Culture and Society in Italy, 1400-1750

Module code: HS2366

This period saw the emergence of artistic, scientific and technological feats throughout Italy which we still consider as being iconic today. This enormous change was partly because of the kaleidoscopic cultural and social developments present in this era, which you’ll investigate through the lens of historical anthropology.

This module explores the social and cultural history of early modern Italy, including family and kinship, religion, gender and community. You’ll examine the beliefs and practices, collective mentalities, and everyday notions of early modern Italians from an anthropological perspective.

The stress will be on ‘culture’ as a means of understanding and organising individual and group experience. To do this you’ll look at issues such as literacy, the body, identity, ritual and gender to delve into the culture and society of Italy.