Undergraduate Course: Communities of Byzantine Asia Minor, AD 500-1300 (CACA10045)
Course Outline
| School | School of History, Classics and Archaeology |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Asia Minor, the region roughly corresponding to the modern state of Turkey, was the site of radical transformations and cultural encounters in the Early Medieval period, when it constituted one of the final bastions of the East Roman state. This course will introduce students to the diverse material cultures of Byzantine Asia Minor, from the reign of Justinian to the first Turkic polities. |
| Course description |
At the opening of the sixth century AD the ancient cities of Asia Minor, the region roughly corresponding to the modern state of Turkey, were flourishing. Yet within two hundred years this region would become one of the least urbanised of the Mediterranean world. This course aims to understand why and how such change occurred, and what new forms of community emerged out of the ruins of that ancient order.
The course addresses the communities of Byzantine Asia Minor, from the reign of Justinian to the arrival of the Seljuk Turks and the introduction of Islam. We will explore a diverse range of material cultures, from villages perched amidst the crumbling remains of Roman cities to the rockcut churches and palaces of Cappadocia. Students will engage with a variety of archaeological and historical media, including coins, amulets and seals as well as monumental architecture and written sources. The course will enable students to gain a deeper understanding of the complex cultures of the Eastern Mediterranean, and illustrate alternative paths for classical reception outside of the Italian peninsula.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | It is recommended that students will have achieved entry to Honours in Classics or have passed Archaeology 2B. Students interested in further developing their understanding of Byzantine culture may benefit from taking this course in conjunction with 'Constantinople: the History of a Medieval Metropolis from Constantine the Great to Süleyman the Magnificent' (CHCA10005). |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should usually have at least 3 courses in Classics, History or Archaeology (at least 1 of which should be in Classical Art and Archaeology) at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this) for entry to this course. We will only consider University/College level courses.
** as numbers are limited, visiting students should contact the Visiting Student Office directly for admission to this course **
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| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2019/20, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 14 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 22,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
172 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
60 %,
Coursework
40 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Coursework: 4,000 word essay (40%
Exam: 2 hour paper (60%) |
| Feedback |
Students are expected to discuss their coursework with the Course Organiser at least once prior to submission, and are encouraged to do so more often. Meetings can take place with the Course Organiser during their published office hours or by appointment. Students will also receive feedback on their coursework, and will have the opportunity to discuss that feedback further with the Course Organiser. |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
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| Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate, by way of coursework and examination as required, command of the principal elements of the history and archaeology of Early Medieval Asia Minor;
- Demonstrate an understanding of various different archaeological media, including architecture, ceramics, coins, etc., and how such media might be brought into conversation with each other;
- Demonstrate, in class discussion and by way of coursework and examination as required, the ability to develop and sustain scholarly arguments in oral and written form;
- Demonstrate the ability to read, analyse and critically engage with current debates in the field of Byzantine Archaeology;
- Demonstrate an understanding of the historical formation of the academic discipline of Byzantine archaeology, and the contemporary challenges faced by Byzantine Studies.
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Reading List
Izdebski, A. 2013. A Rural Economy in Transition: Asia Minor from Late Antiquity into the Early Middle Ages. Warsaw.
Jacobs, I. & Elton, H. (eds.) 2019. Asia Minor in the Long Sixth Century: Current Research and Future Directions. Oxford.
Laiou, A. E. (ed.) 2002. The Economic History of Byzantium. Washington DC.
Niewöhner, P. (ed.) 2017. The Archaeology of Byzantine Anatolia: From the End of Late Antiquity until the Coming of the Turks. Oxford.
Ousterhout, R. G. 2017. Visualizing Community: Art, Material Culture, and Settlement in Byzantine Cappadocia. Washington DC.
Thonemann, P. 2011. The Maeander Valley: A Historical Geography from Antiquity to Byzantium. Cambridge.
Whittow, M. 1996. The Making of Orthodox Byzantium 600-1025. London. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Mr Hugh Jeffery
Tel: (0131 6) 50 4479
Email: hjeffery@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Rachel Ord
Tel: (0131 6)50 3580
Email: rord@ed.ac.uk |
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