This course offers a general survey of world economic history, designed to introduce students to the subject matter and methodology of economic history. Topics are chosen to show a wide variety of historical experience and to deepen the process of industrialization. At the end of the course the student will know the main economic transformations that occurred between the late Middle Ages and the contemporary age. During the lessons the student will develop autonomous cognitive tools useful for the understanding of real economic systems and their evolution, and useful to address issues of economic history even in an autonomous manner. The Economic History course aims to contribute to the development of critical understanding of the various aspects covered and it is part of the Culture and General and Applied Learning area.

There are no prerequisites except for a knowledge of general history.

The course of Economic History aims to provide interpretive tools to understand the long-term development that has produced contemporary world economies. Course topics: The general characteristics of pre-industrial agricultural economies; The "great divergence": how Western Europe gradually became the richest and most powerful area on the planet; Geographical discoveries: commercial networks and traffic; From mercantilism to the industrial revolution: centers and peripheries; The first globalization: effects and reactions; The Great War; The crisis of capitalism; World War II and post-war reconstruction; The "golden age"; Crises and inequalities; The Italian Economy since 1945.

F. Amatori, A. Colli (ed. by), Il mondo globale. Una storia economica, Giappichelli, Torino 2017. P. Battilani, F. Fauri, L'economia italiana dal 1945 a oggi, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2019.

Written exam. For attending students: Written exam consisting of three open questions on the topics covered in class and present in the manual of Amatori and Colli, and one question on the topics covered in class and present in the text of Battilani and Fauri. For non-attending students: Written exam consisting of three open questions on all the contents of the Amatori and Colli manual and one question on all the contents of the text by Battilani and Fauri.

Students with special needs (including those with disabilities, workers, athletes, adults, parents, and detainees) who are permanently or temporarily unable to attend classes in person due to particular circumstances, will be allowed to participate remotely upon request to the teacher. The request, for which the student takes full responsibility, should be sent via email to the teacher well before the beginning of classes. For information about digital teaching at the university, please visit the following link: [https://www.units.it/studenti/didattica-digitale]

Written exam. For attending students: Written exam consisting of three open questions on the topics covered in class and present in the manual of Amatori and Colli, and one question on the topics covered in class and present in the text of Battilani and Fauri. For non-attending students: Written exam consisting of three open questions on all the contents of the Amatori and Colli manual and one question on all the contents of the text by Battilani and Fauri.

This course explores topics closely related to one or more goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs).