Byzantine Archaeology: The archaeology of the Byzantine empire and its neighbours AD 500-850. (P02325)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : HCA-P-ByzArch

This course aims to understand the transformation of the Classical world and the emergence of new and diverse material cultures, institutions and ideologies in the Byzantine empire and its neighbours, including the Islamic world. The early medieval period saw a radical realignment in the economic, social and political structures of Europe, the Mediterranean and western Asia which remain fundamental for understanding many of the tensions in the modern world. Byzantium was a unique state located between the new, dynamic Islamic world and the early medieval kingdoms of continental Europe. The course examines the material culture and structures of Byzantium and its neighbours from the Justinian's reign in the 6th century to AD 850. The study will begin by considering Justinian's empire and in particular by reviewing the recent debate on the end of urbanism in late antiquity. The empire faced new challenges including invasions by the Slavs, Bulgars and other barbarians in the Balkans and Greece and we will consider aspects of state-formation of Bulgaria. We will look at the rise of Islam and the impact the Arab invasions had on the Byzantine world as well on urbanism, religion and transport in the eastern Mediterranean. Orthodox Christianity was crucial for the survival of the Byzantine state and the crisis concerning the worship of religious images known as Iconoclasm, raises issues relevant for understanding the significance of images and belief in the medieval and the modern worlds.

Entry Requirements

? Costs : None.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Postgraduate (School of History and Classics), (School of History, Classics and Archaeology, Schedule E)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
18/09/2007	14:00	15:50	Room 1.F01, Old High School	Central

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Tuesday	14:00	15:50	Central

? Additional Class Information : N.B. Timetable is arranged annually

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

- A knowledge and understanding of the main elements of Byzantine and Islamic archaeology in the early middle ages
- Skills of interpreting and analysing the material and textual sources for urban and rural transformation.
- An awareness of current historical and archaeological debates concerning the early medieval world in the eastern Mediterranean.
- An understanding of the key issues concerning the relationship of art historical evidence with archaeological and textual sources
- The ability to use critically a range of different categories of visual , material and written evidence
- Some knowledge of the geography of the region
- Bibliographical research skills to enable students to find additional information for assignments