A Tale of Two Cities: The Myth of Florence and Siena ITAL S-153 Summer 2016
Instructor: Teaching Assistant: Professor Giuseppe Mazzotta Kyle Skinner mailto:[email protected] [email protected] Office hours by appointment Office hours by appointment
Focus on the long-standing rivalry between the two cities of Tuscany, Florence, and Siena, their wars, their politics, and cultural competitiveness. Examination of the works of Florentine writers (Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio) directed against the life and history of Siena, and the angry verses of the Sienese poet Cecco Angiolieri, along with the writings of Catherine of Siena.
I. Required Texts All required texts are available on classesv2. It is highly recommended that you print or download the texts prior to our departure for Siena so that you are sure to have access to them.
II. Course Requirements A. Participation (10%) Participation includes your active and engaged presence both in class, discussion section, and on our trips and excursions. B. Quizzes (10% each, 30% of total grade) Three half-hour quizzes will be administered throughout the semester. A study guide will be distributed to help you prepare. C. Final paper (60%) A final paper of 5-7 pages will be due on July 19. Suggestions for topics will be distributed throughout the course, though you are encouraged to come up with your own subject. Each student will consult with Professor Mazzotta on their choice of topic by at least the fifth week of the term.
N.B.: Failure to receive a passing grade for any one section of the course (participation, quizzes, or final paper) will result in a failing grade in the course.
III. Schedule In general, this class meets on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Tuesdays and Thursdays are reserved for lectures and conversations with Professor Mazzotta on readings assigned for that day. On Wednesdays the class will meet in smaller groups with the teaching assistant for discussions and three quizzes over the course of the program. Since one of the goals of this class is to introduce you both to the intellectual worlds of Renaissance Florence and Siena and to the city of Siena as it is today, it is expected that the course schedule will be regularly altered to accommodate various field trips and excursions.
New Haven
May 31 Introduction to Course June 1 (no discussion section) June 2 Dante
June 7 Petrarch & Boccaccio June 8 Discussion Sections June 9 Boccaccio continued & Cecco Angiolieri
June 14 St. Catherine of Siena June 15 Discussion Sections Quiz 1 June 16 Savonarola & San Bernardino of Siena
Siena
June 19 Welcome party with host families June 21 Dati, Villani Ghiberti, Alberti June 22 Discussion Sections (with a focus the history and geography of Siena) Quiz 2 June 23 Salutati, Bruni June 24 First trip to Florence
June 28 La terra in piazza June 29 Visit to the Palazzo Pubblico Cenino with a contrada in preparation for the Palio June 30 Poliziano, Fabula di Orfeo July 2 Palio
July 5 Machiavelli, The Prince July 6 Visit to the Duomo Quiz 3 July 7 Machiavelli, La Mandragola July 8-10 Trip to Rome
July 12 Cecchi, The Horned Owl July 13 Lecture on banking in Siena July 14 Vasari July 15 Second trip to Florence
July 18 Viniculture Lecture July 19 Galileo Final Papers Due July 20 Discussion Sections July 21 Review and Conclusions