Universität Wien
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080006 SE Diplomacy and Diplomatic Gifts in Byzantium (2025W)

10.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 8 - Kunstgeschichte und Europäische Ethnologie
Continuous assessment of course work
Tu 07.10. 14:15-15:45 Seminarraum 3 d. Inst. f. Kunstgeschichte UniCampus Hof 9 3F-EG-25

Details

Language: German

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 14.10. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum 3 d. Inst. f. Kunstgeschichte UniCampus Hof 9 3F-EG-25
  • Tuesday 21.10. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum 3 d. Inst. f. Kunstgeschichte UniCampus Hof 9 3F-EG-25
  • Tuesday 28.10. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum 3 d. Inst. f. Kunstgeschichte UniCampus Hof 9 3F-EG-25
  • Tuesday 04.11. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum 3 d. Inst. f. Kunstgeschichte UniCampus Hof 9 3F-EG-25
  • Tuesday 11.11. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum 3 d. Inst. f. Kunstgeschichte UniCampus Hof 9 3F-EG-25
  • Tuesday 18.11. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum 3 d. Inst. f. Kunstgeschichte UniCampus Hof 9 3F-EG-25
  • Tuesday 25.11. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum 3 d. Inst. f. Kunstgeschichte UniCampus Hof 9 3F-EG-25
  • Tuesday 02.12. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum 3 d. Inst. f. Kunstgeschichte UniCampus Hof 9 3F-EG-25
  • Tuesday 09.12. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum 3 d. Inst. f. Kunstgeschichte UniCampus Hof 9 3F-EG-25
  • Tuesday 16.12. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum 3 d. Inst. f. Kunstgeschichte UniCampus Hof 9 3F-EG-25
  • Tuesday 13.01. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum 3 d. Inst. f. Kunstgeschichte UniCampus Hof 9 3F-EG-25
  • Tuesday 20.01. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum 3 d. Inst. f. Kunstgeschichte UniCampus Hof 9 3F-EG-25
  • Tuesday 27.01. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum 3 d. Inst. f. Kunstgeschichte UniCampus Hof 9 3F-EG-25

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

One of the factors behind the longevity of the Byzantine Empire was not only its efficient military and financial system but also its highly developed diplomacy. This contributed significantly to maintaining and expanding the empire's position as a major power in Central and Eastern Europe and the Near East. An object categorised as a diplomatic gift forms the starting point for discussions in the seminar. Particular attention will be paid to the iconography and, where appropriate, the portraits of the rulers. By comprehensively analysing the biographies of these objects (production, function and purpose, message, perception and appreciation, afterlife) as well as the relevant sources, the context of the individual objects and the strategies of Byzantine diplomacy with different actors at different times and under different circumstances will be worked out. The time frame is set between the 10th and 15th centuries.
The aim is to analyse the methods and understanding of Byzantine diplomacy by means of the various objects. At the end of the interdisciplinary seminar, students will have acquired the following skills:
- they will be able to deal with relevant sources and apply the correct methods and approaches for analysing the objects.
- They will be familiar with technical production, materials and artistic techniques.
- They are able to describe and contextualise the objects using the correct terminology.
- they have gained a good insight into Byzantine diplomacy.

Assessment and permitted materials

- Active participation in discussions
- Presentation
- In-depth study in the form of a written term paper (approximately 40,000 characters of continuous text)
- By registering for this course, you agree that the automated plagiarism detection software Turnitin will check all written submissions you upload to Moodle.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Minimum requirements:
- Mandatory attendance. In case of absence due to illness or a family emergency, the lecturer must be informed in advance and a written proof must be provided.
- To successfully complete the course, all partial performances must be fulfilled.
- Term paper: To ensure good scientific practice, the course instructor may invite students to a grade-relevant discussion after submission of the paper, which must be positively completed.

Assessment criteria:
- Active participation in discussions 15%
- Presentation 30%
- In-depth study in the form of a written term paper 55%

Grading scale:
1 (very good) 100-90 points; 2 (good) 89-81 points; 3 (satisfactory) 80-71 points; 4 (sufficient) 70-61 points; 5 (insufficient) 60-0 points

Examination topics

Exam content is the material covered in the course.

Reading list

Balard, M./Malamut, E./Spieser, J.-M. (eds.), Byzance et le Monde extérieur. Contacts, Relations, Échanges (Actes des trois séances du XXe Congrès international des Études byzantines, 2001), Paris 2005; Bauer, F. A., "Die Byzantinische Geschenkdiplomatie", in Byzanz das Römerreich im Mittelalter, Teil 3: Peripherie und Nachbarschaft, Daim, F./Drauschke, J. (Hgg), Mainz 2010, 155; Cutler, A., "Gift and Gift Exchange as Aspects of the Byzantine, Arab, and related Economies", in DOP 55 (2001), 247278; Eastmond, A., "Greeks Bearing Gifts. The Icon of Xaculi and Enamel Diplomacy between Byzantium and Georgia", in The Medieval South Cacasus: Artistic Cultures of Albania, Armenia and Georgia, Foletti, I./Thunø, E. (eds.), Brno 2016, 88105; Hilsdale, C. J., Byzantine Art and Diplomacy in an Age of Decline, Cambridge 2014; Schreiner, P., "Diplomatische Geschenke zwischen Byzanz und dem Westen ca. 800-1200: Eine Analyse der Texte mit Quellenanhang", in DOP 58 (2004), 251282; Shepard, J./Franklin, S. (eds.), Byzantine diplomacy, Aldershot 1992.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 14.07.2025 11:05