REMgr18 Byzantine Emipre under the Comnenian Dynasty (1081-1204)

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2023

The course is not taught in Spring 2023

Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Marek Meško, M.A., Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Marek Meško, M.A., Ph.D.
Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Jitka Erlebachová
Supplier department: Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 40 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/40, only registered: 0/40, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/40
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 15 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The aim of this lecture will be to make students familiar with varied and in the same time very important period of the Byzantine history during which the Byzantine Empire was ruled by the Comnenian dynasty. The students will gain knowledge about individual rulers of this dynasty, and also about many problems they were obliged to face; about surrounding political entities and states, friendly, neutral or hostile to the Byzantines. This lecture will also help them to understand the period of the crusades, although not from the point of view of the Western pilgrims and knights, but rather from the point of view of the Byzantines which was different in many aspects. There will be mention concerning religious and cultural differences between east and west, and finally about their role in the conquest of Constantinople by the crusaders of the 4th crusade. Thus, this lecture will provide for them some basic information, so they will be able to understand the background of the relations existing among various Christian churches (Orthodox, Roman-Catholic, etc.) today.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course the student will be able to:
- improve his knowledge gained in previous lectures about Byzantine history;
- gain overview of historical sources concerning Komnenian period;
- acquire detailed knowledge of the imperial house of the Komnenoi and of the important biographical data not only of Komnenian emperors, but also of their close relatives;
- perceive history of Byzantium under the Komnenoi within the broader context of medieval Europe.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction, geographic location of Byzantium, written sources of the Komnenian period.
  • 2. Friends and foes of Byzantium in 11th Century - Mantzikert.
  • 3.-4. Alexios I Komnenos and his rule.
  • 5. Byzantine contribution to the crusader movement - 1st crusade.
  • 6.-7. John II Komnenos and his rule.
  • 8. Manuel I Komnenos and his rule 1 - 2nd crusade and the West.
  • 9. Manuel I Komnenos and his rule 2 - the East.
  • 10. Manuel I Komnenos and his rule 3.
  • 11. Andronikos Komnenos and the rise of the Angeloi.
  • 12. Friends and foes of Byzantium at the end of the 12th Century - 3rd and 4th crusade.
Literature
  • BRAND, C. M.: Byzantium confronts the West 1180-1204. Cambridge-Massachusets, Harvard University Press 1968.
  • Dějiny Byzance. Edited by Bohumila Zástěrová. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 1992. 529 s. ISBN 8020004548.
  • MAGDALINO, P.: The Byzantine Background to the First Crusade. Canadian Institute of Balkan Studies. Toronto 1996.
  • LAIOU, Angeliki E. a Cécile MORRISSON. The Byzantine economy. 1st pub. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007. xii, 270. ISBN 9780521615020.
  • HROCHOVÁ, Věra a Miroslav HROCH. Křižáci ve Svaté zemi. 2., upr. vyd. Praha: Mladá fronta, 1996. 289 s. ISBN 8020406212.
  • QUELLER, D. E. – MADDEN, T. F.: The fourth crusade. The conquest of Constantinople. Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania Press 1997.
  • MAGDALINO, Paul. The empire of Manuel I Komnenos, 1143-1180. 1st pbk. ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University, 2002. xix, 557. ISBN 0521526531.
  • HALDON, J.: Byzantium at War. 600-1453. London 2002.
  • KODER, J.: Der Lebensraum der Byzantiner. Graz-Wien-Köln, Verlag Styria 1984.
  • CIGAAR, K. N.: Western trawellers to Constantinople. The West and Byzantium 962-1204. Culture and political relations. Leiden - New York – Köln, Brill 1996.
  • HROCHOVÁ, V. – TŮMA, D.: Byzantská společnost (soubor byzantských reálií). Praha, UK 1991.
  • DUCELLIER, A.: Constantinople 1054-1261. Tête de la chrétienté, proie des Latins, capitale grecque. Paris, Ed. Autrement 1996.
  • HALDON, John F. Warfare, state and society in the Byzantine world, 565-1204. 1st pub. London: Routledge, 1999. x, 389. ISBN 185728495X.
  • ANGOLD, M.: The Byzantine Empire, 1025-1204: a political history. Londýn - New York 1984.
Teaching methods
Lectures.
Assessment methods
Oral exam.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught once in two years.
The course is taught: every week.
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2023/REMgr18