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History of the Byzantine Empire History 410-01 / European Studies 498-03 Spring 2010

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History of the Byzantine Empire History 410-01 / European Studies 498-03 Spring 2010 History of the Byzantine Empire History 410-01 / European Studies 498-03 Spring 2010 Instructor: Dr. Margaret Trenchard-Smith Class Sessions: MWF 12-12:50 at UNH 1401 Office Hours and Location: MWF from 4:15 to 5:30 at UNH 3501 and by appointment Office Telephone: (310) 338-1742 E-mail: [email protected] Course Description/Principal Topics: We will examine the state and society of the medieval East Roman Empire, known as Byzantium, from the dedication of Constantinople as its capital in the fourth century to the conquest of the empire by the Ottoman Turks in the fifteenth. The perception of Byzantium as having undergone a thousand-year decline has long since given way to an historical appreciation of its dynamism, adaptability and endurance. How was the remarkable longevity of the Byzantine Empire achieved? What were the mental structures that lent coherence to its multi-ethnic society, and the microstructures that gave it texture? What can be learned of the daily lives of Byzantine men and women at the various levels of society? In addition to addressing such questions, by using recordings and images, we will also investigate the distinctive culture of Byzantium through its music, art and architecture. In this course, the lecture and seminar formats will be combined. Student Learning Outcomes: The chief objective is to expose many of you for the first time to a culture, society and political entity key to understanding developments in Eurasia to the present moment. Examples: you will gain insight into the historical relationship between the Orthodox Patriarchate and the Papacy, the formation of Slavic societies, the Crusades and their aftermath, and the influence of the Byzantine imperial autocracy upon Medieval Western Europe, Imperial Russia and the Ottoman Empire. As with other history courses, you can expect to enhance your capacity for critical analysis, to improve your presentation and writing skills and to develop further your historical imagination. COURSE SCHEDULE Week 1: Foundations 1/20 Introduction Reading Assignments: Timothy Gregory, A History of Byzantium (hence, Gregory), “Introduction,” pp. 1-20; Ch. 1, pp. 21-32; Ch. 2, pp. 33-44 Deno John Geanakoplos, Byzantium: Church, Society, and Civilization Seen through Contemporary Eyes (hence, Geanakoplos), nrs 19, 25, 40a-b, 57a-b, 58, 67a-b 1/22 Diocletian’s Re-structuring of the Roman Empire Week 2: The Christianization of the Empire 1/25 Constantine the Great and His Sons / Byzantine Imperial Ideology Gregory, Ch. 3, pp. 45-65; Ch. 4, pp. 66-94; Geanakoplos, nrs. 1, 2, 3, 92a, 95-7, 226 Course Reader: Edict of Galerius and Edict of Milan’; Eusebios of Caesarea, Life of the Blessed Emperor Constantine 1/27 Christianity Triumphant / Monks and Saints Geanakoplos nrs. 93-4, 120-21, 128-30, 136, 189a-b, 296a-b Course Reader: The Nicene Creed; Athanasios‟ Life of Anthony Music: “Bless the Lord, O My Soul” (Psalm 102, 1-22), Byzantine Chant (Liturgy of the Catechumens), The Byzantine Choir of Greece, Lycourgos Angelopoulos, Artistic Director 1/29 “Barbarian” Migrations / Theological Disputes Gregory, Ch. 5, pp. 95-118; Geanakoplos, nrs. 106-8a-c, 241-47 Course Reader: Sokrates, Ecclesiastical History Week 