Constantinople during the Komnenian period:The Everday,Topography and Ideology

Pre-requisites: Enrollment in a master program in history studies, or appropriate year of studies in another program which offers this as an elective course.

Course objectives: Detecting the connections between events in history, social opportunity, topography of the byzantine capital and development in the arts and of political ideology during the rule of the Komnenos dynasty,part of the byzantine elite.

Course description: This course will present students with an exploration of the byzantine capital during the hundred year reign of the Komnenos dynasty (1081- 1185), by examining geographical characteristics, topographic details, the focus on certain neighbourhoods and areas of Komnenian Constantinople and the meaning of a "City" in the ideology or ideal of each emperor, as well as daily living in this megapolis.

Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to theoretically and chronologically perceive the complexity of byzantine political ideology and its relation to spirituality and artistic endeavors.

Literature/Reading:

• V. Stanković, Komnini u Carigradu (1057-1185). Evolucija jedne vladarske porodice, Beograd 2006.
• V. Stankovic, A Generation Gap or Political Enmity? ZRVI 44 (2007) 209-225.
• P. Magdalino, The Empire of Manuel I Komnenos, Cambridge 1993.
• P. Magdalino, Studies on History and Topography of Byzantine Constantinople, Ashgate 2007.
• R. Janin, Constantinople byzantin, Paris 1964.
• T. F. Mathews, The Byzantine Churches of Istanbul, Pennsilvania State University 1976.
• R. Ousterhout, architecture, Art and Komnenian Ideology at the Pantokrator Monastery, Byzantine Constantinople, ed. N. Necipoglu, Boston-Leiden-Koeln 2001, 133-153.
• P. Underwood, The Kariye djami I, NY 1966.
• V. Stanković, Manojlo Komnin (1143-1180)-Biografija, Beograd 2008.
• V. Stanković, Putovanja kroz Vizantiju, Beograd 2016.