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This study focuses on the meaning and acquisition of the word thesaurus in monastic early medieval sources. The term essentially refers to objects characterized by strong symbolic, economic, cultural and sumptuary value. In the monastic Rules the word does not appear because the forms of accumulation and conservation of wealth were extraneous to the vow of poverty disciplined and emphasized by the drafters. With the growth of the monasteries, the promise of royal protection, the strengthening of ties with the power elites and the establishment of the institution of exemption, the treasures grow in importance, underlining the prestige acquired by the single monastery. The objects that compose it become a non-secondary element of what we can define the material memory of the monastic community, providing information on patrons, on the workshops active in the monastery, on the exchanges established with monastic foundations and with local communities, on donations from power groups active in the territory and finally on the subtraction and dispersion suffered.

The teaching experience of the history that I present refers to a project concerning classes IV and V of primary school. The paper covers the knowledge and application of article 9 of the Constitution - the protection and enhancement of the cultural-scientific heritage and of the Italian landscape - in relation to the course of study and the environmental and social contexts experienced and attended by the students. The objectives pursued are two: first, to bring students closer to the knowledge and protection of the Italian historical, artistic and scientific heritage through a wide range of laboratory activities and meetings with experts in the field of cultural protection and promotion; second, to show students the profession of the historian and the reflection of history in the life of the community. In relation to this second phase, the students have created a series of texts and artifacts that illustrate the knowledge acquired.

The study examines the institutional relationships between the Nonantola Abbey and a group of female coenobs dependent on it. The analysis of the relationships that linked Nonantola to the individual Benedictine communities in North Central Italy, makes it possible to broaden the knowledge regarding the monastic network of the royal monastery. Moreover, this analysis identifies the socio-political dynamics that regulated the foundation of the single monasteries. Finally, it documents the growth of the territories that contained the female monastic experiences.

“The Future of Churches” is a title that calls for reflection and concrete action on the large and diocesan complex architectural and historical heritage. In my contribution I wish to highlight the reasons and the actors that led to the formation of this unique extensive network of church buildings. The selected geographical area is that of the Bolognese countryside, a geographical space in which the various churches show in their historical overview a number of foundational paths within a system built on the relationships between community and territory. Understanding the original characteristics that govern the history of a particular church and its relation to the communities and local areas is therefore the first step to understand and then take action on current situations with their wealth of meaning and ecumenical ties.