Methodology of research and processing of archival material

Specialization / Direction

The course is also offered to exchange programme students.

1) Mastery of methodology for researching 19th-century Greek-language ecclesiastical and civic archives, includes a) Description and transcription of archival materials b) Extraction of data, development of prosopographical database c) Simple statistical calculations (i.e., range, midpoint, mean, and mode) d) Compilation of findings, comparison and interpretation of data.

Syllabus Schedule First Session: “Introduction to 19th-Century Ecclesiastical Records at Vatoussa and Other Locations of Lesvos” Aims: Introduction Advantages and Benefits of Researching Ecclesiastical Records Survey of Categories of Ecclesiastical Records (i.e., financial, notarial, correspondence) Nineteenth-Century Handwriting Samplers and Byzantine Dating of Documents Describing and Transcribing Handwritten Material for Digitization and Archival Storage Examples of Data Contained within Codices and Unbound Documents Demonstrations of Decoding and Transcribing Second Session: “Ecclesiastical History in Parochial, Eparchial, and State Archival Materials” Aims: Types of Data Available Concerning Ecclesiastical History (e.g., names and dates of service of parish priests, eparchial encyclicals detailing changes in policy, applications for Ottoman building permits, data on wages of staff or clergy, etc.) Methods of Compilation of Data; Importance of Data-Driven Approach Demonstrations of Transcribing, and Compiling Data Introduction to Simple Statistical Analyses Third Session: “Local Economy Reflected in Ecclesiastical Archives” Aims: Discussion of Consumer Prices Knowledge of Rural Occupations and Businesses Elucidation of Local Wages; Comparisons with State (National) Data Presentation of Relevant Data Fourth Session: “Land and Property Values As Recorded in Archival Documents” Aims: Survey of Types of Properties (i.e., pasturage, vineyards, cropland, oak groves, homes, businesses) and Their Values Discussion of Dowry-Contracts Detailing Major Assets of Families; Examples from Vatoussa, Telonia (Antissa), and Lafiona Records of Transfers of Properties Extraction and Compilation of Data Fifth Session: “Administration of Local Church and Village” Aims: Introduction to Tanzimat Reformations and Codification of Village (Civil) Administration Discussion of Typical Records Generated by Dimogeronties (Local Councils); Examples from Vatoussa, Akrasi, and Agra Discussion of Parochial Ecclesiastical Administration Relationship Between Administration of Civil Community and Local Parish Extraction and Compilation of Data Sixth Session: “Local Civil and Ecclesiastical Taxation” Aims: Introduction to the Ottoman System of Taxation; Civil Taxes for Families, and Communities Records Generated Locally by Ottoman Taxation Introduction to Ecclesiastical Taxes and Fees; Fees for Parish Priests, Local Churches, and Metropolises Local Church Records Detailing Various Ecclesiastical Fees Compilation and Analyses of Data Seventh Session: “Management of Local Church Assets: Real Estate” Aims: Understanding Records Detailing Management of Various Types of Properties: Acquisition of Properties; Sales of Properties; Rental Contracts, Repairs and Maintenance Ottoman Revenue Stamps As Indicators of Transactional Values Tracking Income and Profitability of Ecclesiastical Properties; Examples from Vatoussa Compiling and Analyzing Property Data Eighth Session: “Investment Activity: Substitution Currency, Loans” Aims: Introduction to Ottoman Currency and Local Ad Hoc Currency Details of the Vatoussan Lending Program of Koimisis tis Theotokou Church: Borrowers, Guarantors, Collateral, and Collections Comparisons of Koimisis Loans with Lending by Other Institutions and Villages Village-wide Benefits of the Koimisis Lending Program Compilation and Presentation of Data Ninth Session: “Education and Philanthropy” Aims: Extraction of Data from Records Concerning Education; Examples from Vatoussa Understanding the Role of the Local Church in Funding Education Local Educational Programs as Top Recipients of Philanthropy: Funds Given by Private Individuals and Associations Range of Philanthropic Donations by Local Churches Presentation of Data Tenth Session: “Ethical Financial Decisions and Policies” Aims: Delineating Ethical Financial Policies Through Examination of Data; Examples from the Archives of Vatoussa and Mystegna Extraction of Data and Presentation of Qualitative Examples Eleventh Session: “Development of Prosopographical Database” Aims: Introduction to the Basic Principles of Creating Prosopographical Databases: The Oxford Unit for Prosopographical Research Examples from the Vatoussan Database Demonstration Employing Lafiona Data Twelfth Session: “Comparison and Contrast of Local Data with Suitable Rural Counterparts” and Semester Review Aims: Contextualization of Extracted Local Data Discussion of Validity and Reliability of Data Avoiding Common Pitfalls of Data-Driven Research Review of Major Course Concepts

History, Spirituality, Theology, Social Sciences, Christianity, Orthodoxy, Culture

20-08-2024