Basic knowledge of European history.

• Learning the fundamental features of the historical development of European cities in order to build a patrimony of useful knowledge for the enhancement of tourism.
• Experiencing the planning of tourist and cultural routes within the cities.
• Developing creative skills and communication abilities.

The European Cities. History and Cultural Heritage

This course reconstructs the essential features of the history of European cities from the Middle Ages to the present. It is based on a political, economic, social and cultural analysis of urbanization in different geographical contexts. It devotes attention to the study of some specific cases in order to highlight methods and conceptualisations of urban history. It aims to prepare students for the elaboration of a tourist itinerary project which enhances the historical and cultural heritage of European cities. 

Contents:

• Introduction
• Antecedent: the origins of the city
• Antecedent: The Roman City
• The Medieval City: economy and social life
• The Medieval City: culture and governance
• The Early Modern City: economy and social life
• The Early Modern City: culture and governance
• The Nineteenth Century City: economy and social life
• The Nineteenth Century City: culture and governance
• The Twentieth Century City: economy and social life
• The Twentieth Century City: culture and governance
• The Twenty-First Century City 
• Presentation and discussion of students' projects
• Presentation and discussion of students' projects
• Presentation and discussion of students' projects
• Presentation and discussion of students' projects
• Presentation and discussion of students' projects
• Conclusion

(A); Clark P.; European Cities and Towns 400-2000; Oxford University Press Oxford; 2009; Pages/Chapters: pp. 1-369; 9780198700548

Each student has to present a project for a tourist route in a city.

• The teaching is structured in power-point presentations with video projector, which are aimed at introducing and analysing the main phenomena relating to each historical period. Historical sources and communicative strategies for planning tourist routes are examined and discussed.

  
  

• Oral interview in English after the end of the course.

  Assessment criteria:

  • Knowledge of the main characteristics of urbanization in European history (1/2 of the overall assessment);
  • Quality of the student's project presented during the course (1/2 of the overall assessment).

English