Course
The course aims to acquaint students with the origin and development of European cities in the context of general historical processes and the development of urban planning. A comparative analysis of the development of European cities will present the basic characteristics of development and evaluate their main features with regard to chronological, geographical conditions, regional affiliation and cultural circle affiliation.
Content: The course provides an overview of the development and structure of European cities from antiquity to the 19th century. Using the examples of different European cities, the course presents the main features of topography, functional and morphological structure. Specific historical periods and social structures influenced the creation of a specific spatial structure of the city. Thus, we distinguish the characteristic stages in the development of the city: the ancient period, the Middle Ages, the early modern period from 1500 to 1800. Cities will also be analyzed with regard to geographical characteristics (Mediterranean city, Central European city, Scandinavian city, etc.), size (metropolis, small cities), topography (port cities, island cities, etc.), special circumstances (wars, epidemics, earthquakes), regarding the foundation (royal cities, monastery cities, satellite towns). The emphasis of the lecture will be on selected European cities and on comparative Croatian examples.
Knowledge and understanding:
1. Master basic historiographic concepts from Croatian and European history from ancient times to industrial age; 2. Recognize fundamental processes from Croatian and European history from ancient times to industrial age; 3. Distinguish processes of individual historical periods and themes according to historiographic approaches and research achievements.
Application of knowledge and understanding and drawing conclusions:
4. Critically analyze and interpret sources, scientific and professional literature; 5. Use the contributions of other scientific disciplines in historiographic work.
Presentation and communication:
6. Write a clear and structured paper; 7. Hold a clear and structured oral presentation; 8. Participate actively and arguably in the discussion.
Selected chapters from:
P. Clark, European cities and towns, 400-2000, Oxford University Press, 2009; P. M. Hohenberg and L. Hollen Lees, The Making of Urban Europe: 1000-1994, Cambridge-Massachusetts-London 1996; Towns and Cities of the Croatian Middle Ages (I-IV), eds. Irena Benyovsky Latin and Zrinka Pešorda Vardić, Croatian institute of history, Zagreb (2013-2024). Bruno Milić, Dvadeset pet stoljeća urbane kulture na tlu Hrvatske, Zagreb: AF, 2020.
C. Gates, Ancient Cities, Routledge, New York 2003. (repr. 2011.); De bono communi : the discourse and practice of the Common Good in the European city, 13th-16th. Ed: Elodie Lecuppre Desjardin, Brepols, Turnhout, 2010; Giorgio Chittolini, Cities, "City-States," and Regional States in North-Central Italy”, in: Theory and Society, Vol. 18, No. 5, Special Issue on Cities and States in Europe, 1000-1800 (Sep., 1989), pp. 689-706.; Protagonists of urban order, eds. Irena Benyovsky Latin, Martina Stercken and Tonija Andrić, Amsterdam University Press, 2025.; Wim Boerefijn, “New towns of the twelfth to fourteenth centuries and the grid plan”, in: Sofia Greaves & Andrew Wallace-Hadrill (eds.), Rome and the Colonial City. Rethinking the Grid. Publisher: Oxbow Books, 2022; H. J. Dyos, Exploring the urban past Essays in urban history, Cambridge Univ. Press, 2003, S. R. Epstein, ed., Town and Country in Europe, 1300–1800, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001, and other literature.
1. Regular attendance at classes – attendance of at least 70 % of classes according to the study program.
2. Fully completed seminar obligations - prepared presentation and submitted and accepted written version of the seminar.
3. Obtaining a minimum success rate of 35 % during classes within the assigned teaching activities - achieved cumulatively.
1. Teaching activities – Class activities and seminar obligations
2. Final exam (oral)
Grade Scale:
insufficient (1) – 0 to 49.9%
sufficient (2) – 50–64.9%
good (3) – 65–79.9%
very good (4) – 80–89.9%
excellent (5) – 90% and above.
a) Teaching activities:
- Activities in class – 30 % of the grade
- Seminar obligations – 40 % of the grade
b) Final exam:
- Final exam – 30 % of the grade (to pass, it is necessary to solve at least 50% of the exam)
Oral exam – 30 %
| Detailed Overview of Grading within ECTS |
|
| Academic year | |
|---|---|
| 2025/2026 | [Download] |