BYZANTINE HISTORY II

Specialization / Direction

Specific Foundation / Core

The course is also offered to exchange programme students.

Upon the successful completion of this course the students are expected to: • possess specialized knowledge on the political, military, religious, economic and social realities during the transitional period of the 11th-12th centuries and the late Byzantine period (1081-1453) • be able to analyze and critically evaluate historical phenomena • be able to correlate historical facts • to identify and collect historical evidence through methodological approach and analysis of relevant sources, to include the evidence in the historical context and assess its importance for the historical knowledge and research • be able to answer specialized questions within the specific topic, which involve both critical thinking and specialized knowledge

The objective of this course is knowledge, comprehension, analysis and critical evaluation of historical facts and phenomena of the late Byzantine period. In particular, it examines the political-military-church history, the administrative institutions, the social-economic structures and perceptions of the period under study. Emphasis is also given to the way the imperial power is exercised, the state control is applied, the developments on the Byzantine political ideology which occur at that time. Additionally, the course includes a presentation of selected sources and modern studies, discussion on different approaches to the above issues and phenomena from modern research and methodological approach and analysis of relevant excerpts. Week #1 Byzantium during the transitional period 1025-1081 - The ascend of the Komnenian dynasty (1081-1185) - The characteristics of the period - Presentation of sources and modern studies Week #2 Politico-military events in Asia Minor and the West: The loss of the eastern provinces and the struggle to recover them (political-military developments in Asia Minor) - Byzantium and the Normans (the loss of Southern Italy and the threat in the Balkans) - The first three Crusades, direct and indirect consequences for Byzantium - Sources, Selected bibliography - Analysis and interpretation of an extract from a relevant source Week #3 Politico-military events in the Balkans in the times of Komnenoi (1081-1185) and Angels (1185-1204): The threat of Petzenegoi, the Hungarian factor, the efforts of the Serbs for indeperndence, the reestablishment of the Bulgarian state - Sources, Select bibliography - Analysis and interpretation of a relevant excerpt Week #4 Central and provincial administration in the 11th-12th centuries (organisation and reforms, effectiveness and shortcomings) - Army (organisation and recruitment) Week #5 Judicial System - Economy - Society (1081-1204) Week #6 The overthrow of the political and territorial status and the struggle for the restoration of the Byzantine empire (1204-1261): The conquest of Constantinople by the Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade - the establishment of the Latin Empire of Constantinople and the feudal vassal states - The foundation of the Greek states of Nicaea and Epirus and the struggle for the reestablishment of the Byzantine Empire - The transformation of the State of Epirus into the empire of Thessalonike - the ideological-political conflict of the empires of Nicaea and Thessalonike - Sources, Select bibliography - Analysis and interpretation of a relevant excerpt Week #7 The reign of Michael VIII Palaeologos: internal situation and external enemies - the Arseniatic schism and its political dimensions (1261-1310) - The Church Union in 1274; the conflict between unionists and anti-unionists (1274-1283) - Sources, Select bibliography - Analysis and interpretation of a relevant excerpt Week #8 The reign of Andronikos II Palaiologos - Byzantium in the internal and the international context - The Civil War between the two Andronikoi Palaiologoi (protagonists, causes, events, dimensions, consequences) - The reign of Andronikos III Palaiologos (reform measures, foreign policy) - Sources, Select bibliography - Analysis and interpretation of a relevant excerpt Week #9 The civil wars in the period of 1341-1354. The political and social dimensions - The Zealots movement in Thessalonike - The hesyhast controversy and its involvement in the political events of the period - Sources, Select bibliography - Analysis and interpretation of a relevant excerpt Week #10 The last Byzantine century (1354-1453): The Ottoman threat during the reign of John V Palaeologos - New dynastic strives - The policy of Manuel II Palaeologus in response to the Ottoman threat - Sources, Select bibliography - Analysis and interpretation of a relevant excerpt Week #11 The Council of Ferrara-Florence (1438-1439); the conflict between unionists and anti-unionists - The fall of Constantinople and the completion of the Ottoman conquests - Sources, Select bibliography - Analysis and interpretation of a relevant excerpt Week #12 Social groups in the palaeologan period – The social crisis of the 13th-15th centuries - Political thought - The decrease of the central authority and the decay of state coherence in the 14th and 15th centuries - The cultural and political identity of the Byzantines in the late Byzantine period Week #13 Revision of the characteristics of palaeologan period - Analysis of the factors that led to the gradual weakening and final fall of the Byzantine empire – Instructions for the examinations - Presentation of voluntary projects undertaken by students

political history, church and state, economic evolutions, society, Komnenoi, Doukes, Laskarids, Palaiologoi, administrative system, historical sources

03-07-2022