Byzantine Civilization

Pre-requisites: Enrollment in the appropriate program semester(history dept)or at other departments in which this course is an elective

Course objectives: The objective of this course is to introduce students to the values and characteristics present in byzantine civilization, an abundantly diverse world from whose periphery the serbian medieval state sprung.

Course description: Providing a view of the complex foundations on which byzantine civilization was built, with a deeper look into all of its aspects, from basic and peripheral phenomena to spiritual and cultural foundations on which this empire thrived for more than a milennium. Over the course of two semesters, students will be presented with the characteristics of byzantine civilization that set it apart from others, not only in medieval times but in a modern framework as well. Through a detailed look at general and specific phenomena, worldview, life opportunities and examples of biograpies/histories of characteristic invididuals from this period, students will be presented with the diverse social foundation from which byzantine medieval civilization sprung.

Learning Outcomes: An understanding of the value and complexity of byzantine civilization.

Literature/Reading:

• Oksfordska istorija Vizantije, ur. S. Mango. Beograd 2006 (Poglavlje 8: Preporod Učenosti i Poglavlje 11: Paleološka učenost)
• J. Koder, Vizantijski svet. Beograd 2011 (izdavačka kuća "Utopija)
• R. Radić, Vreme Jovana V Paleologa (1332 - 1391), Beograd 1991.
• R. Radić, Crno stoleće. Vreme Jovana V Paleologa (1332 - 1391), Beograd 2013.
• R. Radić, Strah u poznoj Vizantiji 1180 - 1453, Beograd 2000.
• V. Stanković, Carigradski patrijarsi i carevi makedonske dinastije, Beograd 2003.
• V. Stanković, Komnini u Carigradu: (1057 - 1185) Evolucija jedne vladarske porodice, Beograd 2006.
• V. Stanković, Putovanja kroz Vizantiju, Beograd 2016.
• D. Marjanović, Creating Memories in Late 8th-century Byzantium. The Short History of Nikephoros of Constantinople, Amsterdam University Press, 2018.
• D. Marjanović, Vizantijski svet i Srpska crkva u 13. i 14. veku, Novi Sad 2018.
• L. O. Vilimonović, Structure and Features of Anna Komnene's Alexiad. Emergence of a Personal History, Amsterdam University Press 2019.