Ok, so maybe he isnt that hot, but he has amazing calves, esp for his age. he must hike a lot. also, a very nice, helpful man, funny at times, pretty relaxed. focuses on the themes of history instead of dates and names.

Interesting lectures. Heavy reading for weekly discussions (novels, short stories, etc.). Genuinely cares about his students. Grades somewhat hard.

The course is heavy on weekly readings for Friday discussions, but that is the only reading you have to do. At times he can talk too fast in lecture, so be able to write quickly. He's sweet and has the cutest Italian accent, plus he likes theatre!

Really nice man. Cares about his students and makes a genuine effort to know them. Talks quickly but gives very interesting lectures. Grades harshly but is willing to help.

Prof Astarita is one of the best professors I have had: he is always avaialable to help, generous with office hours, and is very humorous. He kept discussions interesting and well focused and chose interesting material for the class. I think all history major should try to take one of his classes.

Really charming man with interesting things to say. He talks really fast though and made me rip my notebook once in a while from writing too fast.

Great lecturer, always interesting twists, humorous. Demanding, grades a bit harshly, but your writing will definitely improve. Very readily available, nice.

Awesome professor, very nice. The course was a little unstructured at times but was a great change of pace and led to some very interesting discussions.

This man was impressively well versed in european history, a very intelligent professor. He is also hysterical and brings color to the lectures through his old-fashioned slides. He speaks a bit quickly in class, but most of the information you need to know he puts on the board before he begins the lecture. A great professor, I reccomend him!

Very knowledgeable professor, speaks fast so be ready to take pages of notes each class. Can be a tough grader, but overall the class is interesting and worth taking if you don't mind putting time into your writing.

One of the best professors I have had so far at Georgetown. Covers a lot of material, both in the lectures and the readings, and is always willing to help. Discussions are interesting. He is a bit of a harsh grader when it comes to papers, but he includes plenty of suggestions to help you improve your writing. Great class.

He's the best professor I've had so far. He wasn't my first choice for this course; I wasn't too sure about the whole "Family and Culture" thing. He fit a lot of information into the lectures (bring a laptop), and the special focus actually added a lot. He can be tough on the essays, but if you show the effort, they can help your final grade.

Oh Tommaso...What an adorable little Italian man. Class does go at a really fast pace, but his jokes and slideshows make lecture worth going to. He has a REALLY REALLY amazing TA, Matt, who is just as excited and knowledgable about history as Tommaso himself. Highly Highly recommend.

Tommaso is great. He's one of my favorite professors at Georgetown. His lectures are entertaining and made me want to go to class every day. His assignments can be a little confusing at first, but you'll be fine, and he's very willing to help. He cares about his students a lot and is great at memorizing names, too. I recommend taking his classes!

Interesting lecturer, but hard grader. all material comes from lectures so attend. You will get to hear his funny jokes. He also shows art, architecture, and plays music. 1 short book a week, writing a one page response for 6 of them, your choice. Midterm and final aren't that hard, but a tough grader. Recommended, but not if you want easy A.

Astarita is a great lecturer and a fairly easy grader and he somehow manages to always get good TA's, which is pretty important. One of the better history profs at GU.

Astarita does a great job making European civilization clear and interesting, even if (like me) history isn't your thing. Tough class to do really well in, easy to get a B.

Great class, great professor. For this class we had a lecture once a week and then broke into smaller discussion sections for the other time (mandantory attendance). He's a pretty tough grader on his short papers, but if you actually read you can do well. Class has 6 short papers (1 page) a 10 pg. term paper, and a final. Participation is 30% so go

Hes a nice enough person, but pretty stingy gradewise. Almost impossible to get an A, but basically you have to memorize the lectures for the tests. He wants everyone to get a B and grades accordingly on the 6 short papers (which you have to read a book each for) and the longer term paper. Miderm and final arent bad though and theres no textbook

Great class. Although the grading is tough, he makes it so you learn the history well (bring a laptop). Long paper is easy if you keep up with the readings and you definitely improve your writing in the class. Final and midterm aren?t bad. No textbook. Definitely recommend; not an easy A, but Prof Astarita makes the class interesting and funny.

Go to every lecture. Copy down the identifications on the board, and define them through the lecture. The identifications on the board WILL BE a huge part of your grade on the two exams. And he'll give you a chronology that is all you should study for exams. Fair grader, but not easy. TA was GREAT. 6 book responses a semester, but they're not hard.

I was NOT looking forward to taking a history class, but I'm glad I had Astarita. He is a good lecturer, funny and engaging. His exams are tough, and they are based entirely on the notes. There's a lot of reading, but you don't always have to do all of it and its usually interesting.

