HIST 383.01 HISTORY OF THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Spring 2007 Dr. Linda Jones Hall MWF 1:20-2:30 p.m. Kent Hall 312
Office 204 Kent Hall Phone 240-895-4434; ext 4434
Office hours 2:40-3:30 p.m. on Mon. and Wed: other times by appointment
Email ljhall@smcm.edu webpage http://www.smcm.edu/users/ljhall/ljhall.html
Course Description
This course covers Byzantine history from the reign of Constantine (306-336 A.D.) and concludes with fall of Constantinople in 1453 A.D. Byzantine civilization, founded on the classical heritage of Greece and Rome, evolved into a unique culture which profoundly affected the medieval world in both East and West. The pervasive role of religion, the development of an extraordinary artistic and legal tradition, and the interaction with “barbarians,” Muslims, and Crusaders will be examined from primary sources as well as recent studies.
Required texts
TEXT = Timothy E.Gregory, A History of Byzantium, London and New York: Blackwells, 2005, ISBN 0631235132.
CHURCH = Karl Morrison, ed., The Church in the Roman Empire; University of Chicago Readings in Western Civilization 3, Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press, 1986, ISBN 0226069397.
READER = Deno Geanakoplos, ed. Byzantium: Church, Society, and Civilization Seen
through Contemporary Eyes, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1986, pbk ISBN 0226284611.
PROCOPIUS = Procopius. The Secret History, translated and introduced by G.A. Williamson, Penguin. pbk ISBN 0140441697. See also
PSELLUS = Michael Psellus, Fourteen Byzantine Rulers: The Chronographia, trans. E.R.A. Sewter, Penguin, pbk ISBN 01404411697.
ANNA = Anna Comnena, The Alexiad of Anna Comnena, translated and introduced by E.R.A. Sewter, Penguin, pbk ISBN 0140442154.
Recommended
ART = Rowena Loverance, Byzantium, rev. edn. British Museum paperbacks, Harvard University Press, 2004. ISBN 0674103891.
Recommended guide to writing papers
Kate Turabian. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. Revised by John Grossman and Alice Bennett. 6th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996. ISBN 022816273.
COURSE EXPECTATIONS
Course readings should be done in advance of the class meeting. Attendance and class participation are very important and will be considered in the final grade. The College permits two absences. Papers and other assignments must be turned in on the due dates; 10% of the grade for the assignment will be deducted per business day that the assignment is late, unless the student has a documented reason for lateness, such as illness, death in the family, or other major problem.
PAPERS (for 200 points) should be double-spaced, with one-inch margins, in a 12-point font. The length should be 5-7 pages each. You should quote five passages from the relevant primary source(s). You may use either footnotes or parenthetical citation. Please consult Turabian for the correct style.
GRADING
WRITTEN EXERCISES (10 x 25 points per assignment) = 250 points
FIRST TEST = 150 points
SECOND TEST = 150 points
FIRST PAPER = 200 points
SECOND PAPER = 200 points
ATTENDANCE AND DISCUSSION = 50 points
REACTION PAPERS WORTH 25 POINTS EACH- These should be about one page long, typed double-spaced or handwritten.
