The Byzantine Empire

A Thousand Years of History in Nine Hours of Video

What you'll learn

Learn how the Byzantine Empire grew out of the Roman Empire

Learn about the fusion of Church and State and People that was the Empire

Learn about the challenges the Empire faced through its thousand years of history

Learn about the people and culture of the Empire

Requirements

No previous knowledge required - just an interest in history

Description

The purpose of this course is to explain the nature and history of the Byzantine Empire. It uses images and a spoken narrative and explanation of events.Between 330 AD and 1453, Constantinople (modern Istanbul) was the capital of the Roman Empire, otherwise known as the Later Roman Empire, the Eastern Roman Empire, the Mediaeval Roman Empire, or The Byzantine Empire. For most of this time, it was the largest and richest city in Christendom. The territories of which it was the central capital enjoyed better protections of life, liberty and property, and a higher standard of living, than any other Christian territory, and usually compared favourably with the neighbouring and rival Islamic empires. It was a unique fusion of the Later Roman State and the Christian Church. After an early period, in which it was seen as just the Roman Empire with a new faith and a new capital, and in which Latin remained the language of law and administration, it gradually transitioned to a Greek Orthodox nation state, absolutely distinct from mediaeval Christendom in the West and from the realms of Islam. Its durability throughout its thousand years of existence is attested by its survival of climatic disaster, plague, demographic collapse, and one apparently final destruction.Subjects covered include:· The foundation of the City and establishment of the Christian Faith· Survival and growth of the Eastern Empire in what was otherwise and age of collapse· The failed glory that was the Age of Justinian· The Persian War and the Islamic explosion· The long recovery after about 700· The decline of the Empire after 1025· Recovery after the Crusader sack of 1204· The long decline and the final Turkish conquestOther subject touched on are the various theological disputes and changes in the Greek language.The course is delivered by an experienced university lecturer who has written widely on ancient and Byzantine history.

Overview

Section 1: Rome to Byzantium: The Great Transformation

Lecture 1 Rome to Byzanium: The Great Transformation

Section 2: Byzantium and Rome: A Tale of Two Empires

Lecture 2 Byzantium and Rome: A Tale of Two Empires

Section 3: The Age of Justinian: (Two Lectures)

Lecture 3 The Age of Justinian: Cashing in the Gains of the Long Fifth Century

Lecture 4 The Age of Justinian: The Hand of God

Section 4: The Byzantine Empire: Into the Storm

Lecture 5 The Byzantine Empire: Into the Storm

Section 5: The Byzantine Empire: Weathering the Storm

Lecture 6 The Byzantine Empire: Weathering the Storm

Section 6: The Byzantine Empire: Recovery and Recovery of Hegemony

Lecture 7 The Byzantine Empire: Recovery and Recovery of Hegemony

Section 7: The Byzantine Empire: The Breakdown

Lecture 8 The Byzantine Empire: The Breakdown

Section 8: Byzantium: The Final Centuries

Lecture 9 Byzantium: The Final Centuries

The course is intended for students who need an overview and for those generally interested in ancient and mediaeval history