The PhD course in Civilization of Asia and Africa consists of three curricula: East Asia; Indian Subcontinent and Central Asia; Arab, Iranian and Islamic Studies. Each curriculum has its own specifities and peculiarities, but all of them work harmoniously so as to ensure a high degree of cooperation, as well as cultural and intellectual exchange. Showing an intense international vocation, the course promotes joint-degree agreements, holds an international doctoral symposium every year in collaboration with other universities (Ca' Foscari, Heidelberg, Tohoku, Lancaster), and disseminates in Open Access ("Percorsi in Civiltà of Asia and Africa. Quaderni di Studi Dottorali alla Sapienza") the most innovative results of the research.
Curriculum East Asia
The main purpose of this curriculum is to prepare scholars of history of Far Eastern civilizations, taking the term history in its widest meaning and comprising its linguistic, literary, philosophical and religious, and art historical aspects. These scholars will reach a high level of autonomy in their researches, demonstrate capability of handling sources in original languages, and possess valid means of critical exposition. As regards literature, postgraduate students will be enabled to analyze classic or modern literary works in Chinese, Japanese and Korean, carrying out the textual and philological analysis of one or more works. An important formative goal is to enable the candidates to present their researches in international meetings and conferences, in order to confront their results with those of foreign scholars in Western and Asian countries, with the objective to introduce scientific novelties in their specific fields of study and research.
Scientific director: Prof. Marina E. Miranda - email: marina.miranda@uniroma1.it
Curriculum Indian Subcontinent and Central Asia
The main goal is to train experts in the history and culture of that vast and multiform area the core of which is in the Indian subcontinent and that stretches, from a linguistical and cultural point of view, to Central Asia.
Three different profiles, based on a shared background, are offered: a) Language & culture (Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Sanskrit, ancient Iranian languages - together with their respective philosophical, religious and philological disciplines); b) History (Ancient history, Modern and Contemporary history); c) Archaeology & Art History.
For all the three profile the knowledge of a modern language (Hindi, Urdu, Bengali) or of a classical one (Sanskrit, old Iranian languages) is requested. Among the modern European languages, fluency in English (written and spoken) is requested as well as the working knowledge of a second language (French or German). For those interested in research on Central Asia, the knowledge of the Russian language is necessary. A number of seminars on the culture, both ancient and modern, of the Indian subcontinent and on Central Asia are organized. A period of stay and research abroad, in qualified institution of research, is expected.
Scientific director: Prof. Mario Prayer - email: mario.prayer@uniroma1.it
Curriculum in Arabic, Iranian, and Islamic Studies
The aim of this Curriculum is to train scholars and professionals with expertise in disciplines related to the history, cultures and languages of the countries belonging to the space of the historical development of Islam – as a religion as well as an institutional and cultural system –, with the inclusion of its numerous religious, ethnical and linguistic minorities. Grounded on Italy’s and Rome’s position at the centre of the Mediterranean, and entrenched in the long and prestigious scholarly tradition of Sapienza ‘Oriental School’, this curriculum currently is oriented in particular towards linguistic, literary and historical research projects in the domain of Arabic and Iranian studies, based on knowledge of the Arabic and Persian languages; however, it welcomes research and specializations tied to competence in other Islamic languages (Turkish, Urdu, Berber; Bambara, etc.), within the sound framework of Italian studies on Islamic societies of the classical era and contemporary world.
The curriculum provides a multidisciplinary approach: linguistic, philological and literary on the one hand, with particular specializations in the fields of Arabic dialectology, history of Iranian languages, computational linguistics, written culture of the medieval Islamic world, contemporary literatures; historical and socio-anthropological on the other hand, with special attention towards the dynamics of interaction and transformation of the space of Islam from its origins to the contemporary era, and from the centre of its geographical expansion to its margins. The aim is to guide PhD students not only towards a specialist scholarly career, but also towards a high professional profile, oriented at cultural mediation, cooperation and international relations, according to the needs of modern society and the job market. This curriculum encourages and supports PhD students’ international contacts, through collaboration and co-tutoring agreements with many university institutions and research centres in Europe, the United States and the countries of the Islamic world.
Scientific director: Prof. Mario Casari - email: mario.casari@uniroma1.it