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ARHA 318

LATE ANTIQUE & BYZANTINE ART & ARCHITECTURE

Koç University Fall 2010

◊¤◊ Instructor: Dr. Alessandra Ricci, SOS #269; aricci@ku.edu.tr Schedule: Tuesdays, Thursdays; 14.00 – 15.15; CAS B26

Office hours: Tuesday 9.30-11 or by appointment

Teaching Assistants: Pinar Saglav psaglav@ku.edu.tr ; Murat Kivanc Koroglu, kkoroglu@ku.edu.tr

Course Description: Late Antique and Byzantine Art & Architecture

concern the culture, society patterns, tastes and their visual reverberations in late Roman times and what has come to be known as

the Byzantine Empire. The Empire was centered around the city of Constantinople (Istanbul), dedicated by the emperor Constantine in 330 CE. While the boundaries of the empire shifted over its many centuries

of life, the capture of the city in 1453 by the Ottoman Turks drew to a formal end the history/ies of Byzantium.

The course explores in a chronological and thematic fashion the main traits of Late Antique and Byzantine Art and Architecture. It does also focus on Byzantium`s neighbors and some of the lesser explored aspects

of this long lasting empire. The final section of the course will be devoted to an analysis of contemporary perceptions and representations of Byzantium.

Textbook and Readings: R. Cormack, Byzantine Art, Oxford 2000

(28 copies available at Pandora Bookstore) Other Readings: available in the form of a

reading package at the Xerox Center as of Week 2 of classes. Textbook and Readings - Reserve Area at the SKLibrary: One copy of

the textbook and of the readings available at the Reserve Area in the SKLibrary. This is as you enter the library to your left.

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Grading: Class, Thursday discussion sessions and fieldtrips participation 25%; project 10%; class journals and assignments 20%;

mid-term exam 20%; final exam 25%

Fieldtrips: two half-day Saturday fieldtrips in Istanbul. Fieldtrips will replace classes. One mid-term: will cover class lectures, readings, class discussion,

assignments and fieldtrips. Final examination: cumulative with but weighed towards material covered during the second half of the semester

Class Journal & assignments: a total of four class journals & short assignments will be prepared in the course of the semester.

How to approach this class: - Take the lectures and fieldtrips seriously. You are strongly

encouraged to come to class and to the fieldtrips. All mobile phones must be turned off. Laptops are allowed but, for note taking only. - Take the visual component of the class seriously. It may initially

result difficult to process images; make sure to take ample notes on them and to review images shown in class that will be posted on the F-Drive. - Take the readings seriously. You are requested to complete for a

given week by the Thursday class session of each week. A good portion

of each Thursday class will be devoted to class discussion on the weekly readings. This will form an integral part of your final grade. - Observe e-mail etiquette: do try and limit email to course instructor

and TAs to issues that truly matter. Were you in need of writing, please, do treat your emails as formal letters of inquiry.

- CHEATING & PLAGERISM: NOT ALLOWED, NEVER. WILL BE PENALIZED AS PER UNIVERSITY RULES.

Grading Scale: 100 -93: A

92- 87: A- 86- 83: B+ 82- 80: B

79- 77: B- 76- 73: C+ 72- 70: C

69- 67: C- 66- 64: D+

63- 60: D 59- 0: F

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Schedule and Readings:

Week 1: September 28, 30

Introduction to course The Worlds of Late Antiquity and Byzantium

NO READINGS Week 2: October 5, 7

From `Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire` to the World of Late Antiquity: New Perspectives on the Late Roman Empire

Readings: Cormack, pp. 1- 35 Herrin, pp. xiii-xxiii

Week 3: October 12, 14 The rise of a new society: the desert, a city Readings: Mango, pp. 209-213

Hirschfeld, pp. 69-101; 213- 221; First class journal due on Thursday in class

Week 4: October 19, 21 A New Metropolis: Constantinople Readings:

Rautman, pp. 85 - 118 Mango, pp. 64 - 70

Week 5: October 26 The Palace, its Emperors: Born in Purple Readings: Magdalino, pp. 212-230

OCTOBER 28 NO CLASS - National Holiday Week 6: November 2, 4

The sixth century: a 'Golden Age' ? Cormack, pp. 37-73 Second class journal or assignment due on Thursday in class

Week 7: November 9 , 11

NOVEMBER 9: Revision Session in preparation for Mid-term exam NOVEMBER 11: Mid-Term Exam NO READINGS

Week 8: November 16, 18

NO CLASSES: HOLIDAY

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Week 9: November 23, 25 Byzantine neighbors: Islam and the First Caliphates Readings: Grabar, pp. 1-17

Mango, pp. 120- 128 Week 10: November 30, December 2

Moving and living in cities: Pilgrimage and Urban Life Readings: Mango, pp. 71-95; 115 -119

R. Ousterhout, pp. 47 - 57 Third Class Journal or Assignment due on Thursday in class

Week 11: December 7, 9 & Saturday December 11 From Islamic fascinations to monastic contemplations: the archaeological project at Küçükyalı, Istanbul Readings:

Cormack, pp. 86 -110 Ricci, pp. 131- 147 Saturday, December 11: Fieldtrip to the Istanbul Archaeological

Museums Week 12: December 14, 16

Renaissance and Renaissances: does Byzantium qualify? Readings:

Cormack, pp. 105 - 142 Week 13: December 21, 23

Patrons, spirituality and display in the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries Readings: Cormack, pp.156-179; 200-217

DECEMBER 23TH – PROJECT DUE

Week 14: December 28, 30 Byzantium Rediscovered Readings:

Bullen, Fourth Class Journal or Assignment due in class on Thursday

Week 15: January 4, 6 JANUARY 4: Revision in Preparation of Final Exam

JANUARY 6: Final Exam during Class Hours NO READINGS

Final Grades in: last date, January 30, 2011