Week I. Iconoclasm and Its Aftermath
Secondary Reading: Ostrogorsky, pp.147-209 (62 pp.)
3/27 Introductions, Discussion of Course Structure and Readings/ Physical and Ethnic Geography, Political Context and Iconoclasm
3/29 Byzantium in the 9th c. The Politics of Religion and the Religion of the Image: Second Iconoclasm and Its Aftermath
John of Damascus, First Apology, pp.13-33 (20 pp.)
Ignatios the Deacon, Life of Patriarch Tarasios (35 pp.)
3/31 A Renaissance Man in a Time of Transition: The Patriarch Photius and his World
Photius, Homilies #3, 4, 17, 18
Photius, Letter to the Khan Boris
Week II. The Macedonian Revival
Secondary Reading: Ostrogorsky, pp. 210-60 (50 pp.)
4/3 Law, Church, and Society in the Age of the Macedonians
Genesios, History of the Emperors (Michael III/Basil I) 71-114. (43 pp.)
Nicholas I, Patriarch of Constantinople, Letter 32; Documents 197-199
4/5 Byzantium and Its Neighbors: Power, Knowledge, and Diplomacy in the 10th century
Nicholas I, Letters 1, 3-9, 102
Constantine VII Porphyrogenitos, On Administering the Empire, pp.45-165 (half of the pages are in Greek)
4/7 Styles of Rule: Romanos Lekapenos, Constantine VII Porphyrogenitos & Nikephoros Phokas
Constantine VII Porphyrogenitos, On Administering the Empire, pp.167-287.
Week III. Byzantium in the Ascendant
Secondary Readings: Ostrogorsky, pp. 269-298 (29 pp.)
4/10 Byzantine Monasticism in the 10th Century: The Example of Athos
Typikon of Athanasios the Athonite for the Lavra Monastery (trans. George Dennis) http://www.doaks.org/typ000.html (Item 13)
Testament of Athanasios the Athonite for the Lavra Monastery (trans. George Dennis) http://www.doaks.org/typ000.html (Item 14)
4/12 Warriors and Bureaucrats: Governance in the Eleventh Century
Michael Psellos, Fourteen Byzantine Rulers, pp.27-53; 63-87; 275-330 (105 pp.)
Marvazi, On the Byzantines
4/14 When Women Rule
Psellos, Fourteen Byzantine Rulers, pp.75-90;143-63;261-71; 345-49. (50 pp.)
Week IV: Byzantium in the Eleventh Century: A View from the Court
Secondary Reading: Ostrogorsky, pp.298-350 (52 pp.)
4/17 Power, Piety, and Virtue: The Ideal Ruler and His/Her Image
Michael Psellos, Fourteen Byzantine Rulers, pp.100-118;165-260; 331-44 (126 pp.)
Kekaumenos, Logos Nouthetetikos (Speech of Admonition) 24 pp.
4/19 Religion and Society in the Eleventh Century
The Testament of Michael Attaleiates
Symeon the New Theologian, Ethical Discourses 6, 7, 15; The Discourses 7, 8, 26.
4/21 What the Byzantines Saw
Week V: The World of Anna Komnena I
4/24 The New Model Emperor: Alexios I Komnenos
Anna Komnena, The Alexiad, Bks. I-III (134 pp.)
4/26 An Enemy from the West: The Normans
Anna Komnena, The Alexiad, Bks.IV-VI (82 pp.)
4/28 Challenges from North, East, and Within: Turks and 'Scyths', and Usurpers
Anna Komnena, The Alexiad, Bks.VII; pp.261-91 (60pp)
Week VI: The World of Anna Komnena II Readings: Ostrogorsky, pp.356-74
5/3 The First Crusade in Byzantine Eyes
Anna Komnena, The Alexiad, Bks.X-XII,XIV (135 pp.)
5/5 Byzantine Heretics: Bogomils and Philosophers
Anna Komnena, The Alexiad, Bk XV, review pp.173-180; pp.293-5.
Week VII: The Reign of Manuel I Komnenos and The First Fall of Constantinople
Secondary Reading: Ostrogorsky, pp. 375-418.
5/8 Politics and Culture in the Age of Manuel I
Niketas Choniates, O City of Byzantium, pp. 29-126
5/10 Byzantium and its Rivals
5/12 The First Fall of Constantinople
Niketas Choniates, O City of Byzantium, 321-62
Robert of Clari. The Conquest of Constantinople, 91-115
Week VIII: The Empire of Nicaea and Palaiologian Reconquest
Secondary Readings: Ostrogorsky, pp.418-98.
5/15 Revival in Exile: Culture and Politics at the Court of the Lascarids
5/17 The World of Nikephorus Blemmydes
Nikephoros Blemmydes, A Partial Account
5/19 The Palaiologian Reconquest and the Rise of the Ottomans
Week IX: A Century of Strife: Civil War and Religious Dissent in the 14th Century
Secondary Readings: Ostrogorsky, 499-551.
5/22 A Century of Conflicts: Social Strife and Political Ambition in the 14th Century
John VI Kantakouzenos, Memoirs I & IV (selections)
Alexios Makrembolites, Dialogue between a Rich Man and a Poor Man
Nicolas Cabasilas, Discourse Concerning Illegal Acts of Officials Daringly Committed Against Things Sacred
5/24 Hesychasm and Its Critics
Palamas, The Triads A & C
Gregory Akindynos, Letters
5/26 What Price Salvation? The Debate over Church Union
The Journey of Ignatius of Smolensk (1389).
Demetrios Kydones, Apology for His Conversion to Catholicism
Week X: The Fall of Constantinople and Responses to the Ottoman Empire
5/29 The Fall of Constantinople: Special Group Projects
5/31 Conclusion: The Legacy of Byzantium