BYZANTINE HISTORY

The module on Byzantine History is a course of Medieval History and focuses on the history of the Eastern Roman Empire from 330 to 1453, the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantine History is the history of the other half of the medieval world and includes not only the Greek world but also the entire eastern part of the Mediterranean (from Balkans to Persia): this is a part of history that is not taught at school and that remains, even today, a mysterious and charming world.
The course of Byzantine History is the natural development of the courses of Greek and Roman History and the twin of the courses of Medieval History. It allows students to reach a complete knowledge of the history of the Middle Ages, the problems of the periodization of the late antique and middle ages, the historiographical debates in progress of a discipline that is still, partially, an unexplored field of research.

- To acquire a basic knowledge of the History of the Byzantine Empire and to be able to interpret its fundamental events in the wider context of Medieval History.
- Understand the influences and the cultural heritage of the Byzantine Empire.
- To develop a critical and independent approach to a diverse range of sources, both primary and secondary, and develop analytical skills in critically evaluating this material in an autonomous way.

It is of great help to have a sound knowledge of Roman History.

Bisanzio è forse solo un simbolo insondabile,
segreto e ambiguo come questa vita,
Bisanzio è un mito che non mi è consueto,
Bisanzio è un sogno che si fa incompleto,
Bisanzio forse non è mai esistita...
(F. Guccini, Bisanzio, 1981)
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The module on Byzantine History (I and II) introduces the students to the History of Byzantium covering the entire millennium of its development (330-1453). In particular, the course of Byzantine History I focuses on the period between 330 and 1204. Among the topics discussed during the course students will be introduced to the passage from Late Antiquity to the Middle Ages, the development of Latin and Greek Europe, the safeguard of the classical heritage, the role of the Church.


1. Introduction to the Byzantine History. Empire - Orthodoxy - Hellenism: analysis and discussion.
2. The Byzantine studies: developments of a young field of research
3. Sources and methods for Byzantine History /1

4. Late antiquity and periodization of Byzantine history: transition from the Roman Empire to the Eastern Roman Empire: from Constantine (330) to Justinian (527)
5. Ruling the Mediterranean: Justinian (527-602) and his successors
6. The “resilient” empire (602-717): the rise of Islam and the crises of 7th and 8th centuries

7. Sources and methods for Byzantine History /2
8. The Christendom from Late Antiquity to the Triumph of Orthodoxy (843)
9. The Macedonian splendor (867-1056)

10. The crisis of the eleventh century and the rise of the papacy (1054-1081)
11. The dynasty of the Komnenoi and the first four Crusades through the Byzantine eyes (1081-1204)
12. The Latin domination (1204-1261), the reconquest of Constantinople and the end of the medieval empire

13. 1261-1453, the Paleologan emperors, the civil wars and the relationship with the Latin West
14. Introduction to research: the division between East and West in the Middle Ages / 1
15. Introduction to research: the division between East and West in the Middle Ages / 2

Stathakopoulos, D., A Short History of the Byzantine Empire (London, 2014) together with the other readings available in Moodle.
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Other suggestions:
Treadgold, W., Storia di Bisanzio (Bologna, 2005)
Ducellier, A. - Kaplan, M., Bisanzio, 4.-15. secolo (Cinisello Balsamo, 2005)
Gregory, T. E., A history of Byzantium (Malden, MA, 2005)
Haldon, J., Byzantium: A history, (Stroud, 2005)
Gallina, M., Bisanzio. Storia di un impero (secoli IV-XIII), (Roma, 2008)
Di Branco, M., Breve storia di Bisanzio (Roma, 2016)
Kaplan, M., Pourquoi Byzance? Un empire de onze siècles (Paris, 2016)
Harris, J., Introduction to Byzantium, 602–1453 (Abingdon, 2020

**15 days before the exam** every student must submit a review of 3.000 words (font 11, line spacing 1) including footnotes, excluding bibliography of an article or a chapter suggested/approved by the teacher. Students who do not follow the lectures must fix an appointment with the teacher in order to agree upon bibliography and title of the essay.

Oral examination 70% + Essay 30%.

Lectures and discussions about various articles, scientific publications, primary sources.
Students are expected to read the necessary primary and secondary sources.

Review of 3.000 words (font 11, line spacing 1) including footnotes, excluding bibliography of an article or a chapter suggested/approved by the teacher. Students who do not follow the lectures must fix an appointment with the teacher in order to agree upon bibliography and title of the essay.

Italian

STUDENTS who cannot attend classes:
Students employed in a full time job, and those who cannot attend classes for serious health / disability reasons, must integrate the preparation with:
- the readings available on the MOODLE page of the module
- Kaplan, M., Pourquoi Byzance? Un empire de onze siècles (Paris, 2016)

FINAL DISSERTATION:
The teacher follows bachelor's and master's degree theses dedicated to the social and religious history of the Byzantine Empire; to Byzantine literature; to Byzantine philology (editions and translations of texts).
Students who intend to dedicate their dissertation to the Byzantine world must know Classical Greek or have attended the two introductory courses to the Greek language.
The teacher accompanies the students during face-to-face personal meetings introducing the research work, discussing the structure of the thesis, and correcting the partial essays that must be submitted in advance. Therefore, students are invited to plan well in advance the research work, the time required for meetings with the supervisor and the time for drafting and correcting the final thesis.
The degree thesis must be completed 30 days before the "uploading period" so that the supervisor can read and correct the final disseration and that the student can make the necessary corrections.
Word limits: BA 15/20.000 words; MA 20/25.000 words.

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