Module HIST2961: THE BYZANTINE COMMONWEALTH, 641-1204

Department: History

HIST2961: THE BYZANTINE COMMONWEALTH, 641-1204

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• To ensure that students understand the political, cultural, economic and social history of Byzantium in the middle Byzantine period, and appreciate the significance of it relations with neighbours in the formation of an Orthodox world, or 'commonwealth'
• To ensure that students have experience in the interpretation and application of a range of historical sources - textual, numismatic, archaeological, artistic - and that they have an elementary knowledge of research requirements
• Contribute towards the achievement of the Department's generic Aims for study at Level 2.

Content

• The course will familiarize students with the sources for Byzantine history: written, archaeological, numismatic, sigillographic, architectural and artistic.
• It will explore institutions (the imperial office, monasteries, etc.), practices (warfare, diplomacy, mission, etc.) and material resources (coinage, silks, etc.) that were central to Byzantine culture, and to the spread of that culture to neighbours.
• It will locate Byzantium in a secure historical context, and investigate the legacy of this 'World Civilization' in those countries which once belonged to the empire or its 'commonwealth', including modern Russia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey.

Learning Outcomes

• Students will understand forces for continuity (conservative ideologies, education) and processes of transformation in Byzantium and beyond (missionary activity, diplomacy and gift-exchange)
• Students will gain insights into neglected aspects of medieval civilization, and will appreciate more fully the history of regions of Europe and the Middle East of particular interest today.

• Subject specific skills for this module can be viewed at: http://www.dur.ac.uk/history.internal/local/ModuleProformaMap/

• Key skills for this module can be viewed at: http://www.dur.ac.uk/history.internal/local/ModuleProformaMap/

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Student learning is facilitated by a combination of the following teaching methods:
• lectures to set the foundations for further study and to provide the basis for the acquisition of subject specific knowledge. Lectures provide a broad framework which defines individual module content, introducing students to themes, debates and interpretations. In this environment, students are given the opportunity to develop skills in listening, selective note-taking and reflection;
• seminars to allow students to present and critically reflect upon the acquired subject-specific knowledge, methodologies and theories, and to identify and debate a range of issues and differing opinions. The seminar is the forum in which students are given the opportunity to communicate ideas, jointly exploring themes and arguments. Seminars are structured to develop understanding and designed to maximise student participation related to prior independent preparation. Seminars give students the opportunity to develop oral communication skills, encourage critical and tolerant approaches to reasoned argument and historical discussion, build the students' ability to marshal historical evidence, and facilitate the development of the ability to summarise historical arguments, think in a rapidly changing environment and communicate in a persuasive and articulate manner, whilst recognising the value of working with others and, occasionally, towards shared goals.
• Assessment:
• Unseen Examinations test students' ability to work under pressure under timed conditions, to prepare for examinations and direct their own programme of revision and learning, and develop key time management skills. The unseen examination gives students the opportunity to develop relevant life skills such as the ability to produce coherent, reasoned and supported arguments under pressure. Students will be examined on subject specific knowledge;
• Summative essays remain a central component of assessment in history, due to the integrative high-order skills they develop. Essays allow students the opportunity to recognise, represent and critically reflect upon ideas, concepts and problems; students can demonstrate awareness of, and the ability to use and evaluate, a diverse range of resources and identify, represent and debate a range of subject-specific issues and opinions. Through the essay, students can synthesise information, adopt critical appraisals and develop reasoned argument based on individual research; they should be able to communicate ideas in writing, with clarity and coherence; and to show the ability to integrate and critically assess material from a wide range of sources.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

One or more short assignments submitted in writing or delivered orally and discussed either 1:1 or in a group context.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University