1) Discuss the conflict between Christianity and paganism and try to assess why Christianity prevailed. Base this on readings in CHURCH; due 1/26
2) Discuss an emperor from Diocletian to Julian based on the readings; due 2/2
3) Reflect on asceticism or martyrdom based on readings in CHURCH; due 2/7
4) Discuss Procopius’ description of Justinian and Theodora; due 2/16
5) Discuss Byzantine relations with Persia and the Islamic states; due 2/28
6) Discuss Iconoclasm, based on the READER, #s 111 and 114; due 3/7
7) Choose 5 rulers described by Psellus; give good and bad points of each; due 3/30
8) Analyze Anna Comnena’s characterization of a person or group; due 4/9
9) Describe the events of 1204, based on READER, #276 and #277; due 4/16
10) Discuss the most interesting aspect of Byzantine culture or history we covered this semester. This can be based on any reading or work of art; due 4/25
THE WRITING CENTER
The Writing Center, located in Library 115, offers free consultations with trained peer tutors. No matter what the subject or where you are in the writing process (understanding assignments, brainstorming ideas, or revising rough and final drafts), the tutors can help. These tutors are your peers--they do not grade or proofread your paper, but instead coach you on improving your writing. See the Writing Center's website, www.smcm.edu/writingcenter, for the latest information about tutoring hours, and also for many helpful handouts and other resources.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY is a very serious offense which is discussed in the SMCM catalog, the student handbook, or the following link: http://www.smcm.edu/academics/academserv/advisingmanual/appendix%20c.htm
Penalties can include, but are not limited to, a zero on the work in question, an F in the course, and referral to the Office of the Provost. ALL sources (books, articles, websites) must be cited properly. See Turabian for correct citation styles.
IMPORTANT RESEARCH RESOURCES
See the Oxford Classical Dictionary (3rd ed.) and the Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium (3 vols.) in the Reference area of the library. See various articles for current research.
JOURNAL ARTICLES
Journals at SMCM (on the second floor of the library near the stairs at the rear of that floor) include such print journals as Greek Roman and Byzantine Studies. Current issues are on the display racks. Back issues are bound and are on the shelf by the call number which you can find either from the current issue or from the catalog.
PROJECT MUSE http://muse.jhu.edu/
JSTOR http://www.jstor.org/
ARTICLE FIRST, FIRST SEARCH. etc. http://www.smcm.edu/library/database.htm
Get books and articles from SMCM Interlibrary Loan http://www.smcm.edu/library/illpolic.htm or by paper forms at Circulation
TOCS-IN is an excellent search tool for recent bibliography of journal articles (some will print) http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/cgi-bin/amphoras/tocfind
INTERNET RESOURCES FOR BYZANTINE STUDIES
AMMIANUS SELECTIONS
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/378adrianople.html
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/ammianus-history14.html
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/arabia1.html#Ammianus%20Marcellinus
AMMIANUS PROJECT http://odur.let.rug.nl/~drijvers/ammianus/index.htm
PROCOPIUS’ SECRET HISTORY (ANECDOTA) COMPLETE
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/procop-anec.html
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Procopius/Anecdota/home.html
PSELLUS COMPLETE CHRONOGRAPHIA = FOURTEEN BYZANTINE RULERS http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/psellus-chronographia.html
ANNA COMNENA COMPLETE
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/AnnaComnena-Alexiad.html
ANNA COMNENA SELECTIONS
http://home.infionline.net/~ddisse/comnena.html
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/comnena-cde.html
ONLINE TEXTS OF EARLY CHURCH FATHERS AND OTHERS
http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/
http://www.ccel.org/p/pearse/morefathers/home.html
BYZANTINE ICONS/IKONS
http://www.ocf.org/OrthodoxPage/icons/icons.html
http://www.pallasweb.com/ikons/theotokos.html
BYZANTINE CHURCHES (TOM MATHEWS)
http://www.nyu.edu/gsas/dept/fineart/html/Byzantine/
Texts about Julian the Apostate http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/gregory_nazianzen_1_preface.htm
BYZANTINE WOMEN BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://www.doaks.org/WomeninByzantium.html
WOMEN IN LATE ANTIQUITY BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~dhunter/arjava.htm
Alice-Mary Talbot, ed., Holy Women of Byzantium: Ten Saints’ Lives in English http://www.doaks.org/ATHW.html
CONSTANTINE
http://www.earlychurch.org.uk/constantine.html
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/vita-constantine.html
DIR, De Imperatoribus Romanis (this site includes Byzantine emperors)
http://www.roman-emperors.org/
PAUL HASSALL (See also the link to Late Antiquity)
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/byzantium
Paul Halsall’s online Byzantium http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/medweb/
The end of the Classical World http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/sbook1b.html
TIMOTHY E. GREGORY http://isthmia.osu.edu/teg/
http://www.aarweb.org/syllabus/syllabi/g/gregory/later_byzantine_empire.htm
http://www.aarweb.org/syllabus/syllabi/g/gregory/early_byzantine_empire.htm
Tim Gregory’s course on Late Antiquity http://isthmia.osu.edu/teg/hist50303/
Views of Constantinople http://www.princeton.edu/~asce/const_95/const.html
Byzantine Warfare Primary Sources http://www.deremilitari.org/resources/sources/malalas.htm
Byzantine Warfare Strategy etc.
