Abstract

A course for interdisciplinary and integrated education dealing with Dante and his world is described and in particular the calculation of the birth and death dates of one of his ancestors using computer technology. Astronomy, mathematics, history, and literature (including the difficulties of translating Dante) were highlighted in teaching. The participants were students of the 119th High School in Sofia, Bulgaria. A brief review is made of the problems and questions relevant to this sort of education and especially those involved when teaching mathematics and the humanitites together. A detailed explanation is given of the problems, aims, and focus of the course. Also included is a description of the organization of the work, the content of the course, and the personal impressions of the authors. Finally, it is suggested that the dates normally presented by editors of Dante's {ıt Divine Comedy} may be incorrect.

Keywords: Calculations of historical dates, Dante and his Cacciaguida.

Pages:  31$-$40     

Volume  II ,  Issue  1 ,  1999