ONLINE HISTORY COURSE "Struggle and Splendor: The Invention of Italy"

Course Description: 

This three-part lecture series explores the dramatic evolution of Italy from a fragmented peninsula of rival states into a modern nation grappling with its past and future. Beginning in the aftermath of the 1527 Sack of Rome, we examine how Italy became a crucible for the Counter-Reformation, the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment - an era shaped by artistic grandeur and intellectual ferment. We then follow the country’s long and uneven journey toward unification, from the legacy of Napoleon to the ideals and contradictions of the Risorgimento’s heroes. Through music, art and political upheaval, we see how Italians began to imagine themselves as sharing a national identity. Finally, we trace Italy’s turbulent modern history through its twenty years of Fascism to the triumphs and struggles of the postwar Republic. This course offers a rich and accessible introduction to the forces - both internal and external - that have shaped Italy over the last five centuries. It is a story of enduring creativity, contested ideals and the continuing reinvention of what it means to be Italian.

Virtual Classroom: Full access to an online educational platform with videos of recordings, syllabus, and reading list.

Location: LIVE INTERACTIVE ON-LINE HISTORY LECTURES

Optional Readings: Information will be provided 2 weeks before the start of the course.

Complete syllabus will be provided 2 weeks before the start of the course.

• ALL LECTURES WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING AT YOUR CONVENIENCE IN OUR VIDEO LIBRARY FOR TWO WEEKS AFTER THE COURSE HAS ENDED.

LECTURE 1 - Italy and the Age of Faith and Reason: 1527-1796

Monday, April 13

Beginning with the trauma of the 1527 Sack of Rome, this lecture explores how Italy became the battleground of ideas during the Counter-Reformation and the Scientific Revolution. We’ll trace the Catholic Church’s efforts to restore authority, from the Council of Trent to the Baroque splendor of Rome, while also highlighting the rise of Galileo and Italian contributions to early modern science. The lecture concludes with the Italian Enlightenment and the paradox of political and cultural progress under the princely rule - from Vico and Beccaria to the reformist spirit of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.

LECTURE 2 - Unfinished Nation: From Napoleon to the New Italy: 1796-1922

Monday, April 20

This lecture follows Italy’s transformation from fragmented states to unified nation. We’ll begin with Napoleon’s invasions and the Napoleonic legacy of reform, then explore the resurgence of nationalism, Giuseppe Mazzini’s vision, Garibaldi’s campaigns, and the political complexities of the Risorgimento. We’ll look at how the Kingdom of Italy took shape in 1861, facing challenges from the uneven integration of regions and peoples. The operas of Giuseppe Verdi and the paintings of Francesco Hayez help illustrate a country searching for its identity.

LECTURE 3 - Italy in the Modern Age: Fascism and After  

Monday, April 27

From Mussolini to the COVID-19 pandemic, this lecture charts Italy’s turbulent 20th and 21st centuries. We begin with the rise of Fascism, Italy’s role in World War II, and the fall of the monarchy. The postwar Republic brings recovery and creativity - the economic miracle, the golden age of cinema, and new democratic institutions - alongside deep fractures: political violence, corruption, and the Mafia. We’ll explore the “Years of Lead,” the Strategy of Tension, and Italy’s role in the European project, ending with reflections on the effects of COVID-19 and Italy’s ongoing political and cultural reinventions.

Ross King is the award-winning author of numerous books on Italian and French art and history, including Brunelleschi’s Dome and Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling. His biography Machiavelli: Philosopher of Power has been called a "convincing portrait of one of the most misunderstood thinkers of all time." His most recent book, published in April 2021, is The Bookseller of Florence: The Story of the Manuscripts That Illuminated the Renaissance.