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 107-112 Byzantine World 330-1204

Credit Points

12.5

HECS Band

1

Coordinator

Assoc Prof R Scott

Prerequisites

see Prerequisites.

Semester

1 (view timetable)

Contact

A 1.5-hour lecture and a 1-hour tutorial per week

Subject Description

This subject studies selected aspects of Byzantine history and culture from the foundation of Constantinople to its restoration after the fourth Crusade. It also examines the role of Byzantium in the transmission and transformation of classical culture from antiquity. Students should become familiar with Constantine's city; the change from classical city to Byzantine village; Monasticism; holy men and saints; heresies; relations with Arabs, Slavs, Turks, Armenians and the West, especially during the Crusades; Iconoclasm 726-842; Byzantine literature and learning; the survival (and disappearance) of classical texts; epics of the eastern borders; aspects of early Christian art and architecture; the Byzantine church.

Assessment

An essay of 2000 words and a 2-hour examination.

Prescribed Texts

  • C Mango, Byzantium, the Empire of New Rome. Weidenfield.
  • M Psellus, Fourteen Byzantine Rulers. Penguin.
  • A Comnena, The Alexiad. Penguin.


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Status:                   Official 2001
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Email Enquiries:          Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au