INFORMATION
Instructor:

Prof. George Rhyne
Office  Denny 316
Phone: 245-1774

 Course:

Spring, 2000
9:30 TTh
Denny 304
Purpose

The goal of this course is to engage in the study of modern Italian history.  The basic
topics for examination are the Risorgimento, the development and decline of the liberal
Italian state, Mussolini and Italian Fascism, the second World War, and Italy in the
post-war world. Because these major episodes in Italy's history took place not in a
vacuum, but rather in a European context, the course will deal with the major
developments in diplomacy as well. The student should gain a command not only of the
"facts" of modern Italian history--the dates of key events, the actions of major
personalities, and such--but also come to understand the dynamics involved:  the basic
trends of continuity and change, cause and effect, the interplay of regional and central
influences, and the role of the individual and of social forces.

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Texts used in History 232

Text:   Spencer Di Scala, Italy: From Revolution to Republic

This text has been chosen because it is relatively brief. While it avoids needless detail,
it gives a good survey of Italian history during the last two centuries. 

Because this course is Web-based, it is possible to include documents to accompany the
text in every assignment. The documents have been chosen to relate directly to Di Scala's 
text. That is, either they deal with themes discussed by the author or they are documents 
mentioned specifically in the text. The intent is that the documents supplement the text in a 
direct way and that the two form a unit. 

The documents will serve both for class discussion and for document analysis. 
Document analysis is to be a major element in the course. 

Supplementary Readings::

  D. Forgacs and R. Lumley, eds., Italian Cultural Studies
 
 
 

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Document Analysis

Each student will write two document analysis projects during the course, one before the mid-term 
exam and one after. Each should be roughly 6-7 type-written pages.

     Instructions for Document Analysis

    Instructions for Project One     Final Date, Feb. 22, 2000
 

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Grades

The student's final grade will be calculated as follows:

  Two document analysis projects    @   25% each
  One mid-term exam                      @   25%
  One final exam                              @   25%

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Students with Disabilities

Any student with a documented learning disability is encouraged to contact Professor Rhyne 
in order to discuss academic accommodations which may be necessary.

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FLIC

This course is one of many that are foreign language intensive. If you choose to do so, you
may exercise this option by substituting readings in Italian for the book review, or by
completing other work instead of the book review, such as reading and writing comments
on a series of articles or otrher material. The amount of Italian material will depend on
your level and ability. I encourage all students wishing to choose this option to consult
with me during the first week of classes.
 

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