CORFU: 14th-19th CENTURY

The history of Europe is intertwined with the history of its cities. Urbanization—that is, the increase in the number of cities and their populations—shaped the political, economic, and cultural environment of Europe. Corfu lies at the crossroads between the Ionian Sea and the Adriatic Sea, as well as between the Greek and Italian parts of the Ionian Sea. It was not only a subject city of the Angevin Kingdom of Southern Italy and of Venice. In its historical fabric, it carries Byzantine, Christian, Italian, Jewish, Balkan, and Western European structures and traditions. From the 14th century onwards, conditions gradually took shape for the city to develop the institutions and cultural factors that would establish it as a cosmopolitan center in the 19th century, just before the transition to the nation-state.

The course focuses on the history of the city, the coexistence of different religions and denominations, its architecture and poetry, the expression of its social particularities, and the anthropological composition of its economic organization.

Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the multidimensional historical development of Corfu.

2. Identify and analyze the factors that shaped the form and character of urban life.

3. Apply appropriate tools and methodologies for the study of urban history.

4. Interpret and engage with key concepts related to aspects of urban life in a specific historical and cultural context.

5. Locate, assess, and utilize primary and secondary sources to produce well-structured historical evaluations.

Week 1 – The 14th century in Western Europe and the Adriatic
Week 2 – The “Happy Union” with Venice, 1386
Week 3 – The organization of agricultural production: baronies
Week 4 – The City Council: social and political changes
Week 5 – The city and the formation of a new historical narrative
Week 6 – Orthodox and Catholics
Week 7 – The Jewish community
Week 8 – Public ceremonies of the Venetian period and the formation of an urban class
Week 9 – The 19th century: new Western rulers, the agrarian question
Week 10 – The 19th century: new political actors, the Union
Week 11 – Student presentations: History, urban customs, and memory I
Week 12 – Student presentations: History, urban customs, and memory II
Week 13 – Review – conclusions

Indicative Bibliography:

Νικηφόρου Testone Αλίκη (επιμ.), Κέρκυρα: ιστορία, αστική ζωή και αρχιτεκτονική, 14^ος-19^ος αι., Κέρκυρα : Πολιτιστικός Σύλλογος "Κόρκυρα", 1994

Benevolo Leonardo, Η πόλη στην Ευρώπη, Αθήνα: Ελληνικά Γράμματα, 1997

Νικηφόρου-Testone Αλίκη, Δημόσιες τελετές στην Κέρκυρα κατά την περίοδο της βενετικής κυριαρχίας, 14^ος-18^ος αι., Αθήνα: Θεμέλιο, 1999

Προγουλάκης, Γιώργος, Ανάμεσα στην τιμή και το χρήμα: η Κέρκυρα στα χρόνια της αγγλικής κυριαρχίας, Αθήνα: Ιστορικό Αρχείο Εμπορικής Τράπεζας της Ελλάδος, 2003

Θεοτόκης, Κωνσταντίνος, Η τιμή και το χρήμα (πολλαπλές εκδόσεις)

Καρανάτσης, Κ. – Μπαρούτσος, Φ., Η Κέρκυρα από τον βεεντικό κόσμο στο εθνικό κράτος, 19^ος αιώνας. Το αποτύπωμα της οικογένειας Σπάδα, Αθήνα: Ηρόδοτος, 2018.

The course follows three main approaches:

• Lecture and dialogue – combining structured presentations with interactive discussion.

• Experiential learning and reconstruction – engaging with material through direct experience and the re-creation of historical contexts.

• Project work and reflection – developing assignments and critically reflecting on findings and processes.

Class meetings are enriched with image and documentary screenings, and lectures are supported by PowerPoint presentations.

In addition, asynchronous teaching materials are provided, along with remote lectures delivered by invited professors.

Assessment

Evaluation will be based on a research paper developed progressively throughout the course. Each class meeting—whether a lecture, a guided tour of the city, a visit to specific landmarks, or a structured discussion—will serve as a source of material for the preparation of the paper.