Unit BYZANTINE HISTORY
- Course
- Italian, classical studies and european history
- Study-unit Code
- GP005267
- Curriculum
- Civiltà e cultura dell'antico
- Teacher
- Rita Lizzi
- Teachers
-
- Rita Lizzi
- Hours
- 36 ore - Rita Lizzi
- CFU
- 6
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2025
- Offered
- 2025/26
- Learning activities
- Affine/integrativa
- Area
- Attività formative affini o integrative
- Academic discipline
- L-FIL-LET/07
- Type of study-unit
- Opzionale (Optional)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa monodisciplinare
- Language of instruction
- Italian
- Contents
- - The Byzantine Empire from 330 to 1453: Political, Cultural and Religious History from Constantine the Great to the Islamic conquest. - Superstitious Fear and Secular Thought: Pagans versus Christians
- Reference texts
- For those attending: General part: – One textbook of your choice from the list below: Averil Cameron, The Byzantines, Oxford 2006; Georg Ostrogorsky, Geschichte des byzantinischen Staates, München 1963; Giorgio Ravegnani, Introduzione alla storia bizantina, Il Mulino, Bologna 2006; Warren Treadgold, A concise History of Byzantium, New York 2001. Monographic Part: R. Lizzi Testa, Superstitious Fear and Secular Thought: Pagans versus Cgristians, in A. Cain, S. Hannan, J. Timmermann (eds), Festschrift for Mark Vessey, Oxford 2026. For non-attending students: : Giorgio Ravegnani, Introduzione alla storia bizantina, Il Mulino, Bologna 2006 Averil Cameron, The Byzantines, Oxford 2006, Giorgio Ravegnani, I Bizantini in Italia, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2004 Rita Lizzi Testa, Superstitious Fear and Secular Thought: Pagans versus Christians, in A. Cain, S. Hannan. J. Timmermann (eds), Festschrift for Mark vessey, Oxford 2026
- Educational objectives
- Knowledge of the main events in the history and culture of the Byzantine Empire. Acquisition of basic skills in the use of sources and bibliographical tools related to Byzantine history.
- Prerequisites
- To take this course, the student must have already passed an examination in Roman History and have a basic knowledge of Medieval History as well as Ancient Christian literature. Ability to read Latin and (possibly) Greek texts.
- Teaching methods
- The course is organised as follows - Lectures on all topics and issues related to Byzantine history. - short lectures/debates given by the students as an in-depth study of the topics dealt with in the course
- Learning verification modality
- The examination includes a final oral test (on the official dates scheduled in the calendar), which consists of a discussion-colloquium on the topics dealt with during the course and examined in depth in the recommended texts. The test is designed to ascertain the level of knowledge reached by the students, their ability to make connections and to briefly explain the main historical issues addressed in the course. The duration of the examination varies according to the progress of the test itself.
- Extended program
- The course will be organized in two parts: (A) a general part of history and historiography on the Byzantine age; and (B) a monographic part on a specific research topic. A- History of the Byzantine Empire from the foundation of Constantinople in 330 A.D. to the Islamic conquest in 1453: 1- Constantine the Great and the relationship between Empire and Church in the 4th century. 2- The division of the empire and the confrontation between Rome and Constantinople. 3- The primacy of Rome from Leo the Great to Gelasius. 4- The age of Theoderic the Great. 5- Justinian and 'Caesaropapism'. 7- The Age of Heraclius and Islamic expansion. 8- Iconoclasm and its impact on the Byzantine presence in Italy. 9- The Macedonian dynasty. 10- The Comnenes and the Angels; 11- The Crusades and their effects on Byzantium. 12- The Latin Empire; 13- The Palaeologues. 14- The fall of Constantinople. B. Analysis of Symmachus' III Relatio and Ambrose's Letters to verify their ideas on the causes of famine in 382/383 AD.
- Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile
- Quality education; gender equality; reducing inequalities.