75958 - Greek Language and Literature in the Byzantine Age

Learning outcomes

The students have the opportunity to acquire the basic knowledge for a methodological approach to the Greek sacred and profane literature of the Byzantine period (4th-15th cent.). The course aims also to provide them with a thorough grounding in the basics of the Greek language, and with an overview of its three thousand year history.

Through reading exemplary (literary and documentary) texts the students can understand features and merits of the Byzantine civilization: they will appreciate its importance and spread in the intercultural context of the Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages and in the history of the Christian Churches.

Competence to recognize that the cultural achievements of the Renaissance and of the early modern period are highly indebted to Byzantium.

Course contents

The course consists of two parts.

Part 1 (20 hours): general introduction to the literature of Byzantium (IV-XV century); education system; Byzantine intellectual heritage; Byzantium in its relationship with other cultures. 

Part 2 (10 hours) is devoted to deepen selected topics: the major achievements of the Byzantine historiography, and the medieval Greek romance.

Prerequisite of the course is a basic knowledge of ancient Greek. Each year absolute beginners have the opportunity to benefit from a 50 hours tutorial: they will learn elements of the Greek grammar through interactive reading and translation practice of short texts in original Greek (inscriptions; short passages from Homer, Hesiod, Herodotus, Strabo, Plutarch, Galen) The tutorial 2018-2019 begins Monday 12th November 2017. Timetable and further details: see https://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/chiara.faraggiana/avvisi.

Readings/Bibliography

In order to meet more nearly each student's interests, fully exploiting the broad range of literary topics of the "Byzantine Millennium", the students will select (for their individual reading) at least 100 pages from the materials provided and discussed in the course.

For the exam students are also expected to have read:

- The Oxford Handbook of Byzantine Studies, edited by Elizabeth Jeffreys with John Haldon and Robin Cormack, Oxford 2008, only Part III 16.1; 17; 18.

- I. Shahîd, Byzantium and the Islamic World, in A.E. Laiou and H. Maguire (ed.), Byzantium: A World Civilization, Washington D.C. 1992, pp. 49-60.

- L. Canfora, Il copista come autore, Palermo 2002.

Teaching methods

Lessons. Tutorial (Greek language for beginners). Interactive debate with the students, for developing their skills in using and critically selecting their sources of information (in the books and in the web) about Byzantium.

Assessment methods

Final Exam. For details, see the Italian version.

Teaching tools

Databases. Metaopac. Reproductions of literary documents (in digital or printed form). Handouts (maps, cronological tables, etc.). Optional for motivated students: guided tours in the University Library and in the Biblioteca Classense (Manuscripts and Rare Books Department), to get them better acquainted with the printed and manuscript Byzantine heritage.  

Office hours

See the website of Chiara Francesca Faraggiana di Sarzana