Hafta 1
Introduction. How to build a proper bibliography (the Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium). How to read a primary document. Sailing to Byzantium. Readings: Harrin J., Byzantium: The Surprising Life of a Medieval Empire (London, 2007), 3-17. or James, L., "Byzantium, a very very short Introduction." In A Companion to Byzantium, L. James ed. (Oxford, 2015), 1-8.
Hafta 2
Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire and the Late Antique period. Readings: S. Papaioannou, "The Byzantine Late Antiquity." In A Companion to Late Antiquity, P.Rousseau ed. (Oxford, 2009), pp. 17-29; M. Humphries, "The Shapes and Shaping of the Late Antique World." In A Companion to Late Antiquity, P.Rousseau ed. (Oxford, 2009), pp. 97-109; P. Brown, The World of Late Antiquity A.D. 150-750 (London, 1971), pp. 82-96.
Hafta 3
Constantine and the foundation of Constantinople; World Chronicles: the Paschal Chronicle and the foundation of Constantinople; the fall of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the Byzantine era (from Constans I to Justin) Readings: - P.Sarris, ‘The Eastern Roman Empire from Constantine to Heraclius’, in Mango, C.A. (ed.), The Oxford History of Byzantium (Oxford, 2002), 19-42. - Eusebius, Life of Constantine, chapters XLVIII-LIV: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/vita-constantine.html - Sozomen, Ecclesiastical History, ‘On the founding of Constantinople’: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/sozomen-constantinople1.html - Paschal Chronicle (handout)
Hafta 4
Justinian’s era; the dream of the re-conquest; Justinian’s buildings; the Sixth Century: end or beginning? Readings: - P.Sarris, ‘The Eastern Roman Empire from Constantine to Heraclius’, in Mango, C.A. (ed.), The Oxford History of Byzantium (Oxford, 2002), 42-51. - Prokopios on Justinian’s church of Hagia Sophia: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/procop-deaed1.html - Paul the Silentiary on Justinian’s church of Hagia Sophia: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/paulsilent-hagsoph1.html
Hafta 5
Church and Society in Byzantium; Monks and Priests; the Church and the Emperor; Hagiography: the Life of Maria, a transvestite saint Readings: - C.Mango, ‘New Religion, Old Culture’, in Mango, C.A. (ed.), The Oxford History of Byzantium (Oxford, 2002), 19-27. - Ivanov, S. A., Holy fools in Byzantium and beyond (Oxford-New York, 2006), 43-8. - The Life of Maria/Marinos: http:/www.doaks.org/HolyWomen/talbch1.pdf
Hafta 6
Justinian and Theodora; Prokopios and his works; The end of antiquity (Historiography of Late Antiquity). Readings: - P.Sarris, ‘The Eastern Roman Empire from Constantine to Heraclius’, in Mango, C.A. (ed.), The Oxford History of Byzantium (Oxford, 2002), 51-59. - Selections from Prokopios, Secret History: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/procop-anec.html
Hafta 7
The Struggle for Survival; Life in Cities: continuity or discontinuity; Representations: images as historical documents/ Essay feedback tutorial Readings: - Foss, C., ‘Life in City and Country’, in Mango, C., The Oxford History of Byzantium (Oxford, 2002), 71-88. - Treadgold, W., ‘The Struggle for Survival’, in Mango, C., The Oxford History of Byzantium (Oxford, 2002), 129-150.
Hafta 8
MID TERM EXAMINATION
Hafta 9
Mid-Term Essays’ correction/ The Slavs; The Persian war; Constantinople Sieged; Heraclius’s triumphs and defeat; Byzantium and the Early Islamic Conquest; Byzantium viewed by the Arabs. Readings: Hoyland, R., ‘The Rise of Islam’, in Mango, C., The Oxford History of Byzantium (Oxford, 2002), 121-29. El Cheikh N.M., Byzantium viewed by the Arabs (Cambridge, Mass., 2004), 21-34. Kaegi, W., Byzantium and the early Islamic conquest ( Cambrdge, Mass., 1992), 26-46. Sarris, P.,‘The Eastern Roman Empire from Constantine to Heraclius’, in Mango, C.A. (ed.), The Oxford History of Byzantium (Oxford, 2002), 51-59.
Hafta 10
Greek Fire; the military reorganization: Themes and Themata; Miracle stories: relics, saints and the Miracles of St Artemios Readings: - Miracles of St Artemios (7th century), miracles 10, 11, 12, 21 (handouts) - Gregory of Nyssa (4th century), on the relics of St Theodore (handouts) - Haldon. J., The Palgrave Atlas of Byzantine History (New York, 2010), pp. 68-73.
Hafta 11
The Medieval Empire; “Constantinople Medièvale”; Church Canons: the Council in Trullo Readings: • Magdalino, P., ‘The Medieval Empire’, in Mango, C., The Oxford History of Byzantium (Oxford, 2002), 169-180. • Magdalino, P., ‘Medieval Constantinople: Built Environment and Urban Development’ , in A.Laiou (ed.), The Economic History of Byzantium (Dumbarton Oaks, 2002), http://www.doaks.org/publications/doaks_online_publications/EconHist/EHB20.pdf • The Council in Trullo, canons 3-6, 24, 37, 54, 62, 65, 71, 73, 74, 75, 82, 83, 87, 91, 92, 95, 96, 97: http:/www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/trullo.html or (better edition) http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF2-14/Npnf2-14-136.htm#P6974_1481526 (the space between P6974 and 1481526 has an underscore = P6974_1281526).
Hafta 12
Iconoclasm: iconoclasts (destroyers of images) versus iconophiles (lovers of images) Readings: • Karlyn-Hayter, P., ‘Iconoclasm’, in Mango, C., The Oxford History of Byzantium (Oxford, 2002), 169-180. • The council of 754: http:/www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/icono-chcl754.html • The council of 787: http:/www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/nicea2-dec.html
Hafta 13
Byzantine missions; The Macedonian Era: Imperial Recovery Readings: • Mango, C.,’The Revival of Learning’, in Mango, C. (ed.), The Oxford History of Byzantium (Oxford, 2002), 214-229. • Shepard, J., ‘Spreading the Word: Byzantine Missions’, in Mango, C.A. (ed.), The Oxford History of Byzantium (Oxford, 2002), 230-247. • McCormick, M., Origins of the European Economy (Cambridge, 2001),181-197 (an useful account of Cyril and Methodius’ Missions)- [Handout]
Hafta 14
Bulgars, Russians, Normans and other disasters: Basil II and Byzantium on the eve of the Crusades Readings: • Chrysobulls of Romanus I and Law of Nicephoros Phokas (From Geanakopoulos, D., Byzantium. Church, Society and Civilizations seen through contemporary eyes (Chicago, 1984), pp, 238-4. • Basil II protects peasant Properties 996 (From Geanakopoulos, D., Byzantium. Church, Society and Civilizations seen through contemporary eyes (Chicago, 1984), pp, 245-7. • Stephenson, P., The Legend of Basil the Bulgarslayer (Cambridge 2003), pp. 81-96.