http://www.neobyzantine.org/byzantium/army/index.php
http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Medieval/warfare.htm
Byzantine Studies at Dumbarton Oaks http://www.doaks.org/Byzantine.html
Byzantine site in Greece http://www.myriobiblos.gr/links.htm
Byzantine site in Australia http://home.vicnet.net.au/~byzaus/
Byzantine site in the UK http://www.byzantium.ac.uk/
SAINTS Synaxarion online http://www.rongolini.com/synaxariontoc.htm
SOURCES for Saints Lives http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/sbook3.html
Hippolyte Delehaye: The Legends of the Saints: An Introduction to Hagiography (1907)
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/delehaye-legends.html
Late Antique Art images http://www.flickr.com/photos/antiquite-tardive/
The Walters Museum, Medieval collection
http://www.thewalters.org/works_of_art/medieval_art_armor_weapons_knights.aspx
The Cleveland Museum of Art http://www.clemusart.com/byzantine/
Metropolitan Museum of Art Medieval Art with Late Antique & Byzantine images. http://www.metmuseum.org/Works_Of_Art/department.asp?dep=17
ISLAMIC WEBPAGE WITH LINKS TO BYZANTINE SOURCES
http://www.library.cornell.edu/colldev/mideast/histmedv.htm
Elpenor, home of the Greek Word
http://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/default.asp
Schedule for HIST 383.01 History of the Byzantine Empire, Spring 2007
Week 1 Introduction: the Later Roman Empire
Wed. Jan 17 TEXT, Introduction, pp. 1-20
Fri. Jan 19 TEXT, Ch 1, Crisis of the Third Century, pp. 21-32; CHURCH, 6-49
Week 2 Diocletian and Constantine; Christianization of the Roman Empire
Mon. Jan 22 TEXT, Ch. 2, The Revival under Diocletian, pp. 31-44;
READER, Diocletian, pp. 334, 39, 46, 57, 63-4; Persecution CHURCH 50-59
Wed. Jan 24 TEXT, Ch 3, The Age of Constantine the Great, pp. 45-65
Fri. Jan 26 Constantine I, READER, 1-2, 17-8; 127, 132-3, 138, 145-6; 87, 202, 229, 371-2, 389; CHURCH, 77-86, 212-234; #1 due.
Week 3 Constantius and Julian - Conflicts in the West and the East
Mon Jan 29 TEXT, Ch 4, The Fourth Century: Constantius II to Theodosios I, pp. 66-82; READER, Constantius II, 127-8; ART, Ch 1, 6-19; Rome
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/ammianus-history14.html
Wed Jan 31 Julian READER, 128-9, 415-6; CHURCH, 65-70;
funeral oration by Libanius http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/libanius_monody.htm
AMMIANUS PROJECT http://odur.let.rug.nl/~drijvers/ammianus/index.htm
Ambrose and Symmachus
http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~vandersp/Courses/texts/sym-amb/ambrepf.html
Fri. Feb 2 Barbarians via AMMIANUS SELECTIONS; #2 due
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/378adrianople.html
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/arabia1.html#Ammianus%20Marcellinus
Barbarians, Reader 327-30;
The end of the Classical World http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/sbook1b.html
Early Germanic States http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/sbook1f.html
Week 4 Theodosius and the Fifth Century; Dealing with the “Other”
Mon. Feb 5 TEXT, Ch 4, The Fourth Century continued, pp. 82-94; READER, Theodosius I, 57, 97, 329; 2, 129-130; Theodosius II, 109-110; The Code, 250-2; CHURCH, 70-1, 59-75, 87-92, 120, 125-154, 195-196
Wed. Feb 7 Saints and Warriors, READER 165-8, 179-181, 327-333, 393-4, 415-6; CHURCH, Ch 5, pp. 159-184, 187-212; #3 due.