Very engaging professor, and really nice guy. Grading on the exams is alright, but papers were not quite as nice (other student's opinions, not mine). He also using an interesting grading system, but from how other's have described their professors, he seems to be one of the best options.

Can be a tough grader on the tests and short papers, but fortunately grades aren't based too much on one thing. I loved most of the books we had to read throughout the semester - no textbook. Lectures and IDs are very important - don't miss class. He is super helpful and nice during office hours. The class isn't a cakewalk, but I learned a lot.

Astarita is a tough grader. Very picky on all exams and papers. Also, having to read a book a week is a little much for an intro. course. He is, however, a great lecturer and he makes the material extremely interesting. It's just annoying to have to devote a ton of time to a required intro. level course.

TAKE THIS PROFESSOR. So interesting and funny, I went to every lecture. Very easy to take notes, and there is no set textbook. He is a VERY tough grader though, and picky too. Knows everything about European history and enthralls his students. Short papers, midterm, research paper and a final (straightforward if you know what he is looking for)

Is a fountain of knowledge but is equally very, very difficult in grading. Attending lectures is an absolute mandatory requirement in order to keep up, because there is no other way to get the information in lecture that he then tests on extensively in the final. Definitely advised to visit and talk to him a lot.

Astarita knows a lot about the subject matter and is an engaging lecturer. Discussion sections (1x per week) are mandatory, and the readings are long. 5 short (1p) papers are required, with a midterm, final, and term paper (about the readings). Harsher grader but very willing to help-always in his office and will read drafts.

I would highly recommend prof. Astarita. He is an extremely knowledgeable but humble, down to earth guy who is an expert communicator. Although the workload is tough, I came away from the class feeling like I'd learned a great deal and become a better writer. Take the class! Oh, and don't be afraid of the weekly readings/papers...they're fun!

I'm obsessed with Professor Astarita. He's incredibly friendly, but also very intelligent, so you can't bullsh*t him. Do the readings, put effort into your papers and you'll be glad that you did. Yeah, it sucks to have to do the readings (we all know that you can get by usually by skimming), but seriously, just do it.

Professor Astarita is an adorable man. Extremely knowledgeable. Lectures are interesting. This class is challenging and the grading is tough.

I didn't have much interest in history prior to taking Astarita's class, but his class completely changed me. Learned academic writing skills as well as historical knowledge. I did well on my first weekly essay (5/5) and the paper (A), but my final grade was an A-.

Tommaso is the man! He's the most passionate professor I've encountered at Georgetown so far, and his knowledge on the Italian Renaissance is truly immense. There's a short paper every week, but they're really easy. Do the readings, and you'll actually want to participate in discussions. Take it for your history requirement, seriously.

Astarita is a genius, he's super cool, and he knows more facts about European History than you can even imagine. He's an intellectual, but he's also a fantastic lecturer; he will capture your attention, and you will learn so much/feel you got your money's worth. HOWEVER, HARDEST GRADER OF ALL TIME. Dont hope for anything above a B+, it's impossible

Professor Astarita is a silver fox: sharp witted, an engaging speaker, and easy on the eye. There is a lot of writing in this class, but he makes the assignments very clear and gives helpful feedback at his office hours. He is very accessible and is always willing to read your papers in advance.

An adorable professor who seems truly passionate about history! Did not sign up for his proseminar and was frankly a little upset when I found out I was in it, but the structure of the class is fun and not too stressful. Have done a few papers so far and he's been a constructive grader. Is willing to talk and help a lot if you go to him!

He really is a truly amazing guy who is more than willing to create a fruitful relationship with his students and who has helped me grow so much both personally and academically. 10 out of 10 would recommend, though he is sometimes a hard grader, but if you just ask for help he is more than willing to help get you to the A.

This is the hardest class that I worked for. Went to almost all his office hours for the short papers, asked for feedback, corrected the paper, and still wasn't sufficient for him. His final paper, which consists of two drafts, was assigned in a timely matter, but I don't know what I could've done better to receive a better grade.

It was a difficult class especially the short papers where he asked much more than what was needed. I attended most of his office hours where he would give good feedback but my grade didn't reflect that. The discussions were awkward and not engaging.

The reading load is quite heavy and he really expects students to participate in sections. There are also a ton of paper assignments (at least one per week) and Prof. Astarita is a hard grader. But, he genuinely cares about the students and is very kind and the subject is interesting.

Taken for Italian Renaissance- super knowledgable guy, just a tough grader. After a semester I still dont really know what he was looking for. My writing did improve because of this though. He has a ton of office hours and will read anything and give feedback promptly. Only take this course if you really like the subject or have prior knowledge

I had Astarita for my SFS Prosem, and he was amazing. Super knowledgable and interesting to talk to about history or anything else. People say he's a super hard grader but really just go to his office hours and he'll tell you exactly how to fix your paper. His class will make you a way better writer.

