aCademiC Catalog 2013-2014 - Lorenzo de Medici

esources and pollution, and habitat loss. The course intends
to introduce students to ecological concepts that provide a
foundation for understanding present and future environmental
issues and for them to learn about critical environmental issues
such as population growth, natural resource management,
biodiversity and global changes, wilderness, food production
and changing habitats.
Natural Resources Management in Italian
Society
ENV 220 F
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.
Tuscany and its Environment
ENV 230 F
Cr: 3; Contact hrs: 45
Particular emphasis is given to the relationship between the
geography and history of the region, from the Etruscans, the
first inhabitants of the area, to modern Tuscany. We will focus
on the rural heritage of Tuscany, in particular on its influence on
the society and economy of the region. In the second part the
course we will focus on the main geographical, historical and
cultural features of Tuscan cities (Florence, Siena, Arezzo, Pisa,
Livorno and Lucca) and on the relevant geographical areas
or the region (Mugello, Casentino, Garfagnana, Apennines,
Chianti and Maremma). The main economic characteristics
(craftsmanship, industry and tourism) of the region will be
highlighted. The last part of the course is centered on the
importance of the perception of Tuscany and of Tuscan
landscapes by English-speaking cultures from the 19th century
onwards.
Sustainable Food
ENV 280 F; Dual listed: NUH 280 F
Cr: 3; Contact hrs: 45
This course explores food and gastronomy in the light of
environmental preservation, sustainable agricultural practices,
the conservation of biological and culinary diversity and
global justice. Drawing on a multi-disciplinary perspective
which brings together academic research and the traditional
knowledge of farmers and producers, students will explore the
complexity of food and food systems through an analysis of
their nutritional, social, and environmental aspects. They will
be encouraged to reflect on the sustainable food movement in
a holistic manner, and to question the roles of individuals and
consumers in today’s global food system.
History
Western Civilization
HIS 130 F
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.
European History I: Antiquity to French
Revolution
HIS 150 F
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.
European History II: French Revolution to the
Present
HIS 155 F
Cr: 3; Contact hrs: 45
The course explores the major developments in society, politics,
culture, and outlook in Europe between 1789 and the present.
Themes include the French Revolution, technological and
ideological revolutions of the nineteenth century, nationhood
and national problems (some still unsolved), the two World
Wars, and the difficult path to contemporary united Europe. The
values of the French Revolution (liberty, equality, brotherhood)
affected European history in an unprecedented way, partly
through Napoleon’s empire. The rise of new ideologies
including liberalism, socialism, imperialism, and nationalism
changed the shape of Europe forever, as did the upheavals of
the Industrial Revolution. We will relate totalitarian regimes
(chiefly Bolshevik Russia, Fascist Italy, and Nazi Germany) to
the origins and aftermath of World War II. The postwar balance
of world power forced European nations to redefine their
identities and global roles. If the Cold War, symbolized by the
Berlin Wall, expressed deep breaches within Europe, today’s
European Union represents a new approach to overcoming
national divisions through political and economic integration.
This course provides tools for understanding contemporary
Europe, and elements of historical methodology and political
theory useful for further study of European history and politics.
Ancient Rome
HIS 200 F; Dual listed: CLA 210 F
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:
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.
Medieval Civilization and Culture
HIS 212 F
Cr: 3; Contact hrs: 45
This course explores the remarkable series of transitions
that Western civilization underwent between the years 313
and 1400 CE, dates corresponding to Emperor Constantine’s
official acceptance of Christianity, and the imposition of
humanistic culture. In culture, politics and society, this long
period witnessed a reorientation of values and enormous
School of Arts & Sciences FLORENCE
LdM Academic Catalog 2013-2014
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