THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2019/2020

University Homepage
DRPS Homepage
DRPS Search
DRPS Contact
DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of History, Classics and Archaeology : Postgraduate (History, Classics and Archaeology)

Postgraduate Course: A Topic in Late Antique and Byzantine History 2 (PGHC11430)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of History, Classics and Archaeology CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course aims to introduce students to the study of a particular topic in Late Antique and Byzantine History. The topic is chosen by the course organiser for each outing of the course. Topics may include (but are not restricted to) 'Byzantium in the Age of Constantine VII Porphyrygennetos' or 'Cultural History of the Late Roman World'.
Course description The core aim of the course is to teach students how to approach the study of a defined topic, how to access the relevant sources and the modern historiographical debate, and how to identify important questions and understudied areas within the study of the relevant topic. Students will also learn how the studied topic relates to other areas of history, as well as the study of the late antique and Byzantine world more generally. Specific thematic information for each outing of the course will be provided during the course selection process.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2019/20, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  10
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Seminar/Tutorial Hours 22, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 174 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) 100% coursework
One 5,000 word essay, due at the end of the semester in which the course is taught.
Feedback Not entered
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate in written work a detailed and critical command of the chronology and characteristic aspects of the topic in case and an ability to analyse and reflect critically upon relevant scholarship concerning the topic in case, the major debates and theoretical and methodological issues involved
  2. Demonstrate in a written essay and seminar participation an ability to interpret and analyse critically a range of late antique/Byzantine source material of various types, both literary and material
  3. Demonstrate in written work and oral discussion the topic's interrelatedness with the study of other topics in late antique/Byzantine history
  4. Demonstrate the ability to develop and sustain original scholarly arguments in oral and written form (including seminar discussions and presentations) by independently formulating appropriate questions and utilising relevant evidence considered in the course
  5. Demonstrate in seminar discussions and presentations originality and independence of mind and initiative; intellectual integrity and maturity; an ability to evaluate the work of others, including peers; and a considerable degree of autonomy
Reading List
There is no predetermined reading list because the bibliography will change with each outing of the course, depending on the chosen course topic.
The following list represents key reading in the field:-
Bowersock, G., Brown, P. and Grabar, O. (eds) (1998) Late Antiquity. A Guide to the Post-classical World. London
Bowman, A. Cameron, Av and Garnsey, P. (eds) (2004) The Cambridge Ancient History vol. 12: The Crisis of Empire: AD 193-337. Cambridge
Brown, P. (1981) The Cult of the Saints: Its Rise and Function in Latin Christianity. London
Brown, P. (1971) The World of Late Antiquity. London. Cameron, Av. (2014) Byzantine Matters. Princeton
Cameron, Av. and Garnsey, P. (eds)(1998) The Cambridge Ancient History vol. 13: The Late Empire, A.D. 337-425. Cambridge
Cameron, Av., Ward-Perkins, B. and Whitby, M. (eds) (2000) Cambridge Ancient History vol. 14: Late Antiquity: Empire and Successors, A.D. 425-600. Cambridge. Dagron, G. (1974) Naissance d'une capitale: Constantinople et ses Institutions, 330-451. Paris
Dagron, G. (2003) Emperor and Priest: The Imperial Office in Byzantium. Cambridge
Fowden, G. (1993) Empire to Commonwealth: Consequences of Monotheism in Late Antiquity. Princeton
Grig, L. and Kelly, G. (2012) Two Romes: Rome and Constantinople in Late Antiquity. New York
Grig, L. (2013) 'Cities in the 'long' Late Antiquity, 2000-2012 - a survey essay', Urban History, 40, 3, 554-566
Haldon, J. (ed.), (2009) A Social History of Byzantium. Chichester
Humfress, C. and Garnsey, P. (2001) Evolution of the Late Antique World. Cambridge
James, E. (2008). 'The Rise and Function of the Concept 'Late Antiquity'', Journal of Late Antiquity 1: 20-30
Krautheimer, R. (1983) Three Christian Capitals: Topography and Politics. London
Laiou, E. and Morrisson, C. (eds.) (2007), The Byzantine Economy. Cambridge
Mango, C. (2002) The Oxford History of Byzantium. .Oxford
Markus, R. (1990) The End of Ancient Christianity. Cambridge. Matthews, J.F. (1990) Western Aristocracies and Imperial Court AD 364-425. Oxford
Millar, F. (2006) A Greek Roman Empire: Power and Belief under Theodosius II 408-450. Berkeley
Sarris, P. (2006) Economy and Society in the Age of Justinian. Cambridge
Shepherd, J. (ed.) (2008) The Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire, c. 500-1492 (Cambridge, 2008)
Weitzmann, K. (1979) Age of Spirituality: Catalogue of the Exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York
Whittow, M. (1996)The Making of Orthodox Byzantium. Houndsmill.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsTopic,Late Antique,Byzantine,History,2
Contacts
Course organiserDr Lucy Grig
Tel: (0131 6)50 3579
Email: Lucy.Grig@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMrs Lindsay Scott
Tel: (0131 6)50 9948
Email: Lindsay.Scott@ed.ac.uk
Navigation
Help & Information
Home
Introduction
Glossary
Search DPTs and Courses
Regulations
Regulations
Degree Programmes
Introduction
Browse DPTs
Courses
Introduction
Humanities and Social Science
Science and Engineering
Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Other Information
Combined Course Timetable
Prospectuses
Important Information