HIST 431: Introduction to Byzantine History (A.D. 300-1453)
HIST 431: Introduction to Byzantine History (A.D. 300-1453)
Instructor: Dr. Savvas Kyriakidis
Course Content, Aims and Methods: This course introduces students to the most important developments in literature, history, philosophy, economy and society of East Roman or Byzantine Empire, centered at its capital of Constantinople (the ancient Byzantium, modern Istanbul), from c. 300-1453 A.D. Students will read not only modern or secondary books, but also original or primary written sources. There will also be visits to important sites in Istanbul and visual presentations to show how other material types of primary sources - monuments, art and objects - can tell us about the past. The format of the course is a combination of lectures, discussions, and visual presentations based upon the themes and sources. This will demonstrate how one can interpret or explain the past.
The desired outcomes of this course are: (i). To improve students’ critical thinking, reading, and writing skills by training students in the interpretation of textual sources (ii). To introduce students to Byzantine concepts of identity, the state and church; to Byzantine theology, education, and philosophy, and to the Byzantine world-view. (iii). To introduce students to aspects of Byzantine social structure and daily life, and to outline the achievements of Byzantine civilization in the arts and learning. (iv). To understand the cultural role of Byzantium in the formation of Western Europe, the Middle East and the Slavic worlds of eastern Europe. By doing so, this course aims to make students more aware of the contemporary cultural legacy of Byzantium, and how it still shapes our world today.
Evaluation
Grades will be based on the student's performance in the Midterm and Final exams
Notes
1)The instructor will post all the weekly readings to the SU course website
2)The dates and details for possible field trips to Byzantine sites/monuments in Istanbul will be discussed and announced in class
Schedule and Background Readings
I.Byzantine Identity: Geography, Peoples, and Languages
Readings. C. Mango, The Empire of New Rome (New York, 1980), pp. 13-31; M. Cunningham, Faith in the Byzantine World (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2002) pp. 6-15
Optional reading.D. Geanakoplos, Byzantium: Church, Society and Civilization seen Through Contemporary Eyes (Chicago, 1984), texts,1, 12, 95, Appendix C: Maps. This book is a collection of translated primary sources
Topics for discussion:What lands and regions, peoples and languages once formed part of the Byzantine Empire? How did the Byzantines identify themselves and what did they believe about their Empire? Which are the main sources for the study of Byzantine history?
II. Constantinople. The imperial Capital
Readings: J. Alchermes, ‘Constantinople and the Empire of New Rome,’ in L. Safran (ed.), Heaven on Earth. Art and the Church in Byzantium (Philadelphia, 1998)
Optional Reading: P.Sarris, ‘The Eastern Roman Empire from Constantine to Heraclius’, in C. Mango, (ed.), The Oxford History of Byzantium (Oxford, 2002), pp.19-42
Topics for discussion: What do we learn from the development of monuments in Constantinople? Was Constantinople a ‘Christian’ capital? What is the relationship between Constantine’s Constantinople and Rome? What do we learn from daily life in the capital? What do we learn of economic life in the city?
III.The Emperor and the imperial court
Readings : G. Cavallo (ed.), The Byzantines (Chicago,1997) Ch. 9, pp. 230-254;
Optional reading: Cunningham, Faith in the Byzantine World, pp. 48-58; Geanakoplos, Byzantium, sources 1-3, 8, 9, 20, 21, 22, 226
Topics for discussion: How did the Byzantines view their emperor, and what ideals was he meant to imitate? What were the emperor’s powers and duties, and what was daily life like for an emperor? What do we learn of the jobs of civilian bureaucrats and military officers in government? How was the empire governed by these men, and what do we learn of their careers and families?
IV. Justinian’s era; the dream of the reconquest; Justinian’s buildings
Readings: Cunningham, Faith in the Byzantine world, pp.107-120; P.Sarris, ‘The Eastern Roman Empire from Constantine to Heraclius’, in C. Mango, (ed.), The Oxford History of Byzantium (Oxford, 2002), pp. 42-51; Prokopios on Justinian’s church of Hagia Sophia: Paul the Silentiary on Justinian’s church of Hagia Sophia:
Topics for discussion: Could Justinian’s reconquest survive? What Justinian’s law codes show about his concept of empire? Who were Prokopios and Paul the Silentiary?Who was their main audience? How are the two discussions similar? How are they different? What was the intended symbolism of Byzantine churches, and how did this shape their design and decoration? How did great cathedrals and churches function as places of worship?
V. Byzantium and the Early Islamic Conquest.
Readings: R. Hoyland, ‘The Rise of Islam’, in C. Mango, The Oxford History of Byzantium (Oxford, 2002), pp. 121-29; N. M. El Cheikh, Byzantium viewed by the Arabs (Cambridge, Mass., 2004), pp. 21-34;
Optional reading P.Sarris, ‘The Eastern Roman Empire from Constantine to Heraclius’, in Mango, C.A. (ed.), The Oxford History of Byzantium (Oxford, 2002), pp. 51-59; W. Kaegi, Byzantium and the early Islamic conquest ( Cambrdge, Mass., 1992), pp.26-46;
Topic for discussion: Why did the Slavs and the Avars succeed in taking over many areas from Imperial hands? How much did the repeated invasions of the seventh century affect the basic population and economy of the empire? Why was Islam so successful in taking over Byzantine territory? How did the Qur’an depict the Byzantines? What was the impact of the Islamic invasion upon the populations of the Near East? How did Byzantium manage to survive?
VI. Life in Byzantine cities and fortresses
Readings: C. Foss, ‘Life in City and Country’, in C. Mango, The Oxford History of Byzantium (Oxford, 2002), pp. 71-88;
Optional reading: W. Treadgold, ‘The Struggle for Survival’, in C. Mango, The Oxford History of Byzantium (Oxford, 2002), pp.129-150.