Fri. Feb 9 TEXT, Ch 5, The Fifth Century, pp. 95-111; READER Zeno, 67, 330-1; Anastasius I, 48, 253, 258, 320, 331-2; 58-9, 297; Scientists, 431-5
Week 5 Justinian and the Sixth Century; “the last Roman emperor”
Mon Feb 12 TEXT, Ch 6, The Age of Justinian, pp. 119-147; ART Ch 2, 20-33
Wed Feb 14 PROCOPIUS, Introduction and Chs 1-3, pp. 7-113
Fri. Feb 16 PROCOPIUS, Chs 4-7, pp. 114-194; #4 due.
Week 6 Sixth and Seventh Centuries; Africa, Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia, Persia
Mon Feb 19 Justinian and Successors; READER II, see list on pp. 454-5
Wed Feb 21 FIRST PAPER DUE on some topic related to the Later Roman Empire (based on Procopius and other readings to date);
TEXT, Ch 7, Byzantine “Dark Ages”: Late Sixth to Seventh Centuries, pp. 148-182.
Fri. Feb 23 READER III [Heraclius and after]; see list on pp. 455-6; ART, Ch 3, 34-43,
Week 7 Byzantium as a Redefined Empire; the Empire of the Soul
Mon Feb 26 FIRST TEST over material covered to date
Wed Feb 28 TEXT, Ch 8, Isaurian Dynasty and Iconoclasm, pp. 183-201;
ART Ch 4, 44-55; #5 due.
Fri. Mar 2 READER IV [711-867; Iconoclasm] see list on page 456
Week 8 The Revived Empire; Expansion into Russia
Mon. Mar 5 TEXT, Ch 9, Continued Struggle over Ikons, pp. 202-216; READER V [867-1025; Golden Age of the Macedonians] [through 137] list on pages 456-7
Wed Mar 7 TEXT, Ch 10 The Beginnings of the Macedonian Dynasty, pp. 217-236; READER V continued [137-end] list on pp. 457-8; #6 due.
Fri. Mar 9 TEXT, Ch 11, The Apogee of Byzantine Power, pp. 237-256
Spring break - March 10—18; Take Psellus with you!!!
Week 9 The Literature of Byzantium
Mon. Mar 19 PSELLUS 27-83, Basil II, Constantine VIII, & Romanus III
Wed Mar 21 PSELLUS 87-164, Michael IV, Michael V and the empresses
Fri. Mar 23 READING DAY; NO CLASS
Week 10 The Eleventh Century
Mon Mar 26 PSELLUS 165-274, Constantine IX and the empress
Wed Mar 28 PSELLUS 275-344, Michael VI, Isaac Comnenus & Constantine X
Fri. Mar 30 PSELLUS 345-380, Eudocia, Romanus IV, & Michael VII; #7 due.
Week 11 Alexios Komnenos and the First Crusade
Mon Apr 2 TEXT, Ch 12, The Komnenoi, pp. 257-281; ART, Ch 5, 56-65
Wed Apr 4 ANNA 31-134, Alexios’ rise to power
Fri. Apr 6 ANNA 135-215, War with the Normans
Week 12 East and West in conflict: the Fourth Crusade and the Great Aftermath
Mon Apr 9 ANNA 293-368, Byzantine encounters with Europeans; #8 due.
