Byzantium in Middle Ages (641-1453 a.d.) 1202-OG-EN-BIMA

This lecture is almost partially continuation of the lecture “The Later Roman Empire 284-641 a.d.” It covers the history of the Byzantine Empire starting from the death of the Emperor Heraclius in 641 till the fall of Constantinople in 1453 a.d. During this lecture, I will describe the medieval history of Byzantium beginning from early medieval period, through the dawn of Byzantine power: the rule of Amorian Dynasty, its peak of power during the reign of the Macedonians and the times when Byzantium began losing its role as the primary power in Europe: the rule of the Comneni dynasty till the fall in 1204 (4th Crusade). The description of the history of the Byzantine Empire will end with an overview of Latin and Greek states which emerged after the fall of Constantinople, the restitution of Byzantine ruler in Constantinople (1261) description of the fragmentation and shrinking of the Empire in 14th century and the final fall in 1453.
Economic and social problems (including the role of women in Byzantium and dynastical connections of Comneni with other European dynasties) will be discussed in the course of the lectures describing respective dynasties and centuries). In separate lectures, I will deal with the changes in the Byzantine army and the problem of the Byzantine Commonwealth (Obolensky), especially the influence of Byzantium on the young Slavic nations of Eastern and Southern Europe (the Rus, Bulgaria and Serbia).
1. The Empire after the death o Heraclius (641 a.d.). The Rule of the Heraclid dynasty and the 20 years of the reign of “weak emperors”
2.The Isaurian (Syrian) (717-802) and Nikephorian (802-813) Dynasties
3. The Amorian (Phrygian) Dynasty
4. The Problem of Iconoclasm in the VIII and IX Centuries (717-843)
5. The Macedonian Dynasty
6. The 11th century crisis
7. The Rule of Comneni
8. Crisis of Empire and the 4th Crusade
9. Latin and Greek Successors States
10. The restauration of Empire in Constantinople. The Palaiologoi and the history of Empire in the 13th and 14th century; the final fall of the city in 1453
11. Byzantium and Slavic World (the Rus, Serbia and Bulgaria)
12. Army