Universität Wien

090108 UE Georgios Pachymeres and the Byzantine Historiography of the 13th and 14th Centuries (2025S)

Global and local perspectives

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 9 - Altertumswissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 10 participants
Language: German, English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Wednesday 05.03. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postgasse 9, 2.Stock
  • Wednesday 19.03. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postgasse 9, 2.Stock
  • Wednesday 26.03. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postgasse 9, 2.Stock
  • Wednesday 02.04. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postgasse 9, 2.Stock
  • Wednesday 30.04. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postgasse 9, 2.Stock
  • Wednesday 07.05. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postgasse 9, 2.Stock
  • Wednesday 14.05. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postgasse 9, 2.Stock
  • Wednesday 21.05. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum 19, Kolingasse 14-16, OG02
  • Wednesday 28.05. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postgasse 9, 2.Stock
  • Wednesday 04.06. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postgasse 9, 2.Stock
  • Wednesday 11.06. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postgasse 9, 2.Stock
  • Wednesday 18.06. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postgasse 9, 2.Stock
  • Wednesday 25.06. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postgasse 9, 2.Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The exercise (Übung) focuses on the historical work of Georgios Pachymeres (1242 – ca. 1310). His account of the globally groundbreaking events of the 13th century is unique. Pachymeres integrates into his narrative the global transformations and interconnections marked by the emergence of the Mongols and the rise of the Ottomans. Additionally, he provides a detailed account of the "long 13th century" and its consequences for the 14th century.

As part of this exercise, methodological aspects of Byzantine historiography of the 13th and 14th centuries will be analyzed in a creative way with the help of social media, while also considering comparisons on a global level. The starting point is the work of Pachymeres. Furthermore, other Byzantine historiographical works (Akropolites, Gregoras, and Kantakouzenos) will be compared with Pachymeres' methods and accounts and discussed in student essays.
Dr. Francesca Fiaschetti, an expert in Mongolian and Chinese history and literature, will join us for two or three sessions, providing insights into a comparison with Asian historiography of the same period.

Assessment and permitted materials

Attendance and participation in discussions based on preparatory readings and small exercises (40%), oral presentation (30%), written paper based on the presentation of approximately 3,500 words (excluding footnotes and bibliography) (30%).

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

The exercise is primarily designed to give participants the opportunity to develop a critical and creative approach to historical sources and to work with them independently. Students will learn to recognize the differences in the chosen medium for conveying information.
These skills should also be reflected in the final paper and in the weekly small assignments, which will take the form of modern social media posts. Prior knowledge of history, as well as Ancient and Middle Greek, is advantageous but not strictly required.

Examination topics

After a brief introduction to the historical work of Pachymeres and other significant (including global) historians of the 13th and 14th centuries, the focus will be on the collaborative exploration and discussion of selected aspects of historiography.
For this purpose, selected text excerpts in Greek (or only in German or English translation) will be read both collectively and individually. Students will have the opportunity to transform the context of the text passages into social media posts (Facebook, X, Instagram, etc.).
During the semester, each participant will give an oral presentation on a specific topic, which the students will chose based also his/her needs. At the end of the semester, a written paper based on the presentation must be submitted.

Reading list

(eine umfassende Bibliographie wird zu Beginn und während der Übung verteilt):

Georges Pachymérès, Relations historiques, hrsg. von A. Failler und V. Laurent (CFHB 24/1-5, Series Parisiensis). Paris, 1984-2000.
Golitsis P., La date de composition de la Philosophia de Georges Pachyméres et quelques précisions sur la vie de l’auteur. REB 67 (2009) 209-215.
Hunger H., Die hochsprachige profane Literatur der Byzantiner, 2 Bände. München 1978.
Karayannopulos J. und G. Weiss, Quellenkunde zur Geschichte von Byzanz
(324-1453), 2 Bände. Wiesbaden 1982.
Lampakes S., Georgios Pachymeres, protekdikos kai dikaiophylax. Athen 2004.
Neville L., Guide to Byzantine Historical Writing. Cambridge 2018.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Tu 06.05.2025 11:05