Course information
Double portrait of Theodorus Comnenus
Ducas Syndenus, son of the foundress,
and his wife Eudocia Ducaena Comnena
Synadena Palaiologina. From the Typikon
of the Monastery of Our Lady of Good
Hope (Lincoln College Typikon; Lincoln
College, Ms. Gr. 35, fol. 8r) (By permission
of the Fellows of Lincoln College, Oxford)
Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) programme
The Master of Philosophy in Late Antique and Byzantine Studies is a twenty-one-month taught course which has been designed as a free-standing degree. But graduate students who have completed the first year of the course, may, if they so choose and if they have the backing of their supervisors, apply to transfer to doctoral status on the completion of their M.Phil. course. The 30,000-word dissertation, which they submit for the M.Phil. examination, may be incorporated subsequently into a doctoral thesis.
Candidates for the Master of Philosophy are required to
- undertake a course of study on History, Art and Archaeology in Michaelmas and Hilary Terms of the first year (either I Late Antiquity or II Byzantium), and to submit two 5,000-word essays on topics of their choosing (subject to the approval of their supervisor);
- choose three other subjects for examination, either Language and Literature (one ancient and medieval language from among those listed below – two timed papers) and one other subject (chosen from the lists of Auxiliary Disciplines and Special Subjects given below) or Auxiliary Disciplines (one timed paper) and two Special Subjects;
- write a dissertation of not more than 30,000 words on a subject approved by his/her supervisor, in the second year;
- present himself/herself for a viva voce examination when required to do so by the examiners.
Master of Studies (M.St) programme
The Master of Studies in Late Antique and Byzantine Studies is a nine-month taught course that can be taken as a free-standing degree, or as the first step towards doctoral research.
Candidates for the Master of Studies are required to
- undertake a course of study on History, Art and Archaeology in Michaelmas and Hilary Terms of the first year (either I Late Antiquity or II Byzantium), and to submit two 5,000-word essays on topics of their choosing (subject to the approval of their supervisor);
- choose two other subjects for examination, either Language and Literature (one ancient and medieval language from among those listed below – two timed papers) or Auxiliary Disciplines (one timed paper) and one Special Subject;
- present himself/herself for a viva voce examination when required to do so by the examiners.
Teaching outline
(i) Core paper on History, Art and Archaeology – either (a) Late Antiquity (covering the Roman empire and adjoining regions, or (b) Byzantium to be taken by all candidates: taught in classes in Michaelmas and Hilary Terms; examined by two 5,000-word essays, to be submitted by Monday of First Week of Trinity Term of the candidate’s first year.
(ii) and (iii) Language and Literature (Greek, Latin, Slavonic, Armenian, Syriac, Arabic): taught over three terms in classes, with reference to a selection of texts/extracts from texts which may vary from year to year according to the interests of candidates; examined by two three-hour papers, (ii) translation and (iii) set texts (with passages for comment and essay questions). Candidates who are embarking on the study of one of the above languages will normally be expected to take both papers, but may take one only, with the approval of the Committee for Byzantine Studies.
(iv) Auxiliary Disciplines, either any two of the following (epigraphy, palaeography, numismatics, sigillography) or papyrology (Greek, Coptic or Arabic) or artefact studies (ceramics, metalware, ivories, codices, carved marbles): taught by lectures / classes / tutorials; examined by three-hour paper.
(v) and (vi) Special Subject in History or Art and Archaeology or Literature or Religion taken from the list below: taught by lectures / classes / tutorials; examined either by two 5,000-word essays or by 10,000-word dissertation (to be submitted by Monday of Seventh Week of Trinity Term of the candidate’s first year).
Overview of Special Subjects
(a) History: from paganism to Christianity – the Roman empire in the fourth century; the Sasanian empire; the sub-Roman west in the sixth century; the east Roman empire in the age of Justinian; nomads, Slavs and the southern powers, 370–700; the rise of Islam; Syria 400–800; Armenia 600-900; Byzantium and the Arabs ca.650–ca.860; the Christianisation of the Balkans and Russia; Islamic history 600-1000; Byzantium and Armenia 850–1050; Byzantium in the age of Constantine Porphyrogenitus; Arab and Norman Sicily 827–1250; the Seljuqs; the Komnenian revival; the Palaiologan age.
(b) Art and Archaeology: Late Antique sculpture/portraiture; monumental art and architecture in Late Antiquity; city, countryside and economy in Late Antiquity; pilgrimage in Late Antiquity; Constantinople; Islamic art and archaeology 650–900; early Islamic monetary history; Byzantine minor arts; Byzantine monumental art; Byzantine regional archaeology; Islamic art and archaeology 900–1250; royal art and architecture in Norman Sicily 1130–1194; Palaiologan art and architecture.
(c) Literature (texts prescribed in translation): literature in Late Antiquity (Greek); literature in Late Antiquity (Latin); literature in Late Antiquity (oriental – either Arabic or Syriac or Armenian); Hebrew/Aramaic texts; Byzantine historiography in the eleventh and twelfth centuries; Byzantine poetry from John Geometres to Theodore Prodromos; Byzantine popular narratives; Byzantine scholarship.
(d) Religion: Judaism in Late Antiquity; the Arian controversy; Augustine; Gnosticism and Manichaeism; Christological debate, fifth–seventh centuries; Iconoclasm; early medieval Islamic thought; Byzantine spirituality.
(e) Such other subjects as may be approved from time to time on application to the Committee for Byzantine Studies.