Byzantine Authors as Thinkers and Writers, from Michael Psellos to George Pachimeres (11th-14th century)

Pre-requisites: Enrollment in the appropriate semester of doctoral studies

Course objectives: To examine Byzantine intellectualism in its historical context and familiarize students with the most relevant people of time and their ideas.

Course description: By looking at short but detailed biographies of the most distinguished byzantine scholars, students will be given a basis for further research of their works and ideas. From Michael Psellos, a unique contributor to byzantine intellectual history, to George Pachymeres who ended the prevalent school of thought in byzantine religious circles with his conservative ideas; the thoughts and ideas that consumed these byzantine scholars equally represented not only an expression of their inner ambitions and ideas, but the attitudes and norms of the times.

Learning Outcomes: Students will be capable of interpreting complex and multifaceted accounts of byzantine scholars and will understand the connection between personality, society, ideas and intentions in the accounts examined.

Literature/Reading:

• V. Stanković, Komnini u Carigradu )1057-1185. Evolucija jedne vladarske porodice, Beograd 2006.
• S. Lampakis, Georgios Pachymeris, Atina 2005.
• J. Ljubarskij, Mihail Psell. Ličnost i tvorčestvo, Moskva 1974.
• Anna Komnene and Her Times, ed. Th. G. Peterson, NY-London 2000.
• D. Angelov, Byzantine Imperial Ideology and Political Thought (1204-1330), Cambridge 2007.