090110 VO The Byzantine World: An Introduction to the Intellectual History (2019S)

Which representation of the world may a literate Byzantine have had? Combining the analysis of scientific, theological, philosophical and literary texts from the sixth to the twelfth centuries, this course will present various aspects of the Byzantine understanding of the physical sensible world, the animal kingdom, the nature and role of the human being, and God. This will allow a discussion of the Byzantine critical engagement with ancient pagan philosophical views on cosmology (the eternity of the world vs the creation of the world and apocalypticism), astronomy and on providence. We will look at conflicting views on anthropology (constitution of human being, immortality of the soul), ethics (virtues and sins), politics and theology together with some Christian beliefs regarding last judgement, Hell, and paradise. The course will thus constitute an introduction to several aspects of Byzantine intellectual history and to some key writings on sciences, natural philosophy, geography, zoology, medicine, moral theology, and political theory. It will also provide the opportunity to analyse the historical phenomena of Christianisation of ancient knowledge (Aristotle, Ptolemy, Galen) initiated in Late Antiquity and perpetuated in Byzantium.

Every week one or two topics will be discussed on the basis of the reading provided in translations of Byzantine key texts.