Universität Wien

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

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 9 - Altertumswissenschaften
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).
Register/Deregister for this course

Details

Language: German

Examination dates

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Thursday 07.03. 15:15 - 16:45 (Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postg. 7/1/3 3.Stock)
  • Thursday 14.03. 15:15 - 16:45 (Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postg. 7/1/3 3.Stock)
  • Thursday 21.03. 15:15 - 16:45 (Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postg. 7/1/3 3.Stock)
  • Thursday 28.03. 15:15 - 16:45 (Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postg. 7/1/3 3.Stock)
  • Thursday 04.04. 15:15 - 16:45 (Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postg. 7/1/3 3.Stock)
  • Thursday 11.04. 15:15 - 16:45 (Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postg. 7/1/3 3.Stock)
  • Thursday 02.05. 15:15 - 16:45 (Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postg. 7/1/3 3.Stock)
  • Thursday 09.05. 15:15 - 16:45 (Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postg. 7/1/3 3.Stock)
  • Thursday 16.05. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 29 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Thursday 23.05. 15:15 - 16:45 (Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postg. 7/1/3 3.Stock)
  • Thursday 06.06. 15:15 - 16:45 (Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postg. 7/1/3 3.Stock)
  • Thursday 13.06. 15:15 - 16:45 (Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postg. 7/1/3 3.Stock)

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

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.

Assessment and permitted materials

Written examination (100%).

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Examination topics

Course content and recommended readings

Reading list

Kaldellis, A., Siniosoglu, N. (eds), The Cambridge intellectual history of Byzantium. Cambridge, CUP, 2017.
Ladner, G., Handbuch der frühchristlichen Symbolik : Gott, Kosmos, Mensch. Wiesbaden, VMA-Verl., 1996.
Inglebert, H, Interpretatio christiana: les mutations des savoirs (cosmographie, géographie, ethnographie, histoire) dans l'antiquité chrétienne (30 - 630 après J.-C.). Paris, Institut des Études Augustiniennes, 2001.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Tu 31.05.2022 00:18