Courses
Middle Byzantine Period I (610-843a.D.)
The organization and the administration of the Byzantine state in the middle Byzantine period, the political affairs of the time, the Byzantine cultural influence, the relations with the Western Roman Empire as well as the religious policy of the Byzantine emperors are analysed in this course in light of the study of relevant sources.
Written examination.
Optional papers.
The Crusades of the 12th century (Seminar)
In the framework of the seminar, the survival efforts of the Crusader states in the East after the First Crusade will be studied. With the use of Byzantine, Western, Arabic, Armenian and other sources, the relations between Byzantium and the West in the Second and the Third Crusade will be investigated, along with the relations of the Frankish rulers to each other and the role of the papal church.
Participation in the seminar requires knowledge of at least one European language.
Compulsory written essay and oral presentation.
Middle Byzantine Period II (843- 1204a.D.)
The political affairs of the period, the relations with the Western Roman Empire and the establishment of new titles and new criteria for the formation of the upper class set by Alexios Comnenus will be presented in this course along with the crisis of the 11th century and the relationships between the Byzantines and the Crusaders.
Written examination.
Optional papers.
The Byzantium of the 11 th century: the testimonies of the sources (1025-1081) ( Seminar)
In the framework of the seminar, the way the 11th century crisis was perceived by the contemporary or later Byzantine writers will be examined and their critic will be identified. By studying the sources comparatively, the causes of inefficiency of the Byzantine army will be sought, while t he effectiveness of the reform measures taken by the emperors of the 11th century will be estimated, in the framework of studying the broader changes occurring in the Byzantine culture throughout this period.
Participation in the seminar requires knowledge of at least one European language.
Compulsory written essay and oral presentation.