Wed Apr 11 READER VI [1025-1204; decline of empire; the Comnenan and Angelid Period] (list on pages 458-460)
Fri. Apr 13 TEXT, Ch 13 The Aftermath of the Fourth Crusade, pp. 282-297; ART, Ch 6, 66-75
Week 13 The Beginnings of Decline
Mon. Apr 16 READER VII [1204-1261; Latin Empire and successor states, list p. 460]; #9 due.
Wed Apr18 READER VIIIA [1261-1328; the Early Palaeologoi, list on pp. 460-461]
Fri Apr 20 SECOND PAPER DUE on some aspect of Byzantium (based on Psellus and/or Anna and/or class readings since first paper);
TEXT, Ch 14, The Beginnings of Decline, pp. 298-324
Week 14 The End of the Empire and Byzantine Influences
Mon Apr 23 TEXT, Ch 15 The End of the Empire, pp. 325-339; ART, Ch 7, 76-91
READER VIIIB [1328-1453; the Later Palaeologi] (list on pages 461-462)
Wed Apr 25 TEXT, Ch 16 Byzantium after the Fall of the City, pp. 340-357;
READER IX [Epilogue] (list on page 462); #19 due.
Fri. Apr 27 Final discussion and review for the exam
Week 15
Mon -Tues, April 30-May 1 SMP presentations;
Wed May 2 Reading Day
Thurs—Tues, May 3-8 Exams
Exam for this class is Monday May 7 at 9-11:15 a.m. in the regular classroom;
Emphasis on material since midterm exam
ADDITIONAL PRIMARY SOURCES
See also Procopius and Eusebius, and other Byzantine authors in the Loeb library volumes in the PA section of the library.
Eusebius' Life of Constantine, Averil Cameron, trans., Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.
Alice-Mary Talbot, ed., Holy Women of Byzantium: Ten Saints’ Lives in English Translation, Washington, D.C.: Dumbarton Oaks Center Studies, 1996.
Alice-Mary Talbot, ed., Byzantine Defenders of Images: Eight Saints' lives in English Translation, Washington, D.C.: Dumbarton Oaks, c1998.
Elizabeth A.S. Dawes, ed., Three Byzantine Saints: Contemporary Biographies of St. Daniel the Stylite, St. Theodore of Sykeon, and St. John the Almsgiver, St. Vladimir’s Seminary, 1997.
Digenis Akritas: The Two-Blood Border Lord, Denison B. Hull, trans., Athens, Ohio: Ohio University Press, 1972, 1985.
ADDITIONAL READING OF GREAT VALUE
Our library has a large number of books on Byzantine topics. Others can be purchased or ordered from Victor or Interlibrary Loan. Search by keyword Byzantine or Byzantium.
Peter Brown, The World of Late Antiquity A.D. 150-750, New York: Norton, 1989, with revised bibliography.
Peter Brown, The Body and Society: Men, Women, and Sexual Renunciation in Early Christianity, New York: Columbia University Press, 1990.
Robert Browning, The Byzantine Empire, revised edition, Washington, D.C., Catholic University of America Press, 1992.
Averil Cameron, The Later Roman Empire, A.D. 284-430, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1993.
Averil Cameron, The Mediterranean World in Late Antiquity A.D. 395-600, London and New York: Routledge, 1993.
Warren Treadgold, A Concise History of Byzantium, New York: Palgrave, 2001.
Warren Treadgold, A History of the Byzantine State and Society, Stanford University Press, 1997.
Mark Whittow, The Making of Byzantium 600-1025, Berkeley: University of California Press, 1996.
A LIST OF BYZANTINE EMPERORS
by Timothy E. Gregory
284-305 Diocletian
Maximian, Galerius, Constantius I Chlorus
305-311 Galerius
Constantius I Chlorus
Severus II
Licinius
Constantine I
Maximinus Daia
(all associated at various time. 6 augusti in 309!)
