Information Package / Course Catalogue
Byzantine Civilian Architecture
Course Code: SAT462
Course Type: Area Elective
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

In the course, civil life, rural and urban residences and imperial palaces of Byzantine era are examined along with the settlements unearthed during excavations. The course aims at teaching the emergence, progress and plan features of Byzantine civil architecture, and conception of structural character of the period via analysis.

Course Content

Examples of Civil Architecture during Early Christian, Middle and Late Byzantine Periods are classified and analyzed pursuant to their plan types. In the course, imperial and rural palaces, cisterns, waterways, hypogeum, hippodrome, forums and monuments are examined in company with visual materials with respect to historical construction phases and plan features.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Prof. Mustafa Kemal ŞAHİN
Learning Outcomes
1.To be able to explain Byzantine civil life and Early Christian Period in which Roman identity sustains.
2.To be able to define changes in civil life along with religious and cultural identity after the 6th century, , and its influence on architecture
3.To be able to define City plans and residences during Early Christian and Early Byzantine Periods.
4.To be able to comprehend the scientific terms used frequently in Byzantine Art.
5.To be able to explain scientific research methods related to Byzantine Art
6.To be able to comprehend Rural and urban settlements in Middle and Late Byzantine Periods
7.To be able to evaluate the place of civil residences built in Early Christianity and Early Byzantine Periods in Byzantine architecture in comparison with the earlier and later constructions in same functions regarding plan and ornamental features. To be able to discuss on relationships between Man, Belief, Space and their formative influence on architecture.
8.To be able to define Byzantine imperial palaces.
9.To be able to assess the civil architecture with the examples of waterways and cisterns.
10.To be able to evaluate the place of Byzantine civil architecture in Byzantine architecture in comparison with the earlier and later constructions in same functions regarding plan and ornamental features.
11.To be able to discuss the connection between Man, Belief, Space and their formative influence on architecture.
Recommended or Required Reading
1.GOMBRICH, E. H., Sanatın Öyküsü, (Çev. B. Cömert), İstanbul 1980.
2.MANGO, C., Bizans Mimarisi, (Çev. M. Kadiroğlu), Ankara 2006
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical
Introduction of the course; general information about Roman houses. Discussion about influence of religion on civil life and architecture with emergence of Christianity.
Week 2 - Theoretical
Cities and house types of Early Byzantine period. Construction Materials-techniques (with visual materials).
Week 3 - Theoretical
Settlements during Early Byzantine Period. Ephesus and Sardes Houses –historical phases and plan types (with visual materials).
Week 4 - Theoretical
Settlements during Early Byzantine Period. Hierapolis and Aphodisias Houses –historical phases and plan types (via visual materials).
Week 5 - Theoretical
Settlements during Early Byzantine Period. Cappadocia: Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı (with visual materials).
Week 6 - Theoretical
General evaluation about military, economic and social state of Byzantine Empire during Middle Byzantine Period, in consideration of chroniclers of the day and actual references.
Week 7 - Theoretical
General information about Byzantine Imperial Palaces. Istanbul Great Palace–historical phases and plan types (with visual materials).
Week 8 - Theoretical
Byzantine Imperial Palaces: Boukoleion Palace and Blakhernai (Tekfur) Palace historical phases and plan types (with visual materials).
Week 9 - Theoretical
Byzantine Imperial Palaces: Nymphaion Palace– historical phases and plan (with visual materials).
Week 10 - Theoretical
Byzantine Imperial Palaces: Mangana Palace– historical phases and plan (with visual materials).
Week 11 - Theoretical
Byzantine summer palaces: Palaces in Hebdomon. Rhegion Palace, Bryas Palace, Damatrys Palace. Their history and architecture (with visual materials)
Week 12 - Theoretical
General information about water constructions. Waterways and cisterns: Valens Aqueduct (Bozdoğan Aqueduct) Its History and Architecture (with visual materials)
Week 13 - Theoretical
Closed Cisterns: Basilica Cistern, Binbirdirek Cistern, Myrelaion Cistern; Their History and Architecture and Open Cisterns: Aeitos Cistern (Çukurbostan), Aspar Cistern (Sultan Selim Çukurbostanı) Their History and Architecture (with visual materials)
Week 14 - Theoretical
General information on hypogea. Examples from Anatolia: Hypogea in Iznik Elbeyli Village, Sardis, Ankara, Amasya; Their History and Architecture (with visual materials)
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Midterm Examination1%40
Final Examination1%60
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory141242
Reading100110
Individual Work5015
Midterm Examination1718
Final Examination19110
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)75
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
PÇ-1
PÇ-2
PÇ-3
PÇ-4
PÇ-5
PÇ-6
PÇ-7
PÇ-8
PÇ-9
PÇ-10
PÇ-11
PÇ-12
OÇ-1
5
5
5
5
4
3
4
4
4
5
5
5
OÇ-2
5
5
4
5
3
3
3
4
4
5
5
5
OÇ-3
3
4
5
5
4
5
4
5
3
5
5
3
OÇ-4
5
5
5
5
4
3
4
4
4
5
5
5
OÇ-5
5
5
5
5
3
3
4
3
4
5
4
5
OÇ-6
5
5
5
5
3
5
3
4
4
3
3
5
OÇ-7
5
5
5
5
3
4
3
4
4
3
3
5
OÇ-8
4
5
5
4
3
3
4
5
4
4
4
4
OÇ-9
5
5
5
5
3
3
4
4
4
3
4
5
OÇ-10
5
5
5
5
3
3
3
4
4
3
3
5
OÇ-11
5
5
5
5
3
3
3
4
4
3
3
5
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026