510849 - HISTORY OF HOLINESS

courses

ID:

510849

Duration (hours):

36

CFU:

SSD:

STORIA MEDIEVALE

Year:

2025

Date/time interval

Primo Semestre (22/09/2025 - 19/12/2025)

Course Objectives

- in-depth reading of original sources on the proposed topic - to apply the most important methods of source criticism - to reflect on the functions and the historical change of miracles in the Christian Middle Ages and in other religions - to know the bibliographical tools useful to start researches on themes of medieval history or textual criticism - to present a research paper orally (and in writing)

Course Prerequisites

Laurea triennale (B.A.) in 'Lettere' or related discipline, general knowledge of medieval history

Teaching Methods

- lectures - Powerpoint presentation of images, maps and texts (accessible via KIRO) - classroom reading and discussion of selected sources (accessible via KIRO) - oral presentation of a topic chosen by the students and agreed with the professor - preparation of a written paper (for students who already have taken credits in medieval history)

Assessment Methods

For students who will attend the class: Written term paper (approx. 15 pp.) on a topic agreed with the professor. Oral examination on the content of the lessons and the course program (see Bibliography), with discussion of the paper (to be handed in one week before the exam). The main criterion for the assessment of the examination is the quality of the paper, which must, however, be confirmed by knowledge of the most important aspects of the topic covered in the course and active participation in the discussion in the lessons. The main purpose of the paper is to practise the competence in critical reading of historical sources. Students who have not yet taken credits in medieval history are exempt from preparing a paper, but must supplement their knowledge with the textbook by Massimo Montanari, Storia medievale, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2002 (Manuali di base, 1), various re-editions. They are requested to contact the professor in good time. For students who will not attend the class: Written paper (approx. 15 pp.) on a topic agreed with the professor. Oral examination on the course program (see Bibliography), with discussion of the paper (which must be handed in one week before the exam). The main criterion for the assessment of the examination is the quality of the paper, which must, however, be confirmed by knowledge of the most important aspects of the topic covered in the course. The main purpose of the paper is to practise the competence in critical reading of historical sources. Students who have not yet taken credits in medieval history are exempt from preparing a paper, but must supplement their knowledge with the textbook by Massimo Montanari, Storia medievale, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2002 (Manuali di base, 1), various re-editions. They are requested to contact the professor in good time. NB: "To attend the class" means actively participating in at least 75% of the lessons.

Texts

For students who will attend the class: (1) notes from the lessons (2) from the volume Miracolo! Emozione, spettacolo e potere nella storia dei secoli XIII- XVII, a cura di L. Andreani, Firenze 2019, the following contributions: G. Cremascoli, Miraculum nella lessicografia mediolatina, pp. 3-17; G.P. Maggioni, Miracoli spettacolari nella predicazione domenicana nel sec. XIII, pp. 75-98; A. Foscati, Il ruolo del guaritore profano nell’identificazione del miracolo. I processi di canonizzazione tra XIV e XVI sec. (Italia e Francia), pp. 207-224. (3) A. Classen, The World of Miracles: Science, and Healing in Caesarius of Heisterbach’s Dialogus miraculorum (ca.1240) in Competition with Magic, in “Quidditas”, 40 (2019), pp. 90-121 For students who will not attend the class: (1) from the volume Miracoli. Dai segni alla storia, a cura di S. Boesch Gajano e M. Modica, Roma 2000, the contributions by M. Modica (pp. 17-27), C. Grottanelli, A. Rousselle, C.M. Radding, G. Klaniczay,, S. Boesch Gajano (pp. 215-233) (2) from the volume Miracolo! Emozione, spettacolo e potere nella storia dei secoli XIII- XVII, a cura di L. Andreani, Firenze 2019, the following contributions: G. Cremascoli, Miraculum nella lessicografia mediolatina, pp. 3-17; G.P. Maggioni, Miracoli spettacolari nella predicazione domenicana nel sec. XIII, pp. 75-98; M. Roch, Il miracolo nell’alto medioevo. Il caso dell’odore soave dei santi, tra testi e contesti, pp. 99-116; A. Foscati, Il ruolo del guaritore profano nell’identificazione del miracolo. I processi di canonizzazione tra XIV e XVI sec. (Italia e Francia), pp. 207-224. (3) A. Classen, The World of Miracles: Science, and Healing in Caesarius of Heisterbach’s Dialogus miraculorum (ca.1240) in Competition with Magic, in “Quidditas”, 40 (2019), pp. 90-121 (4) one of the three following medieval sources, to be chosen: - Gregorio Magno, Dialogi, Lib. II (on Benedict of Nursia), in Gregorius I papa, Storie di santi e di diavoli: Dialoghi, 2 voll., Milano 2005-6, qui vol. I or - Miracula s. Columbani: la reliquia e il giudizio regio = la relique et le jugement royal = relic and royal judgment, a cura di A. Dubreuc e A. Zironi, Firenze 2015 or - Vita e miracoli di Rosa da Viterbo (dal Processo di canonizzazione del 1457), a cura di Attilio Bartoli Langeli et. al., Rome 2019

“The Miracle in Medieval Christianity (with a Perspective on Other Monotheisms)” The miracle – understood as an event that, prompted by divine power or its mediators, transcends the ordinary limits of human life and nature – was already known before the rise of Christianity. Yet Christ, together with his followers and believers, gave it new meanings, above all by linking it to the Christian notion of holiness that emerged in the first centuries CE. At the same time, the miracle remained a problematic phenomenon: ambivalent, sometimes dangerous, not always easy to interpret, and difficult to distinguish from magical or demonic manipulation – not only for the Church Fathers but also for medieval theologians. Nevertheless, miracles were sought, hoped for, and believed in by many of the faithful. Precisely because of this ambiguity, the miracle represents a fruitful theme for various fields of medieval history (and beyond). At the very least, it stimulated medieval debates on central issues such as the relationship between natural laws and divine power, truth and falsehood, the value of testimony, or the psychology of the observer. This course aims to shed light on this ‘cultural productivity of the miracle’ by engaging in shared readings and individual presentations of original sources (in translation), as well as by comparing Christian miracles with those in Judaism and Islam.