Byzantine „feudalism“ - A historical and historiographic phenomenon

Pre-requisites: Enrollment in third semester of doctoral studies (history) or the applicable semester at another dept.

Course objectives: Introducing students to all aspects of the problem of defining byzantine feudalism as a foundational element of the social, and partially, governmental structure of the late period of Byzantium.

Course description: This course examines the ideological divisions in the 20th century as sources of radically opposing opinions as to the all-encompassing importance of feudalism across epochs of byzantine history or of denying its existence. We will also examine Belgrade's „Byzantine school“ by examining specific phenomena that can be considered markers of feudalism. Feudal phenomena: pronoia, immunity, appanage, homo ligius, privatization of institutions, the rural character of cities under the patronage of estate aristocracy, the oath to loyalty.

Learning Outcomes: Defining the term „byzantine feudalism“ as an economic and social, but not institutional category.

Literature/Reading:

• G. Ostrogorski, Istorija Vizantije, Beograd 1959. (i potonja izdanja)
• G. Ostrogorski, Pronija u Vizantiji i južnoslovenskim zemljama, Beograd 1951.
• G. Ostrogorski, Sabrana dela, H Beograd 19..
• J. Ferluga, La ligesse dans l’Empire byzantin, ZRVI 7 (1961) 97-123.
• H.-G. Beck, Byzantinisches Gefolgschaftswesen, München 1965.
• Lj. Maksimović, Geneza i karakter apanaža u Vizantiji, ZRVI 14-15 (1973) 103-154.
• Lj. Maksimović, Vizantijska provincijska uprava u doba Paleologa, Beograd 1972.
• Lj. Maksimović, Grad u Vizantiji, Beograd 2003.