2022-23

Elite and popular Greek fiction of the 19th century

The course is an in-depth, thematic examination of significant aspects for the history and the evolution of the medieval world, particularly during the High and Late Middle Ages (c.1000-1500). The aim is to help students understand some fundamental characteristics of the period, and to highlight dynamic transformations and developments which marked the history of Europe – thus challenging the common perception of the allegedly static Middle Ages.  
The course is structured around three main themes:

The course deals with the basic concepts of sociolinguistics. It deals with language in relation to the social context in which it is spoken, developed and changed. Interest focuses on the analysis of language as social practice in monolingual and multilingual communities. The course is divided into two parts: the first includes an introduction to basic concepts of sociolinguistics, such as diglossia, individual bilingualism, dominant language, language competence, language maintenance, linguistic sexism, code switching and minority language.

The course deals with the political and socio-economic development of the Balkan nation-states from their foundation up to the mid 20th century. It lays particular emphasis on the military clashes, namely the Balkan Wars and the First and Second World Wars, that shaped the status quo,on the predominance and hold on power of the various Communist regimes and on matters of national identity and minorities.