2013 Programme
EVENT #38
Alessandro Barbero
Incredible Middle Ages: The flat Earth
Before he obtained his three caravels from Queen Isabel of Spain, Christopher Columbus had to persuade the wits in Salamanca that the Earth was round. Many thought he was insane, and that after reaching the confines of the world he would fall into the void as the Earth was flat. This story is universally known and it has been depicted in countless works of art in the past two centuries, ranging from the pompier paintings to Altan’s cartoons. But why can’t we find any traces of it in the art before the 19th century? And if people in the Middle Ages believed the Earth was flat, then why did all Medieval kings and emperors depicted in the period’s miniatures, frescoes and statues hold a globe in one of their hands to symbolize their rule of the world?
Alessandro Barbero, historian and writer, is Professor of Medieval History at the University of Eastern Piedmont and Vercelli. He contributes to the programmes “Passato e presente” and “a.C.d.C.” aired on Rai Storia. Since 2023 he has been the star of the programme “In viaggio con Barbero”, on LA7. In the same year he started for Chora Media “Chiedilo a Barbero”, a podcast in which he answers questions on history sent in by listeners. Among his publications: “Le parole del papa” (2016), “Caporetto” (2017), “Dante” (2020), 2All' arme! All'arme. I priori fanno carne” (2023), published by Laterza; “Gli occhi di Venezia” (2011) and “Le Ateniesi” (2015), published by Mondadori; “Costantino il vincitore” (Salerno, 2016); “Il divano di Istanbul” (2011), “Alabama” (2021), “Poeta al comando” (2022) and “Brick for stone” (2023), published by Sellerio.
EVENT #18
Stefano Bartezzaghi, Massimo Recalcati
To inherit or to be creative? Art in the time of disoriented generations
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