Astarita is funny, kind, and incredibly knowledgable about his subject. Lectures were interesting and discussions were engaging. It's not necessary to have any prior knowledge of the subject before taking Italian Renaissance; the focus is on analysis, not memorization (no tests). Be prepared to work hard, but the payoff is more than worth it!

Lectures were interesting, but "lab" days and discussions seemed forced and were graded intensely. Incredibly knowledgeable about the Renaissance and always willing to talk to interested students during office hours. The class improved my writing skills immensely through weekly assignments, but the grading was tough. No tests, but be ready to write

Professor Astarita is amazing. People criticize him for being a harsh grader but if you go to his office hours, he will tell you exactly what he is looking for. I had him for my Prosem, and it was my favorite class of the semester. Astarita always made discussions interesting. He is really knowledgeable and you will learn a lot.

Professor Astarita is incredibly intelligent, and his lectures are AMAZING. Grading is a bit tough, but if you do the readings and spend time on the assignments (which don't take very long), you will do fine. His Italian Renaissance class is a great choice for fulfilling your freshman history requirement.

Tommaso is my kweeen. His class if a total of 2 5-page papers and 1 10-page term paper, as well as 5 project papers throughout the term. It's a lot of work, but he does let u send him drafts for feedback beforehand. It takes a bit to figure out what he wants, so GO TO OFFICE HOURS!!!! Just a sweet man and a tough grader, but worth it.

He's supportive and approachable. Tons of readings and papers but worth it.

I took Professor Astarita for his historiography seminar, which was one of the most fascinating classes I have ever had! Great discussions, interesting and diverse paper topics, and awesome readings. He is super accessible outside of class and is always willing to look at outlines and drafts for papers. Would definitely recommend!

Bad handwriting, besides that overall great teacher. Very passionate about subject matter, and always willing to work with you. Sometimes he can be unclear about grading requirements, but go to his frequent office hours and he will clear things up.

I have now taken 3 courses with Professor Astarita. He is probably the best professor I have ever had. Everyone in here who gives him bad reviews are just lazy students. He will read any drafts, go through them to make suggestions line by line, and write a thoughtful paragraph or two at the end with further comments. You cannot ask for more.

Astarita is demanding but a great, sweet man. The class is great, you learn so much but get ready to read, a lot. You need to participate a lot in class, which can be rough at 9;30 am, but it's so worth it! He really knows what he's talking about. Papers need to be done in a particular way but he is super available and provides great feedback

A LOT of reading, but he goes so in-depth with it all so it feels worth it. 5-6 short papers (2-3 pages), one formative presentation, 3 8-10 paged papers, and harsh participation grading. But he's so willing to help you with anything you need. Will read FULL drafts and give amazing feedback. Had office hours basically everyday. I feel fulfilled.

He's a really sweet guy who is super accessible and clearly cares about his students. But he's also a pretty particular grader. Hard to know exactly what he's looking for a lot of the time but GO TO OFFICE HOURS and I swear it helps. His feedback is good but the class is definitely a lot of work.

Prof Astarita was great! While he's a little tough with grading, do your homework assignments early because you can send him drafts and he will give you higher grades if you correct what he points out! No final exam, just a paper, and if you go to office hours to ask for help, you'll most likely get an A.

Overall, good choice for hist 099, but definitely more work than some other sections/topics. Lots of reading. Participation in weekly "labs" and Friday discussions where readings are discussed is 40% of grade. Weekly short papers and one term paper (final exam) are graded fairly if you put in the work to understand what you're talking about.

Prof Astarita is incredible. He is so knowledgeable and clearly extremely passionate about the Italian Renaissance, and discussion sections and lectures are genuinely interesting for a class that I didn't want to take at first. Feedback is specific and helpful; grading is harsh at first but with participation it's not too bad to get a good grade.

He's a really sweet guy and he knows his stuff. The workload is intense for a beginner course; there's roughly a short paper weekly, plus a 10-page term paper. Participation is very important for the weekly discussion section, which the Prof. and TA alternate leading. He reads carefully and gives dilligent feedback - clearly wants you to improve.

Prof. Astarita is a phenomenal prof! He really knows his stuff and wants his students to succeed. His class isn't terribly hard; if you go to class and participate in discussions you'll be fine. He gives great feedback on papers and is always willing to read drafts or talk through ideas with you. I'm not a history person, but I loved his class!

Astarita is the best! He gives a lot of readings and it becomes a little overwhelming to keep up as the semester goes on, but the readings are genuinely interesting and the discussions are always handled well. Grade is based primarily on essays and participation so be sure to talk in class. Give him essays early cause hell review them andGiveNotes

His Ignatius Seminar is entirely discussion so participation is a big part of your grade, the rest being short essays that are not very hard to write but he is a little nit-picky, and a term paper. Long, not super engaging readings. Really nice guy, made a point to be accessible outside class and offer helpful feedback. He'll revise your work too!