3: The West “Falls,” The East Endures 2/1 The Parting of the Ways / Constantinople Geanakoplos, nrs. 35-7, 68a, 79a-b, 164, 176a-b, 177a-b Course Reader: Prokopios (Procopius), Wars; Sozomen, Ecclesiastical History 2/3 The Age of Justinian / Roman and Byzantine Law Gregory, Ch. 6, pp. 119-47; also, “Bibliography,” pp. 367-70; Geanakoplos, nrs. 26, 48-56, 59, 88, 99a, 110a, 142, 179-83, 200- 01, 213-14a-b, 222b, 297 Course Reader: Corpus Iuris Civilis: Novels, Codex; Prokopios, Wars Secret History Music: Romanos the Melodist, “Today the Virgin…” (Kontakion, 6th century), Byzantine Choir of Greece, Lycourgos Angelopoulos, Artistic Director 2/5 Byzantine Charity and Philanthropy / Justinian’s Buildings Geanakoplos, nrs. 119, 140-41, 227-28, 230-31 Course Reader: Leontios‟ Life of John the Almsgiver; Prokopios, Buildings; Paul the Silentiary, Description of Hagia Sophia Week 4: Calamity and Change 2/8 Ephemeral Victories, the Plague and Usurpation Gregory, Ch. 7, pp. 148-82; also, “Glossary,” pp. 359-65; Geanakoplos, nrs. 12-13, 86-7, 100, 255, 298 Course Reader: Paul of Aegina, The Epitome; Theophylactos Simocatta, The Emperor Maurice, Prokopios, On the Wars 2/10 Heraklios and the Persian and Arab Invasions Geanakoplos, nrs. 41, 43-44, 69-70, 98a, 190, 196, 248-50, 322 Course Reader: Chronicon Paschale; Al-Baladhuri, The Battle of the Yarmuk Music: Nidaa Abou Mrad, Enamored of God: A Soufi Oratorio, sung by Carole Samaha 2/12 Rivalries and Revolutions / The Themes Geanakoplos, nrs. 80, 110b Course Reader: Chronicle of Theophanes; The Farmer’s Law Week 5: The Period of Iconoclasm 2/15 The First Phase of Iconoclasm / Daily Life in Byzantium Gregory, Ch. 8, pp. 183-201; Geanakoplos, nrs. 8, 114, 166,186, 213, 216, 219, 221-22, 234, 237, 240 Course Reader: The Iconoclast Council of Constantinople, 754, St. John of Damaskos, In Defense of Icons 2/17 The Second Phase of Iconoclasm / Byzantine Women Gregory, Ch. 9, pp. 202-216; Geanakoplos, nrs. 111-13, 257 Course Reader: Alice-Mary Talbot and Alexander Kazhdan, “Women and Iconoclasm,” BZ 84/85 (1991/1992), pp. 391-408; primary sources: Kassia, poems; Life of Mary the Younger Music: Kassia (9th century), Using the Apostate Tyrant as His Tool, Kronos Quartet, arranged by Diane Touliatos 2/19 Jews in the Byzantine Empire: Guest Lecturer Professor Ra’anan Boustan (UCLA) Course Reader: Ra‟anan Boustan, “The Relics of the Rabbi Ishmael in The Story of the Ten Rabbinic Martyrs” Week 6: Restoration and Renaissance 2/22 Restoration of Icons / Basil I and Leo VI “Sophos” Gregory, Ch. 10, pp. 217-36; Geanakoplos, nrs. 27-28, 99b, 101, 115, 117-18, 146-49, 184, 251a-b Course Reader: Photios, Bibliotheke; Epanagoge 2/24 The Macedonian Renaissance / Romanos Lekapenos and Constantine VII “Porphyrogennetos” Geanakoplos, nrs. 4-5, 51, 89, 169, 229, 299, 301-03, 307a-b, 308-11, 314-15, 319, 320c, 321 Course Reader: Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos, The Book of Ceremonies; Liutprand of Cremona, Report on the Mission to Constantinople 2/26 In-class midterm, Part I Week 7: “The Byzantine Commonwealth” 3/1 Imperial Conquests Gregory, Ch. 11, pp. 237-56; Geanakoplos, nrs. 71-3, 82-4, 125, 137, 252, 256, 258-63 Primary source: Russian Primary Chronicle: The Christianization of Russia Music: Ivan the Terrible (16th century), “Stikhira,” Stikhira for the Milenary (sic) of Christianization of Russia [СТИХИРА], Gennadi Rozhdestvensky, conductor, USSR Ministry of Culture Symphony Orchestra 3/3 The