BYZANTINE HISTORY SEMINAR: PROCOPIUS OF CAESAREA AND HIS WORLD
Teaching Staff: Vassileiou Fotis
Course Code: ΙΒΥ608
Course Type: Seminar
Course Level: Undergraduate
Course Language: Greek
Delivery method: In the classroom
Semester: 6
ECTS: 5
Short Description:
Procopius of Caesarea, one of the most significant byzantine historians, left us a fascinating narration of the Justinianic era. This seminar focuses on his works, as well as other contemporary sources, and shades light on the protagonists and the significant events of the period. Students are expected to produce an essay and defend it in and oral presentation.
Objectives - Learning Outcomes:
The students will:
- acquire a rich perspective on the Justinianic era
- become familiar with the primary sources of the 6th-century Byzantium
- develop an ability to write with clarity about historical events and defend it in an oral presentation
Syllabus:
Week #1: Introduction
Week #2: Procopius, Justinian, Theodora, Belisarius
Week #3: The Wars of Justinian
Week #4: The Secret History
Week #5: Buildings
Week #6: John Malala’s Chronographia
Week #7: Agathias’ History
Week #8: Romanos Melode’s Kontakia
Week #9: Hagiography
Week #10: Presentation of the assignments
Week #11:. Presentation of the assignments
Week #12:. Presentation of the assignments
Week #13: Presentation of the assignments
Suggested Bibliography:
P. Brown, Ο Κόσμος της Ύστερης Αρχαιότητας, μτφρ. Ελ. Σταμπόγλη, Αθήνα 1999
Cameron, Procopius and the Sixth century, Berkeley 1985
A. S. Evans, The Age of Justinian: The Circumstances of Imperial Power, Λονδίνο 1996
Α. Καλδέλλης - Η. Αναγνωστάκης, Ο Ιουστινιανός πίσω από τον αυτοκράτορα, Αθήνα 2014
Kaldellis, Procopius of Caesarea: Tyranny, History, and Philosophy at the End of Antiquity. Φιλαδέλφεια 2004
Α, Καρπόζηλος, Βυζαντινοί ιστορικοί και χρονογράφοι 4ος - 7ος αι., Αθήνα 1997
Morrisson, Ο Βυζαντινός κόσμος. Η Ανατολική Ρωμαϊκή Αυτοκρατορία (330-641), μτφρ. Αν. Καραστάθη, Αθήνα 2007
Maas, The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Justinian. Cambridge 2005
D.A. Parnell, Justinian's Men Careers and Relationships of Byzantine Army Officers, 518-610, Λονδίνο 2017
Teaching Methods:
Open lectures.
Critical reading and analysis of source material
Evaluation Methods:
Written assignment.
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