details see Blended Learning);

Anna Tonelli, Nome di battaglia Estella. Teresa Noce, una donna comunista del Novecento, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2020; 

Anna Tonelli, Presidentesse. Le donne del Quirinale nell'Italia repubblicana, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2025.

Assessment

Written or oral exam based on textbooks suggested. The aim is to evaluate both student's comprehension of the content and his ability in reworking concepts and in argumenting.

Excellent grades will be given in presence of: a good critical perspective and in depth study; knowing how to link among them the main subjects addressed during the course; the use of an appropriate language.

Good grades will be given in presence of:  good mnemonic knowledge of the contents; a relatively good critical perspective and connection skills related to the treated topics; the use of appropriate language.

Sufficient grades will be given in presence of: the achievement of a minimal knowledge on the treated themes, even in presence of some gaps; the use of a not appropriate language.

Negative grades will be given in presence of: a difficult orientation related to the treated topics; knowledge gaps; the use of a not appropriate language.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.