OVERVIEW

The course offers an overview of some crucial aspects in the Byzantine world (330-1453 AD), as regards history, literature and art. Students start by choosing one aspect from these three available starting-points and progress to an in-depth study by following significant links between their initial choice and the other two perspectives. For example, a possible trajectory could start from the history of the Hagia Sophia church (today Haya Sophia grand mosque, Istanbul) and progress to its mosaics and their interpretations, and end in their literary descriptions. This is why every BA student can take the course, even with no prerequisites in ancient Greek.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims at acquiring the following knowledge, skills and abilities: - exposing the main turning points of Byzantine history (ca. 330-1453); - analyzing some crucial Byzantine texts in English translation; - distinguishing the main Byzantine literary genres; - describing the role of artistic production in Byzantine culture.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

For the aims, see the previous item.

Learning outcomes (detail)

It is expected that, at the end of teaching attendance and the study of the related program, students will be able:

1. to make connections between timeline and events, texts, artifacts;
2. to analyze the Byzantine ideas of power and culture/education (basileia & paideia).
3. to classify the texts according to their literary genre(s);
4. to contextualise artistic productions and rituals;
5. to debate the relevant texts (in English translation), as regards both their literal and figurative meanings, appraising Byzantine polysemy.
6. to work on the following soft skills, especially through Flipped Classroom: 
   • functional literacy competence – advanced level;
   • personal competence – advanced level;
   • learning-to-learn competence – advanced level.
   • The skills can be certified with an OpenBadge each.

TEACHING METHODS

Lessons will be complemented with Power Point/pdf presentations, various interactive platforms and a laboratory about the selected texts.

Attending the lessons is strongly recommended. Upon request, lessons will be broadcasted via streaming as well.

It is requested to subscribe on Aulaweb <www.aulaweb.unige.it> as well, in order to get information, didactic material, notices, bibliography and so on.

The students who take active part in the Flipped classroom can choose the subject of their (in person) presentation.  The Flipped Classroom allows to work on the following soft skills, which can be certified with an OpenBadge under certain conditions:

• functional literacy competence – advanced level;
• personal competence – advanced level;
• learning-to-learn competence – advanced level.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Beautiful & Dangerous: History, Literature and Art in Byzantium.

Sections: (1) history (2) literature (3) visual arts.

1. the timeline and the main turning points in Byzantine history;
2. selected masterpieces in Byzantine literature (in English translation);
3. the tension among statues, images and crosses in Byzantium, especially about the monuments in Constantinople: Forum of Constantine, Forum of Theodosius, Hagia Sophia, Hagia Eirene, Holy Apostles basilicas, etc.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Attending and non-attending students may ask for a tailor-made bibliography, depending on their career path/field of study.

General bibliography:

E. Jeffreys, J. Haldon, R. Cormack (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Byzantine Studies, Oxford 2008 (selected pages).

A) Byzantine History

J. Shepard (ed.), The Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire c. 500-1492, Cambridge 2008 (selected pages).

P. Magdalino, Basileia: the Idea of Monarchy in Byzantium, 600-1200, in A. Kaldellis-N. Siniossoglou (eds.), The Cambridge Intellectual History of Byzantium, Cambridge 2017, pp. 575-598.

B) Byzantine Literature

A.P. Každan, Chr. Angelidi, L.Fr. Sherry, A History of Byzantine Literature (650-850), Athens 1999 (selected pages).

A.Kaldellis, Procopius of Caesarea. Tyranny, History, and Philosophy at the End of Antiquity, Philadelphia 2004 (selected pages).

Av. Cameron, Procopius and the Sixth Century, London 1985 (selected pages).

C) Byzantine Art and Architecture

L. Brubaker & J. Haldon, Byzantium in the Iconoclast Era c. 680-850: A History, Cambridge, University Press, 2011 (selected pages).

N. Necipoğlu (ed.), Byzantine Constantinople: Monuments, Topography and Every Day Life, Leiden, Boston, Cologne 2001 (selected pages).

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

PIA CAROLLA (President)

FRANCESCA GAZZANO

DOMENICO LOSAPPIO (President Substitute)

MARTINA BIAMINO (Substitute)

LIA RAFFAELLA CRESCI (Substitute)

AGNESE FONTANA (Substitute)

CLARA FOSSATI (Substitute)

ARIANNA MAGNOLO (Substitute)

FRANCESCO VANONI (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

In the week of 17th February 2025

Class schedule

BYZANTINE STUDIES

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral exam.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

In order to assess their knowledge of Byzantine history, literature and visual arts/architecture, students will be asked

1. to contextualise relevant events,
2. to connect them with the Byzantine timeline
3. to read, classify and comment on relevant texts/artifacts
4. to link cultural productions to Byzantine ideas of power and education (basileia & paideia).

Minimum 'pass' requirements for the oral exam are: (i) being able to contextualise the main turning points in Byzantine history, (ii) being able to understand the most important texts/artifacts and (iii) to comment on the texts/artifacts by outlining their major features (for the texts: genre, rhetoric; for the artifacts: age, background).

'Excellence' requirements are: (i) being able to confidently connect most of the relevant events with the timeline, (ii) ability to understand and to accurately comment on texts/artifacts by making connections with Byzantine literary/artistic context (for the texts: genre, rhetoric, classical sources; for the artifacts: age, background, meanings); (iii) being able to detect textual polysemy and to debate Byzantine ideas of culture.

Those who take part in the (optional) Flipped classroom will work on the following SOFT SKILLS, to be certified with OpenBadge:

• functional literacy competence – advanced level;
• personal competence – advanced level;
• learning-to-learn competence – advanced level.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students with disabilities or learning disorders are entitled specific adjustments, provided they upload the relevant certifications and documents on the University's dedicated webpage. See http://servizionline.unige.it under rubric 'Students'. The documents will be validated by the relevant office within the University (Settore servizi per l'inclusione degli studenti con disabilità e con DSA dell'Ateneo) (https://rubrica.unige.it/strutture/struttura/100111). At least 10 days before the exam, students will have to email the instructor, Cc'ing the aforementioned office, as well as the School's deputy for matters concerning students with disabilities and learning disorders (elisabetta.colagrossi@unige.it). Please specify the following in your email: - name, surname, student number
- course name and number; - date of your exam; - adjustments required.
Once the School's representative confirms your eligibility, you will liaise with your professor to finalize the details. The final decision on what adjustments are acceptable rests with your professor. Please note that any request must be sent at least 10 days before your exam, to successfully complete the process in time. Please also note that the mind maps to be used on the day of your exam have to be significantly more concise than those you use when you study. For further information, please see:
https://unige.it/sites/unige.it/files/2024-05/Linee%20guida%20per%20la%20richiesta%20di%20servizi%2C%20di%20strumenti%20compensativi%20e_o%20di%20misure%20dispensative%20e%20di%20ausili%20specifici%20Maggio%202024.pdf

Please contact the professor for any further information in English.