Middle Byzantine Economy and Trade / Microstructures Geanakoplos, nrs. 167-68,170-74,185, 191-92, 202-08, 211-12, 214b, 217 Course Reader: Alexander Kazhdan, “Microstructures” 3/5 Open Session This session is set aside for reflection, questions, general discussion and early presentations Week 8: Student Presentations 3/8 Presenters TBA 3/10 Presenters TBA 3/12 Presenters TBA Week 9: Destabilization 3/15 Political Instability in the Eleventh Century / The Great East-West Christian Schism Geanakoplos, nrs. 11, 15, 74, 126, 150-53, 187, 188b, 224a, 238-39, 267 Course Reader: Margaret Trenchard-Smith, “East and West: Cultural Dissonance and the „Great Schism of 1054‟ ” (available on the home page of Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Los Angeles, select “Orthodoxy,” then select “Great Schism of 1054”); primary sources: Michael Psellos, Fourteen Byzantine Rulers (Chronographia); Pope Leo IX, “Letter to Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos,” Patriarch Michael Keroularios (Cerularius), Edictum Synodale (PG 120: 735-48), Cardinal Humbert, Incipit Brevis et Succincta, etc. (Bull of Excommunication, PL 143: 1001-1004). 3/17 Alexios Komnenos’ Pragmatic Solutions / The First Crusade Gregory, Ch. 12, pp. 257-81; Geanakoplos, nrs. 30, 223, 269-71 Course Reader: Anna Komnene, Alexiad 3/19 The Political Machinations of Manuel I / Byzantine “Feudalism”? Geanakoplos, nrs. 7, 45-6, 271-73 Course Reader: Kinnamos, Deeds, etc; Niketas Choniates, O City of Byzantium Week 10: Byzantium and the West 3/22 Political Tensions and the Fourth Crusade / The Fall of the Empire? Gregory, Ch. 13, pp. 282-97; Geanakoplos, nrs. 31, 274-80 Course Reader: Robert de Clari, The Capture of Constantinople; Niketas Choniates, O City of Byzantium 3/24 The Period of Latin Rule and the Byzantine Successor States Geanakoplos, nrs. 16, 32, 39, 75, 154-55, 175, 224b, 281-82 Course Reader: Chronicle of the Morea 3/26 Midterm, Part II Week 11: Imperfect Recovery 3/29 Recovery of the Capital, If Not of the Empire / Renewed Religious Controversy Gregory, Ch. 14, pp. 298-324; Geanakoplos, nrs. 6, 17, 47a, 85, 156-7, 158a-b, 193a-b, 194, 209-11, 283, 285, 306 Course Reader: John Meyendorff, “Theology in the Thirteenth Century: Methodological Contrasts”; primary source: Gregory Palamas, On Unceasing Prayer 3/31 Spring Break 4/2 Spring Break Week 12: A Crippled Empire 4/5 Civil War and Plague 4/7 Serbian Control of the Balkans Geanakoplos, nrs. 132-33,159-63, 215, 284 Course Reader: Marko and the Turks; Emperor John Kantakuzenos, History 4/9 Ottoman Ascendancy, Byzantine Dependency Geanakoplos, nrs. 10, 18, 33, 47b-c, 91, 98c, 105, 225, 264-5, 286-7, 288a-b, 289-94, 300, 326a-c, 327, 329 Course Reader: Laonikos Chalkokondyles, History Field Trip to Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral Week 13: “… unless soul clap its hands and sing / and louder sing for every tatter in its mortal dress…” 4/12 The Palaiologan Renaissance / Film: Byzantium 4/14 Before the Fall / Final drafts of research papers are due for comment and revision Gregory, Ch. 15, pp. 325-39 Music: Guillaume Dufay (15th century), Lamentatio Sanctae Matris Ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae (“Lamentation for the Holy Mother Church of Constantinople”), Cappella Romana, Alexander Lingas, artistic director 4/16 Midterm, Part III Week 14: An End Comes 4/19 The Ottoman Conquest of Constantinople Gregory, Ch.
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