Economic history, a discipline ‘between two cultures’. The sources for the research in economic history. Historiographic trends. Research methodology in economic history
ATTENDEES:
Lecture notes and material uploaded on Moodle
NON-ATTENDEES:
M. BLOCH, Apologia della storia o Mestiere di storico, Torino, Einaudi, 1969 (or later editions)
C. M. CIPOLLA, Tra due culture. Introduzione alla storia economica, Bologna, il Mulino, 1988 (or later editions)
Learning Objectives
CONOSCENZE:
Development of critical skills in the use of sources. Research methodology in the field of economic history and knowledge of the historiographical debate within the discipline.
COMPETENZE:
Tools for the critical evaluation of economic facts, based on an historical methodology.
Prerequisites
None
Teaching Methods
Lectures.
Visits to archives
Seminarial activity
Type of Assessment
For the attending students the exam will consist in the production of a paper for groups of students. The paper will focus on analysis of archival sources. For non-attending students, the exam will be oral on the books indicated
Course program
Introduction: history and economics - The evolution of economic history as a discipline - Economic history in Italy - The sources of economic history - Company sources - Merchant correspondence - Company accounting sources: preparatory and analytical records - The use of sources - Eements of palaeography and archiving - Archives and their protection - Archival inventories - Electronic resources for economic history