The element of Fear in the Byzantine Empire

Pre-requisites: Enrollment in first semester masters level studies or appropriate semester in other programs

Course objectives: Introducing students to a great historical topic - fear, by using the example of the Byzantine empire. The subject in question is a newer field of research begun several decades ago that is studied in earnest at the preset time.

Course description: An immense topic in history, but only history, is human fear; a phenomenon that has followed human beings since prehistoric times. Like other cultures throughout history, the byzantine culture had its own unique fears. Some of them, for example, were a fear of natural phenomena - comets, earthquakes, the sea, solar and lunar eclipses, long cold winters, epidemics, fire, flooding etc - these were fears prevalent in all medieval societies and cultures and were in step with the worldview of the time, since they were considered to be a sign of God's wrath over sins committed by people. Along with those fears mentioned were fear of God and of death, the "parent of all fears", but also fright over prophesies, curses, demons and other superstitious elements. During the last stage of Byzantine history fear of Western Europe and the Turks were common. In lieu of this information, it should not be surprising that the late byzantine period was in many ways marked by mysticism and eschatological tendencies.

Learning Outcomes: Familiarity with the mental consciousness in the Byzantine world, and broadly speaking, the psychology of a human being in the middle ages. Stepping into the intimate world of individuals, but also specific social groups and classes and collective conscience.

Literature/Reading:

• R. Radić, Strah u poznoj Vizantiji, 1180-1453, I-II, Beograd 2000.
• Ž. Delimo, Greh i strah. Stvaranje osećanja krivice na Zapadu od XIV do XVIII veka, I-II, Novi Sad 1986.
• Ž. Delimo, Strah na Zapadu (od XIV do XVIII) veka. Opsednuti grad, I-II, Novi Sad 1987.
• J. Kalić, "Strah turski" posle Kosova, Sveti Knez Lazar, Spomenica o šestoj stogodišnjici Kosovskog boja 1389-1989, Beograd 1989, 185-191.
• S. Ćirković, Kraj veka - Kraj sveta. Strepnje i iščekivanja kod Srba u vezi sa 7000. godinom, Jugoslovenski istorijski časopis 1-2 (1996) 11-24.