Universität Wien

090113 VO Byzantium and the steppe peoples: An overview from the Huns to the Mongols (4th-15th century) (2019S)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 9 - Altertumswissenschaften
Moodle

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Details

Language: German

Examination dates

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Am 29. 04. entfällt die Vorlesung wegen einer Dienstreise; nächster Termin ist der 06. 05.

  • Monday 11.03. 13:30 - 15:00 (Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postg. 7/1/3 3.Stock)
  • Monday 18.03. 13:30 - 15:00 (Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postg. 7/1/3 3.Stock)
  • Monday 25.03. 13:30 - 15:00 (Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postg. 7/1/3 3.Stock)
  • Monday 01.04. 13:30 - 15:00 (Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postg. 7/1/3 3.Stock)
  • Monday 08.04. 13:30 - 15:00 (Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postg. 7/1/3 3.Stock)
  • Monday 29.04. 13:30 - 15:00 (Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postg. 7/1/3 3.Stock)
  • Monday 06.05. 13:30 - 15:00 (Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postg. 7/1/3 3.Stock)
  • Monday 13.05. 13:30 - 15:00 (Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postg. 7/1/3 3.Stock)
  • Monday 20.05. 13:30 - 15:00 (Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postg. 7/1/3 3.Stock)
  • Monday 27.05. 13:30 - 15:00 (Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postg. 7/1/3 3.Stock)
  • Monday 03.06. 13:30 - 15:00 (Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postg. 7/1/3 3.Stock)
  • Monday 17.06. 13:30 - 15:00 (Hörsaal d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postg. 7/1/3 3.Stock)

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Due to its location at the western terminus of the Eurasian steppe belt, the Byzantine Empire has repeatedly encountered new steppe nomad formations throughout its history: Huns, Avars, Bulgarians, Magyars, Pechenegs and Cumans challenged Byzantium at the Danube border, Seljuk Turks and other Turkish Groups in Asia Minor. Other steppe kingdoms such as the Gök Turks in the 6th-7th century, the Khazars in the 7th-8th century or the Mongols in 13th-14th century, however, proved to be valuable allies. Via the Danube, the Crimea and the Caucasus, Byzantium was also in close economic and cultural contact with the steppe, the effects of which extended to Central Asia and China. These dynamic relations between Constantinople and the steppe peoples are thus not only an essential part of the history of Byzantium, but of entire Eurasia in the Middle Ages.
These developments are considered not only on the basis of written sources, but also through new findings in archeology and climate and environmental history. Similarly, new approaches of anthropology and social theory are discussed to understand the tensions between "nomadic" and "sedentary" societies. The joint reading of original texts (in translation) and research literature as well as rich image and map material is used to give a vivid picture of the role of the Byzantine Empire within the world of the steppe.

Assessment and permitted materials

Written exam

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

No prior knowledge is required. The written final exam is graded according to a points system (possible total score: 100, 91-100: very good, 80-90: good, 66-79: satisfactory, 51-65: sufficient, 0-50: not enough). It comprises four sections: overview questions, explanations of important terms, location of important places and regions (with a mute map) and a text interpretation.

Examination topics

Learning matter for the written exam are the contents of the presentations of the lecturer and of the shared readings. Preparation materials will always be sent electronically to the registered participants in advance of each unit (via Moodle).

Reading list

Literature for introduction (a longer bibliography will be sent to participants of the course):
Ch. Baumer, The History of Central Asia II: The Age of the Silk Roads. London – New York 2014.
A. D. Beihammer, Byzantium and the Emergence of Muslim-Turkish Anatolia, ca. 1040-1130. London – New York 2017.
B. Cunliffe, By Steppe, Desert, and Ocean. The Birth of Eurasia. Oxford 2015.
F. Curta (ed.), The Other Europe in the Middle Ages. Avars, Bulgars, Khazars, and Cumans. Leiden – Boston 2008.
F. Daim (ed.), Byzanz: Historisch-kulturwissenschaftliches Handbuch. Stuttgart 2016 (with relevant chapters on the topic of the course)
W. Pohl, Die Awaren. Ein Steppenvolk in Mitteleuropa 567–822 n. Chr. München ²2015 (new in English: The Avars: A Steppe Empire in Central Europe, 567-822. Ithaca – London 2018)
J. Preiser-Kapeller, Jenseits von Rom und Karl dem Großen: Aspekte der globalen Verflechtung in der langen Spätantike, 300-800 n. Chr. Vienna 2018.
J. Shepard (ed.), The Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire, c. 500–1492. Cambridge 2008.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Tu 31.05.2022 00:18