44950 - Byzantine History (basic) (A-L)

Learning outcomes

General knowledge of byzantine culture and mentality. The study of byzantine culture aims to perceive the knowledge  and the value of the artistic and archival patrimony of byzantine Italy  (VI-XV Centuries) together with its specific library endowment.  The venetian and genuese domination in the Byzantine Levant are a source of a more correct and complete comprehension of our national and european history.  The student at the end ot the study has the capability of understanding the byzantine phase of the history of Italy  and as for the medieval and modern history he can understand the problems of the Balcan Peninsula and of the modern Turkey ,     with the possibiliy of an autonom  judgement about the role of Italy in the present Mediterranean World.

Course contents

General outlines of byzantine history - Analysis of byzantine documents on the commerce of the Venetics (X-XII centuries).

The knowledge of Byzantine cultur and mentality are necessary in order to grasp the problems of medieval political ideology in Byzantium, the theme of preservation of hellenic classical heritage both philosophical and literary ones and the theme of the rapports between the catholic and orthodox churches. The discipline is useful in order to get jobs in the field of preservation and enhancement of archival, documental, museal, monumental heritage. A rich documentation in manuscripts is preserved in italian archives and libraries  in conncetion with the Italian history, which for large areas and chronological sectors has developed itself inside the Byzantine History (Venice, Genua, Southern Italy, Humanism, Renaissance).

Readings/Bibliography

For the first 6 credits: 50 pages each credit at own choice from A. CARILE, Materiali di storia bizantina, Bologna 2006 reprint, or from A. CARILE, Immagine e realtà nel mondo bizantino, Bologna 2000, pp. 278. A. CARILE, Bisanzio e l'Europa, Bologna 2005 with a rich bibliography for a first approach of study.  But every general book on Byzantium is well accepted  at the place of the volumes above indicated.

For the second 6 credits will be studied the documents of venetian commerce with the Byzantine Empire edited by Ravegnani-Pozza.

Teaching methods

Discussions during the lessons and eventual elaboration of researches about  texts and monuments choiced in accord with the professor.  Final examination in the form of a colloque.

Assessment methods

The examination shall be realized according to the didactical burdens and related credits. The general problem of Byzantine society and ideology, the testimony in form of an image, or in form of a document, or in literary form put  at the basis of the discourse will be discussed in accord to the existing bibliography and its critical points of view. The aim is to induce the student to sketch in autonomous way the meaning and the picture of a society and a mentality without refusing the chronological and geographical frame necessary to the soundness of the discourse.

Teaching tools

Workshop of digital elaboration of inedited Venetian and Ravenna chronicles (550000 digital images) in the Department of Histories and Methods for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage. Study travel in Peloponnesos with an historical and linguistic stage at Methoni under greek professors if financed by the University.

 

Office hours

See the website of Antonio Rocco Carile