Università Roma Tre

The course aims to analyze the modalities of formation of the European States pluralistic system born in the Modern Age from the disintegration of the imperial and pontifical universalisms of the Middle Ages, following the metamorphoses of three key concepts (universal monarchy, balance of power, supranational bodies) in the context of the political-diplomatic and war events of the Four-Eighteenth Century. Particular attention will be devoted to the transformations of the concept of monarchia universalis in the context of territorial and imperial States between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries (Spain, Holland and England), to the international practice of balance of power before and after the Thirty Years War, to development of the idea of peace and to the first proposals of supranational organizations for the resolution of conflicts between States.

A. Aubert, L’Europa degli imperi e degli stati. Monarchie universali, equilibrio di potenza e pacifismi dal XV al XVII secolo, Bari, Cacucci, 2008.

A second text on a specific topic, to be chosen with the teacher at the beginning of the course.