311-324 Constantine I and Licinius
324-337 Constantine I
337-340 Constantine II, Constantius II, and Constans
340-361 Constantius II
361-363 Julia
363-364 Jovian
364-375 Valentian I and Valens with Valens from 367
375-378 Valens, Gratian and Valentian II
378-395 Theodosius I the Great
378-383 with Gratian and Valentian II
383-392 with Valentian II and Arcadius
392-395 with Arcadius and Honorius
395 PARTITION - WESTERN EMPIRE
395-423 Honorius
425-455 Valentian III
455 Petronius Maximus
455-456 Avitus
457-461 Majorian
461-465 Libius Severus
467-472 Anthimus
472 Olybrius
473-474 Glyceruis
474-475 Julius Nepos
475-476 Romulus Augustulus
395 PARTITION - EASTERN EMPIRE
Dynasty of Theodosius
395-408 Arcadius
408-450 Theodosius II
450-457 Marcian
Dynasty of Leo
457-474 Leo I
474 Leo II
474-491 Zeno
491-518 Anastasius
Dynasty of Justinian
518-527 Justin
527-565 Justinian I
565-578 Justin II
578-582 Tiberius II
582-602 Maurice
602-610 Phocas
Dynasty of Heraclius
610-641 Heraclius
641-668 Constans II
668-685 Constantine IV
685-695 Justinian II (exiled)
695-698 Leontius
695-698 Leontius
698-705 Tiberius III
705-711 Justinian II (restored)
(no dynasty)
711-713 Bardanes
713-716 Anastasius II
716-717 Theodosius II
Isaurian Dynasty
717-741 Leo III the Isaurian
741-775 Constantine V Copronymus
775-780 Leo IV
780-797 Constantine VI
797-802 Irene
802-811 Nicephorus I
811 Strauracius (Stavrakios)
811-813 Michael I Rangabe (Rangavas)
813-820 Leo V
Amorian Dynasty
820-829 Michael II the Amorian
829-842 Theophilus
842-867 Michael III
Macedonian Dynasty
867-886 Basil I
886-912 Leo VI
912-13 Alexander
912-959 Constantine VII Porphygenitus
919-944 Romanus I Lecapenus
959-963 Romanus II
963-1025 Basil II Bulgaroktonos and Constantine VIII
963 Regency of Theophano (widow Romanus II)
963-969 Nicephorus II Phocas
969-976 John Tzimiskes
1025-1028 Constantine VIII
1028-1034 Romanus II Argyrus
1034-1041 Michael IV the Paphlagonian
1041-1042 Michael V Kalaphates
1042 Zoe and Theodora
1042-1055 Constantine IX Monomachos
1055-1056 Theodora alone
1056-1057 Michael VI Stratiotikos
Prelude to Komnenan Dynasty
1057-1059 Isaac I Komnenos (abdicated)
1059-1067 Constantine X Doukas
1067-1071 Romanus IV Diogenes
1071-1078 Michael VII Doukas
1078-1081 Nicephorus III Botaniates
Dynasty of the Komnenoi
1081-1118 Alexios I Komnenos
1118-1143 John II Komenos
1143-1180 Manuel I Komnenos
1180-1183 Alexios II
1183-1185 Andronikos I
Dynasty of the Angeloi
1185-1195 Isaac II Angelos
[LATIN EMPIRE from 1204 to 1261]
1204-1222 Theodore I Laskaris
1222-1254 John III Doukas Vatatzes
1254-1258 Theodore II Laskaris
1258-1261 John IV Laskaris
Dynasty of the Palaeologoi
1259-1282 Michael VIII Paleologos
[1261, RECAPTURE OF CONSTANTINOPLE]
1282-1343 Andronikos II
1293-1320 Michael IX
[period of anarchy]
1328-1341 Andronicus III
1341-1376 John V Kantakouzenos
1341-1354 John VI
1376-1379 Andronikos IV
1379-1391 John V (restored)
1390 John VII
1391-1425 Manuel II
1425-1448 John VIII
1449-1453 Constantine XI Dragatses
[1453, CAPTURE OF CONSTANTINOPLE BY MEHMET II]