A survey of the history of Byzantium from A.D. 700-1453, with special emphasis on the relations between the Empire and Latin Christendom and the evolving perception of Byzantium as “non-western.” Key moments and documents will be examined in light of the historic frictions between the Byzantine Empire and the Latin West, observing both how medieval Latins contested Byzantine political, ethnic, and religious claims and how the Byzantines responded in turn to these challenges and so contributed to the emergence of a schism between East and West. The course will focus especially on the history of ideas, culture, religion, institutions, and politics.
Prerequisite Courses