Astarita is straight out of Roma. He has taught for 30+ years and knows history. He took us on a journey through the Renaissance but you had to pay attention to learn. (which I admit I did not do enough of) He can be boring and grades short papers harshly but is a genuinely nice man. Take to dive into primary source Renaissance and become an expert

Professor Astarita is an excellent professor. I am a senior, and this class is mostly underclassmen...I am so glad that I took it. He is so caring and this is evident by him leading each discussion with the sections as opposed to TAs. He is kind and clearly an expert!

Professor Astarita is AMAZING! I took a first-year seminar with him that was co-taught with another professor. Prof. Astarita was very interesting and had us read several very interesting books that were relevant. He's encouraging, caring, and very very passionate about his field of study. Reading is a good bit, but it's definitely doable.

Prof. Astarita is great. Discussion based class so participation and doing the readings really matters. He's also really accessible outside of class and is willing to read drafts before paper submission.

I would highly recommend Prof Astarita for HIST-1350, whether you're just doing it for the core or if you're actually studying history. There are readings for the discussion section each week, three short papers, and a final paper and exam. Did not find it to be too difficult to get a decent grade and honestly found the lectures quite interesting.

Prof Asta always makes time for his students and is a bottomless vault of historical knowledge. Feedback at times can be ambiguous, but take the extra step to ask for examples, clarifications, and go to office hours, you'll be fine. He is sweet and makes you a great writer. Lectures are only dry if you don't participate/care about the subject.

It's terribly hard to get an A, at least for a bum like me. However, Astarita is one of the best lecturers I've had at my 4 years at Georgetown, and I thoroughly enjoyed every class with him. If you're a lowlife that cares about grades, don't take him. If you want to learn and be inspired by the light of history, take him.

Professor Astarita is a great history professor. He'll introduce you to what scholarship is in history. He's a thoughtful, caring teacher and will help you get better with your writing. His lectures can be dry and he can be a tough grader if you slack off.

Asta is the sweetest man ever. That being said, the lectures are longgg and do not matter AT ALL for the like 12 papers you have to submit. Make sure you show up to all the discussions and contribute at least once each time. Take his feedback on the papers into account and you should be fine. Even though its LONG, at least skim the syllabus.

I've had him for two classes, one of the best professors at Georgetown. Classes have lot of writing and he has high expectations for written work, but he's clear about what he expects and is always available to help/clarify. He is a great lecturer who clearly enjoys the subjects he teaches and he makes an effort to get to know his students.

Prof Astarita is sweet and super smart, and puts in a lot of effort to help students. Participation is big, and some of the readings are pretty long. A few short papers and a final paper that you get to revise are the majority of assignments. Not an easy A but he cares a lot about student learning and holds lots of office hours and will read drafts

Professor Astarita's course is fascinating. He is deeply knowledgeable about Italian history & is ready and willing to answer any questions. He's accessible outside class & helpful in discussing the course, assignments, etc. He goes above and beyond to provide feedback on drafts before submission. I hope to take another course with him.

Tough but good professor.

Very straightforward class. You don't really need to pay attention at all in lecture, and lecture is kind of boring most of the time. If you're interested in this time period, especially the art, this will be a fun class. Tommaso is also super interesting and nice, so I reccomend going to his office hours.

He's a likeable guy and genuinely cares for his students; this class is not an easy A though–when grading, he tends to deduct points for the slightest details. He also puts a heavy weight on your first draft for the final (I guess this is his way to reduce the number of students getting As). A lot of reading too (usually 60+ pages for each class)

I took Prof Astarita's first-year seminar this semester, and it was undoubtedly one of my favorite classes of the term. Although he has high expectations, they are clearly noted, and he will help you reach them in any way you need---including reading drafts, circulating extensive office hours, and answering emails quickly. I'll be taking him again!

Had him for a first-year seminar and he was one of the best professors I've had. Super accessible outside of class, very willing to answer questions, and genuinely tries to connect with students. The reading load is heavy, so be prepared for that, but it's worth it.

Definitely not an easy A, but he also helped me improve so much as a writer and historical thinker. Highly recommend if willing to put in the work, but otherwise stay away. Participation is super important so focus on that, and make use of his willingness to edit first drafts (that is genuinely how I got an A in this class)

Simply the best professor I've had at georgetown. I took his seminar to fulfill the upper level history requirement. His class is not easy, but he has office hours every single weekday and is willing to help you in any way possible. Submit the draft of your essays 4 days in advance and you will be fine!