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ITAL20240

Academic Year 2026/2027

Italian history 1815-1945 (ITAL20240)

Subject:
Italian
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Languages, Cultures & Linguis
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Marco Bellardi
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module explores how modern Italy was created and developed. It starts with Napoleon’s invasions in 1796 and the consequences for Italy of the subsequent Restoration in 1814-15. We will then explore the different phases leading to the Italian Risorgimento, the process of unification that brought together an archipelago of regional states in 1861 and created modern Italy. However flawed, the Risorgimento is often read as one of the great achievements of European History. We will then move to examine the many challenges faced by the new Liberal state after the Unification, such as the so-called Southern Question and massive migration phenomena at the turn of the century. World War One broke out in 1914 as the country was deeply divided. In 1922, Mussolini marched on Rome and took power, turning the State into a totalitarian regime for the next twenty years. The final classes focus on the collapse of Fascism, the Nazi occupation and Italian Resistance until the end of the Second World War in 1945. The module is made up of weekly lectures plus seminars and provides an overview of Italian modern history, while also introducing to ideological issues, linguistic aspects and specific case studies (e.g. the role of women during the Risorgimento).

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Assuming you attend all or most lectures, complete assignments and engage in independent learning, at the end of this module you should be able to:
• give a succinct account of Italian history between 1796 and 1945 

• reflect on what you have learned 

• read, comprehend and assimilate a selection of short texts in Italian 

• present your knowledge in essays that display a basic understanding of critical and historical approaches. 


Indicative Module Content:

Weeks 1-3: THE RISORGIMENTO
Week 1: Introduction and reasons for the delay in the unification in Italy.
Week 2: Phases of the Risorgimento.
Week 3: Problems left unsolved by the Risorgimento.
Week 4-6. THE LIBERAL STATE
Week 4: The social question. Depretis and Crispi. Italian colonialism.
Week 5: Italy at the turn of the century. The Giolitti era.
Week 6: Mussolini the socialist. D’Annunzio. The First World War.
Week 7-11. THE FASCIST STATE
Week 7: The advent and consolidation of Fascism
Week 8: Reading week
Week 9: The totalitarian State and the Ethiopian war
Week 10: From the Racial Laws to the Second World War
Week 11: The Resistance and the end of war
Week 12: Writing about history

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Collaboration

 The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Advanced Beginner

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Competent

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Novice

Strategic

 The ability to collectively develop and implement innovative actions that further sustainability at the local level and further afield. Novice

Integrated Problem Solving

 The overarching ability to apply different problem-solving frameworks to complex sustainability problems and develop viable, inclusive and equitable solution options that promote sustainable development, integrating the competencies in this list. Novice

Self-awareness

 The ability to reflect on one’s own role in the local community and (global) society; to continually evaluate and further motivate one’s actions; and to deal with one’s feelings and desires. Competent

Normative

 The ability to understand and reflect on the norms and values that underlie one’s actions; and to negotiate values, principles, goals, and targets, in a context of conflicts of interest and trade-offs, uncertain knowledge and contradictions. Competent

Anticipatory

 The ability to understand and evaluate multiple scenarios for the future – possible, probable and desirable; to create one’s own visions for the future; to apply the precautionary principle; to assess the consequences of actions; and to deal with risks and changes. Competent

Digital Literacy and Judgement

 The ability to access, evaluate, create and communicate information in digital environments; to engage critically, ethically and responsibly with digital technologies and digital information; to understand their opportunities, limitations, risks and impact on individual’s digital identities; and to exercise informed judgement in digital participation and decision-making. Competent

AI Literacy & Agency

 The ability to understand, critically evaluate and responsibly engage with artificial intelligence; to recognise how AI systems are shaped by human values; to assess their ethical, social and environmental implications; and to exercise human judgement, agency and accountability in AI-related contexts. Advanced Beginner

Wellbeing

 Wellbeing is having the resources and skills to meet life's challenges, including attributes such as personal development skills, resilience, stress management, strengths, lifestyle skills, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, alcohol/substance use, academic skills, time management, goal setting, interpersonal skills, group work, communication. Novice

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


Goal Name Description Coverage

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 5

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 3

Reduce inequality within and among countries 1

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 1
 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

12
Autonomous Student Learning

86
Lectures

12
Total

110

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures integrated with seminars; formative assessment to be developed in each seminar with class discussion, with a mid-term class test and a final quiz to assess the students' understanding of the main developments in Italian history. A short research essay at the end of the module, on a topic chosen by the student, completes the assessment for this module.
Students may use generative AI only for reviewing/refining essays and for essay planning, according to the Guidelines adopted by the College of Arts and Humanities, which will be circulated by the lecturer.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

A reading ability in Italian is necessary.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): written essay of 2,000 words (excluding bibliography) Week 14 Graded No
50
 No
Quizzes/Short Exercises: 1-hour in-class test (open-ended questions) Week 9 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
30
 No
Quizzes/Short Exercises: 1 end-of-term in-class quiz Week 12 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
20
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Class test results will be discussed in class in the last part of the module, without identifying individuals but focusing on important issues like common misperceptions, difficult concepts, problems with written expression. In addition, further individual feedback can always be obtained upon request.


Mandatory: 

• Christopher Duggan, The Force of Destiny: A History of Italy since 1796 (London, Penguin, 2008). 


Further reading: 

• Further preparatory readings and materials will be provided by the lecturer in advance of seminars.

Name Role
Professor Paolo Acquaviva Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Thurs 16:00 - 16:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Tues 15:00 - 15:50
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