aCademiC Catalog 2013-2014 - Lorenzo de Medici

Natural Resources Management in Italian
Society
ENV 220 R
Cr: 3; Contact hrs: 45
The course aims to study the origin of the earth’s main energetic
natural resources, and the way they have been managed
throughout the centuries up to modern days. Each natural
resource covered will be introduced by a detailed scientific
overview. This will be followed by an examination of the
evolution of the resource’s management by humankind through
a historical and geographical analysis. Practical examples will be
explained, especially in regard to the current Italian situation as
well as with a glance back at the fundamental episodes which
have tied the energy sources’ study with human evolution.
During class times, discussions about the environmental impact
of natural resource development and management will be held.
Environmental Ecology
ENV 240 R
Cr: 3; Contact hrs: 45
This course explores the impact that human activities have on
the environment. The basic concepts of ecology will be covered
as well as the theoretical tools necessary for the understanding
of causes and effects of the alteration of the balance of an
ecological system. The following major issues will be studied
and analyzed with particular emphasis on current events:
atmospheric and ground pollution; alteration of ecosystems;
energy consumption and development of alternative energy
sources; and food resources.
History
Western Civilization
HIS 130 R
Cr: 3; Contact hrs: 45
Survey of cultural, social and political developments in the
western tradition between its origins in the Ancient Near East
and the present. Themes include: the Judeo-Christian and Greco-
Roman heritages, medieval to modern Europe, nationalism,
industrialization, western imperialism, totalitarianism and
two World Wars, challenges of the later 20th and early 21st
centuries.
the range of primary sources available for ancient history;
the political organization of the Roman state; the territorial
expansion and its influence on the cultural and administrative
sphere; Roman religion and the spread of Christianity; the
Roman frontiers and the barbarian populations; and the end
of the Roman world and the birth of a new society. In order
to stimulate students’ critical skills in observing historical
phenomena, a problem-oriented approach will be supported
by readings of primary sources. Students will also have the
chance to observe different approaches to understanding
the past and will develop a sense of the role of historians and
history in society.
Roman Civilization through Its Monuments
HIS 207 R
Cr: 3; Contact hrs: 45
This course investigates the history of ancient Rome primarily
through its monuments — its architecture and urban form. We
will consider the mythology of Rome as caput mundi (“the head
of the world”), as well as the physical city and its infrastructures
in antiquity, from the 8th century BCE to the 5th century CE.
Significant architectural examples and monuments will be
studied in their original historical, social and cultural context.
The ways in which power was expressed symbolically through
building projects and artwork will be addressed during classes,
which will be held mostly on site in the city and its environs.
Key archaeological sites and museums in and around the city
of Rome will also form part of the program.
History of Rome through the Cinema
HIS 255 R; Dual listed: MCT 250 R
Cr: 3; Contact hrs: 45
The extraordinary history of the city of Rome has always been
enmeshed with tragedy, drama and legend. In this course
students analyze major events and developments in Roman
history as depicted in famous movies, with a particular focus on
the history of Rome from the 1920s to the 1970s. The films will
also be explored in order to provide students with an insight into
techniques for writing a short but vivid cinematographic script.
In the second part of the course, students will additionally have
the opportunity to create their own Roman movie script using
not only the information and professional tools studied in class
but also their personal experiences made during their day by
day life in Rome.
School of Arts & Sciences ROME
European History I: Antiquity to French
Revolution
HIS 150 R
Cr: 3; Contact hrs: 45
The course will explore the vast physical, social, political and
mental changes that occurred in European societies from the
rise of Mediterranean civilization until the French Revolution.
This long-term perspective will help students to understand
the turning points in European history and the historical roots
of contemporary European states. Particular attention will be
devoted to the influence of Roman civilization on subsequent
European empires and states. The evolution of Europe’s external
relations will be another key topic of the course. The imperial
expansion of Rome, the barbaric invasions, the Crusades and
finally the new forms of European colonialism will be analyzed
and explained. The third main theme of the course will be the
process of nation building in modern Europe, the rationale
for the rise of nations and empires and the dynamics of the
new system of states and international relations that appeared
with the so-called Ancien Régime. This part of the course will
provide students with a very important tool for understanding
contemporary Europe and elements of historical methodology
as well as elements of political theory which will be useful for
other courses on European history and politics.
Ancient Rome
HIS 200 R; Dual listed: CLA 210 R
Cr: 3; Contact hrs: 45
This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the history
and growth of the ancient Roman empire from the early
settlements in Latium, through the republican and imperial
periods, to the formation of a new Roman world after the crisis
of the 3rd century. A series of themes and issues will be explored:
Modern Italy
HIS 296 R; Dual listed: POL 296 R
Cr: 3; Contact hrs: 45
The main goal of the course is for students to gain a general
understanding of the way Italian history and culture has
developed in the last 50 years, especially in the arena of
public policies and social interactions. The course will be
loosely divided in three main segments. The first one, relying
mainly on historical data and information, aims to provide a
general background about Italian politics and culture. In the
second part, we will focus on the current changes that have
occurred in Italy during the past 20 years, focusing especially
on the breakdown of the traditional political system and on the
decreased relevance of the Church in State and public matters.
Finally, we will examine how the last 10 years – during which
there has been a great transformation in the way media affects
the distribution and spread of information – have brought an
apparent, but possibly not real, upheaval in the way politics,
culture and information are received and debated among
Italians.
Prerequisites: an introductory course in History or Political
Science
Italian Renaissance Civilization and Culture
HIS 300 R
Cr: 3; Contact hrs: 45
This course explores the historical, literary and cultural
developments of one of the most remarkable and vibrant
periods of Italian history: the Renaissance. Students will
be introduced to the main historical developments of the
Renaissance period from the late fourteenth century to the end
of the sixteenth century. The Renaissance is above all the age
of the individual and the affirmation of his/her achievements,
LdM Academic Catalog 2013-2014
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