Topics for Discussion: How did the Byzantine city differ from the classical city? How have archaeologists described the decline of cities? What arguments are there over the fate of cities in the early middle ages? How did Byzantine cities compare with western cities in that period? How did Byzantine cities and towns change over time? What were the causes of these changes and how did they affect daily life?
VII.MIDTERM EXAMS
VIII. The monastic ideal, Byzantine Art and Learning .
Readings: Mango, The empire of New Rome, Ch. 5, pp. 105-124; P.Magdalino, ‘The Medieval Empire’, in C. Mango, The Oxford History of Byzantium (Oxford, 2002), pp. 169-180
Optional reading: Geanakoplos, texts, 39, 120, 121, 122, 124, 126, 127, 136
Topics for discussion: What were the origins of Byzantine monasticism, and how did it develop over the centuries? What types of monasteries were established and how important was monasticism in society? What were the goals of the monastic life, and how did monks and nuns try to achieve them? What was daily life like in monasteries, and what do we learn of monastic spirituality? What were icons and what did they represent? What did Byzantines believe about icons and how were they used in Orthodox Christian worship?What do we learn of education and attitudes towards Classical learning, Holy Scripture, and the sciences? What was studied at school and what were the purposes of this education
IX. Byzantine diplomacy and missions; The Macedonian Era: Imperial Recovery (10th-11th century)
Readings: J. Shepard, ‘Spreading the Word: Byzantine Missions’, in C. Mango, (ed.), The Oxford History of Byzantium (Oxford, 2002), pp. 230-247; G. Ostrogorsky, “The Byzantine Emperor and the Hierarchical World Order,” Slavonic and East European Review 35 (1956), pp. 1-14
Optional reading: C. Mango,’The Revival of Learning’, in Mango, C. (ed.), The Oxford History of Byzantium (Oxford, 2002), pp. 214-229
Topics for Discussion: What was the role of the first Byzantine missionaries? Who they were and where did they head to? How did Byzantine recovery compare with Justinian’s empire? In which terms can we define the cultural revival in the Macedonian period? Who were the main characters of this revival? What was the Byzantine conception of world order and how did this shape diplomatic relations with other states? How did the Empire try to counter enemies by diplomacy, spies, alliances, and missions? What do we know about the Byzantine army?
X. Basil II ‘The Bulgar Slayer’ and the 11th century crisis: Byzantium and the Seljuks
Readings J.Herrin, Byzantium. The surprising life of a Medieval Empire (London, 2007), pp. 212-31; Michael Psellus, Chronographia (only paragraph 1-4)
Optional reading: M. Angold, The Byzantine empire 1025-1204 (London, 1997), chapters 1,2
Topics for Discussion: What caused the crisis of the eleventh century? Was this a period of economic andcultural decline or expansion ? Was the loss of Anatolia due to politics or deeper causes? Mustpolitical, economic and cultural flowering be simultaneous in a society? Who was Psellus? What was the consequences of the battle of Mantzikert?
XI. The Komnenian Era. Byzantium and the Crusades.
Readings: Anne Comnene, The Alexiad (chapter I and II) J.Herrin, Byzantium. The surprising life of a Medieval Empire (London, 2007), pp. 232-245, 255-265;
Optional reading: Kazhdan-Epstein, Change in Byzantine culture in the eleventh and twelfth centuries (Berkeley, 1985), pp. 167-196;
Topics for Discussion How did the state of the Komnenian emperors differ from that of the Macedonians ? What was the role of the imperial family and aristocracy? Was thisa “long slow decline toward disaster”, or could his system have succeeded against the west ?How “barbarous” were the western barbarians? What is the importance of the Alexiad? Who was Anne Comnene? What were the Byzantine ideas about the Crusades? Did the Byzantines develop an idea of ‘Holy War’ ? How the Crusades and Western Europe influenced Byzantine culture and state organization? What were the main characteristics of Manuel I’s rule?
XII. The Fourth Crusade, Byzantium and the world around it in the thirteenth century.
Readings: J.Herrin, Byzantium. The surprising life of a Medieval Empire (London, 2007), pp. 266-80; G. Villehardouin, Chronicle of the Crusade (Chapters 62-6)
Topics for discussion: Compare the two accounts and discuss the origins, development and consequences of the Fourth Crusade. What were the successor states to the Byzantine empire? How did they view themselves? What was the empire of Nicaea? How its rulers viewed themselves?
XIII. Byzantium and the Turks in Anatolia
Reading:D. Korobeinkov, ‘Raiders and Neighbours: The Turks (1040-1304),’ 692-727.
Topics for discussion: What were the Byzantine attitudes towards the Turks in Asia Minor? What was the reaction of the Byzantine provincial governors to the expansion of the Turks? Was there a constant continuous military conflict between the Byzantine and the Turks? What were the Turkish methods of conquests?
XIV. The twilight of Byzantium. Byzantium and the Ottomans (1261-1453)
Readings: J. R. Melville-Jones, The siege of Constantinople 1453. Seven contemporary accounts (Amsterdam, 1973) students can choose from a collection of contemporary accounts of the fall of Constantinople; N. Necipoğlu, Byzantium between the Ottomans and the Latins (Cambridge, 2009), pp. 18-38.
Optional reading. C. Mango The Empire of New Rome (New York, 1980), pp, 201-217; Geanakoplos, texts 312, 330, 333A- B .
Topics for discussion: Could have been a Byzantine state that was not an empire? What were the Byzantine reactions to the expansion of the Ottomans? How did the Byzantines conceive the gradual destruction of their empire? What does this tell us about Byzantine mentality, and efforts to come to terms with the Ottoman conquest? Did Byzantium share in late medieval European cultural, economic and technological developments?
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