Universität Wien

090060 VO The Other Middle Ages: an Outline of the History of the Byzantine Empire, ca 300-1453 CE (2012S)

Grundzüge der Geschichte des Byzantinischen Reiches im Vergleich, ca. 300-1453

2.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 9 - Altertumswissenschaften

Details

max. 50 participants
Language: German

Examination dates

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Monday 05.03. 09:30 - 11:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Monday 19.03. 09:30 - 11:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Monday 26.03. 09:30 - 11:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Monday 16.04. 09:30 - 11:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Monday 23.04. 09:30 - 11:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Monday 30.04. 09:30 - 11:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Monday 07.05. 09:30 - 11:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Monday 14.05. 09:30 - 11:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Monday 21.05. 09:30 - 11:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Monday 04.06. 09:30 - 11:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Monday 11.06. 09:30 - 11:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Monday 18.06. 09:30 - 11:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Monday 25.06. 09:30 - 11:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Basic elements of the history of the Byzantine Empire and its culture from late antiquity to the conquest by the Ottomans (1453) are presented in this course; also important historical sources (in translation), secondary literature and current research approaches are discussed. Particular attention is paid to the political, economic, religious and cultural relations of the Byzantine Empire with its neighbors, particularly in Western Europe but also in Southeast and Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and the comparison between Byzantium and these states and cultures. This is to elucidate the role of the Byzantine Empire in the medieval world and the continued impact of its traditions in Europe and the Mediterranean in global historical perspective. Other focal points are the interactions between the environment and climate and society in the medieval Eastern Mediterranean and the investigation of its perception in Western Europe since the Middle Ages. The course is also intended as an accompaniment to the major exhibition The Golden Byzantium and the Orient held on the Schallaburg (Lower Austria) beginning in March 2012 .

Main focuses:
* From the Roman Empire to the Christian state of the Rhomaioi - the development of the Byzantine Empire from Late Antiquity to the early Middle Ages
* How did Byzantium work? Elements of environmental history, political, economic, social and religious development of the Byzantine Empire in comparison
* Two emperors, two churches - political, religious and cultural dimensions of the conflict with the West and The barbarians from the West? - The Crusades and the image of the Latins in Byzantine sources
* Mission and Third Rome? - The impact of the Byzantine Empire in Southeast and Eastern Europe
* No holy war - the confrontation of the Byzantine Empire with Islam compared to Western crusading until 1453
* Decay and Byzantinism? - The image of the Byzantine Empire in Western and Eastern Europe since the Middle Ages

Assessment and permitted materials

Written examination or comparative paper and oral examination

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

The objective of the LV is both the acquirement of basic knowledge of Byzantine history and its connections to the West and the East as well as an awareness of the presence and representation of this state and its culture until the present.

Examination topics

In addition to transfer of knowledge by the speaker (with the help of PowerPoint presentations in order to present a multi-dimensional image of Byzantine culture), the students will be taught to set Byzantium and its development in the wider context of the medieval world. For this purpose, important source texts (in translation) are read and examined together. A final two-hour written examination on the contents of the course will also include the analysis of different texts. Alternatively, the examination can be replaced by the completion of a comparative work on an aspect of Byzantine state, society or culture, which must be submitted by the date of the written examination, and an oral examinationh.

Reading list

E. JEFFREYS, J. HALDON, R. CORMACK (Hrsg.), The Oxford Handbook of Byzantine Studies. Oxford 2008.
J. KODER, Der Lebensraum der Byzantiner. Historisch-geographischer Abriß ihres mittelalterlichen Staates im östlichen Mittelmeerraum (Byzantinische Geschichtsschreiber Ergänzungsband 1). Nachdruck mit bibliographischen Nachträgen, Wien 2001.
R.-J. LILIE, Byzanz. Das zweite Rom. Berlin 2003.
R.-J. LILIE, Einführung in die byzantinische Geschichte. Stuttgart 2007.
P. SCHREINER, Byzanz 565-1453 (Oldenbourg Grundriss der Geschichte 22). 4. Auflage, München 2011.
J. SHEPARD (Hrsg.), The Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire, c. 500-1492. Cambridge 2008.
C. SODE, M. ANGAR, Byzanz. Ein Schnellkurs. Köln 2010.

Association in the course directory

BA: WMG1 - Mittelalter 1 (4ECTS) | BA ALT: PME Mittelalter 1 (4ECTS) | LA: Mittelalterliche Geschichte 1(3 ECTS) | EC Geschichte: Geschichte des Mittelalters 1 (5 ECTS) | MA Geschichte: Schwerpunktvorbereitung (5 ECTS) | Diplom: E2 |

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:31