Information Package / Course Catalogue - Adnan Menderes University

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History of Byzantine Empire

Course Code	: TAR243
Course Type	: Required
Couse Group	: First Cycle (Bachelor's Degree)
Education Language	: Turkish
Work Placement	: N/A

Theory	: 2
Prt.	: 0
Credit	: 2
Lab	: 0
ECTS	: 3

Objectives of the Course

This course aims to cover the entire process from the foundation of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium) to the conquest of Constantinople. The course aims to develop students' historical thinking and analysis skills by evaluating the political history, religious structure and cultural heritage of Eastern Rome, its relations with neighboring states (especially Turkish states) and its historical effects.

Course Content

This course covers the history of the Byzantine Empire, beginning with the declaration of Constantinople as the capital in 330 and ending with the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. Byzantine administrative structure, religion-state relations, iconoclasm debates, Byzantine-Sasanian, Arab and Turkish relations, Byzantine social structure and heritage will be covered. There will also be a comprehensive analysis of the political and military advances of the early, middle and late Byzantine imperial periods.

Name of Lecturer(s)

Lec. Muhittin ÇEKEN

Learning Outcomes

1.	To be able to understand the founding process of Byzantium and analyze the basic dynamics that characterized the state.
2.	To be able to learn the process of integration of Christianity into the Byzantine Empire and to discuss its impact on the political functioning of the state.
3.	To be able to explain the European policy of the Byzantine Empire and its political-military relations here.
4.	To be able to understand the Byzantine Empire's Eastern policy and its political and military relations with the Turkish-Islamic states.
5.	To discuss the collapse of Byzantium and the conditions that led the state to this process.
6.	To draw the boundaries of the Byzantine Empire in time and space and to discuss its cultural impact on the geographies it ruled.

Recommended or Required Reading

1.	Gregory, Timothy E. (2011). Bizans Tarihi. İstanbul: Yapı Kredi Yayınları
2.	Ostrogorsky, George (1999). Bizans Devleti Tarihi. Ankara: TTK Yayınları
3.	Cogito Bizans Özel Sayısı (2012). İstanbul: Yapı Kredi Yayınları
4.	Georg Ostrogorsky, Bizans Devleti Tarihi, Çev. Fikret Işıltan, TTK Yayınları, Ankara 2006.
5.	Alexander A. Vasiliev, Bizans İmparatorluğu Tarihi, Çev. Tevabil Alkaç, Alfa Yay. İstanbul 2015.
6.	Mustafa Daş, Bizans İmparatorluğu Tarihi, Selenge Yay. İstanbul 2021.
7.	Bizans Dünyasi, Ed. Paul Stephenson, Çev. Tevabil Alkaç, Alfa Yay., İstanbul 2023.
8.	Bizans Tarihi: Agathias Kroniği (552-559), Çev. Hüseyin Uçar, Timaş Yay., İstanbul 2023.
9.	Cüneyt Güneş, Bizans İmparatorluğu Kurumları ve Unvanları (IX. ve XI. Yüzyıllar), Selenge Yay., İstanbul 2021.
10.	Cüneyt Güneş, Bizans Anadolusu'nda Askeri ve İdari Bir Sistem 'Thema Sistemi', TTK, Ankara 2021.
11.	Frederic Harrison, Erken Ortaçağda Bizans Tarihi, Çev. Engin Öztürk, Sarmal Yay., İstanbul 2024.
12.	Anthony Kaldellis, Bizans Cumhuriyeti Yeni Roma’da Halk ve İktidar, Pinhan Yayıncılık, İstanbul 2025.
13.	Ralph Johannes Lilie, Paylaş Bizans Doğu Roma İmparatorluğu’nun Tarihi 326-1453, Çev. Emre Karatekeli, Runik Kitap, İstanbul 2024.

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week 1 - Theoretical

Boundaries of the Byzantine History course, concepts and sources

Week 2 - Theoretical

The transition from Rome to Byzantium. Introduction to the reign of Constantine the Great

Week 3 - Theoretical

The development of Christianity under Constantine the Great and the privileges granted

Week 4 - Theoretical

The foreign policy of the state during the reign of Iuistianus and the social events and legal steps taken during this period

Week 5 - Theoretical

Byzantine Eastern policy under Heraclius, the Thema System established

Week 6 - Theoretical

Isaurian Dynasty and the Iconoclasm movement

Week 7 - Theoretical

Byzantine-Arab struggles and Arab attempts to besiege Constantinople

Week 8 - Theoretical

Macedonian Dynasty period (867-1056)

Week 9 - Theoretical

Byzantine-Turkish relations during the Komnenos Dynasty

Week 10 - Theoretical

The Byzantine Empire Between the Crusaders and the Turkish Invasions

Week 11 - Theoretical

Iznik Greek Empire Period

Week 12 - Theoretical

Late Byzantine Period: Disintegration and Resistance

Week 13 - Theoretical

Ottoman-Byzantine Relations and the Conquest of Constantinople

Week 14 - Theoretical

An overall assessment

Assessment Methods and Criteria

Type of Assessment	Count	Percent
Midterm Examination	1	%40
Final Examination	1	%60

Workload Calculation

Activities	Count	Preparation	Time	Total Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory	14	1	2	42
Assignment	1	10	2	12
Midterm Examination	1	7	1	8
Final Examination	1	12	1	13
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)				75

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

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Person Responsible for Information Package