Satisfies "the Medieval World" core course requirement for Art History majors

Proceeding chronologically, this course takes a long view of the art and architecture produced within and around the Byzantine Empire. We begin with the nascence of the earliest Christian art in the second and third centuries, followed by an examination of the Early Byzantine period, from the transference of the Roman Empire’s capital to Constantinople (present-day Istanbul) in 330 to the eighth century. Attention is given to the Iconoclastic controversies of the 700s and 800s before turning to the flourishing of art and architecture in the Middle Byzantine period (843– 1204). We will consider the political fragmentation of the empire caused by the Fourth Crusade, during which Constantinople fell under Latin rule from 1204–61. Following this period of rupture, we consider shifts in artistic production in Late Byzantium through the empire’s final fall to the Ottomans in 1453. We conclude with an exploration of the afterlives and echoes of Byzantium.

Topics and themes to be addressed include: the transition from ancient Roman artistic traditions to the visual culture of early Christianity; theories of the icon and the iconoclast controversies; the cult of the saints, relics, and pilgrimage; intertwined ideas of religiosity and secularism; and the dual concepts of continuity and innovation; notions of empire and the politics of the visual. Group discussions will focus on visual analysis and critical readings of primary textual material.

Course requires an excursion to Ravenna, est. cost per student €25 plus travel.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

- Recognize key works of Byzantine art and architecture.

- Analyze the visual material within its social and historical contexts.

- Acquire an understanding of the chronology of important historical events related to the Byzantine Empire.

- Demonstrate awareness of significant primary source texts.

- Evaluate secondary literature critically and individuate various scholarly approaches.

- Identify and interpret key themes, and how these relate to individual works of art.

- Cultivate oral communication skills by discussing art in situ and within the classroom.

- Develop writing skills that include: the formation of clear arguments; effective organization and structuring of material; visual analysis; and the incorporation and evaluation of primary and secondary sources.

You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until 12 Dec. 2025.

Students will be assigned bi-weekly readings that will be made available through the library. A full list of readings will be provided at the start of the course. 

Provisional Schedule:

Week 1

[9/1] 1. Introduction & Course Overview. What is “Byzantium”?

[9/3] 2. Between Polytheism & the Christian God: Problems of Representation

Week 2

[9/8] 3. From Rome to Constantinople / The Basilica Across the Eastern Mediterranean

[9/10] 4. Shifting Visualities: Early Christian Rome

Week 3

[9/15] 5. Building Empire I: Hagia Sophia

[9/17] 6. Building Empire II: Beyond Constantinople

[Sat. 9/20] Class Trip to Ravenna (DATE TENTATIVE)

Week 4

[9/22] 7. No class (Make-up for study trip)

[9/24] 8. Iconoclasm & Its Aftermath

Week 5

[9/29] 9. Continuity or Revival? The Macedonian “Renaissance”

[10/1] 10. An Image of the Cosmos: The Middle Byzantine Church

Week 6

[10/6] 11. The Visual Culture of Middle Byzantine Monasticism

[10/8] 12. The Imperial Image in the Middle Byzantine Period

Week 7

[10/13] 13. Midterm Exam Review

[10/15] 14. Midterm Exam

Week 8

[10/20] 15. Research Paper Workshop

[10/22] 16. Cross-Cultural Encounters: Medieval Sicily

Week 9

[10/27] 17. The Fourth Crusade & the Latin Kingdom of Constantinople

[10/29] 18. An Empire in Exile

Week 10

[11/3] 19. Constantinople Redux I: Art & Patronage in Later Byzantium

[11/5] 20. Constantinople Redux II: Intellectual Life in the Capital

Week 11

[11/10] 21. Cross-Cultural Encounters: Medieval Serbia

[11/12] 22. 1453: From Constantinople to Istanbul

Week 12

[11/17] 23. Art & Diplomacy: Byzantine Objects in Italy

[11/19] 24. Transformations & Hybridities: The Icon in Venice & Venetian Crete

Week 13

[11/24] 25. The Art of Domenikos Theotokopoulos / El Greco

[11/26] 26. No Class (Make-up for study trip)

Week 14

[12/1] 27. Byzantium’s Afterlives in Modern Art & Contemporary Culture

[12/3] 28. Final Exam Review