MLAN 2610
ITAL 3610
Italian Literature in Translation
Prof. Fabio Girelli-Carasi
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"Geography is Destiny"
"Italy is only a geographical expression." Count Metternich, 1814
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History of the Western World in 7 easy steps BCE means
Before the Common Era. The Common Era is a convention used to calculate the passage of time The beginning has been in the year 1, which in theory corresponds to the year in which Jesus was born. Until recently different terms were used: BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini = in the year of the Lord.) CLICK HERE for a more complete explanation. |
| 1000 BCE | Hebrew civilization. Compilation of the Bible |
| 500 BCE |
THE GREEK PERIOD Greek Civilization. Foundation of Rome and the Roman Republic |
| 1 CE |
THE ROMAN PERIOD Birth of Jesus. Rome from Republic to Empire. First Roman Emperor: AUGUSTUS |
| 500 CE |
THE DARK AGES Collapse of the Roman Empire. Barbarian invasions. Collapse of civilization in Western Europe. Christianity surges. |
| 1000 CE |
THE MIDDLE AGES Europe as a feudal society. Knight on white horses, damsels in distress, dragons, witches and the stuff fairy tales are made of. The reality was different: aristocrats and clergy dominated a population of serfs, similar to slaves. |
| 1500 CE |
THE RENAISSANCE The "rebirth" of arts, science and civilization. Rationality, beauty and the highest aspirations of the human spirit. Florence is the center. Michelangelo, Leonardo, Botticelli, Galileo.
What is the purpose of art and beauty? |
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History matters, the history of beauty most of all.
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| 2000 CE |
ANTHROPOCENE
LINK The nuclear age, information technology, population explosion (from i1.6 billion in 7.7 billion in 2019. BTW, it was 6.1 billion in 2000. CLICK HERE FOR MORE. |
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While we are at it |
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QUESTIONS FROM THE BLOG |
| LANGUAGE - HISTORY |
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Language and identity. NATIONAL / ETHNIC IDENTITY is often defined by the
language. Native language is called MOTHER LANGUAGE. The struggle for language autonomy is one of the oldest and most enduring. Often it is at the root cause of SEPARATIST and LIBERATION MOVEMENTS. From the other perspective, it is the number one target of OPPRESSION and REPRESSION. Schools, books, radio-tv, and of course now the internet. LANGUAGE creates UNITY -- LANGUAGES (plur) create DIVISIONS. |
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ROME April
21, 753 BCE Legend twin brothers ROMULUS and REMUS (Faustolo) Succession of kings (7 kings, some probably even existed). ROMAN REPUBLIC 500 BCE (509 BCE - 27 BCE -- from Republic to Empire) |
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FROM LATIN to ITALIAN (Dante, the Father of Italian language)
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753 BCE MONARCHIC PERIOD
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500 BCE ROMAN REPUBLIC
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REPUBLICAN SYMBOL The bundle of stick signifies unity and strength in unity. The ax sticking out from the bundle signifies military force. A united and strong Republic relies on military power
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ITALY AS A WHOLE IS UNIFIED FOR THE FIRST TIME UNDER THE ROMAN REPUBLIC APPROXIMATELY IN 200 CE (more precisely, 170 CE)
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The U.S. also adopted the FASCES (bundle of sticks) from the Roman times as symbols of unity and strength. The symbol is often seen on federal buildings
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MAP OF ITALIAN DIALECTS |
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MAP OF ITALIAN DIALECTS IN GREATER DETAIL CLICK THE IMAGE TO EXPAND
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