BYZANTINE HISTORY AND LITERATURE

The course History and Byzantine Literature is situated within the fields of historical, philological, and art-historical studies and is intended for students enrolled in Master’s degree programmes in Italian Philology, Linguistics and Literature, Classical Studies: Archaeology, Literature and History, and History of the Arts and Conservation of Artistic Heritage. The course offers an in-depth exploration of the literary culture of the Eastern Roman Empire between the fourth and the fifteenth centuries, understood as an integral part of the cultural history of the medieval Mediterranean.

The course approaches Byzantine literature as a set of historically situated discursive practices through which authority, identity, and memory are constructed and transmitted. Texts are not considered merely as literary objects, but as instruments for the elaboration and representation of political power, religious truth, and the past.

The course is based on a close integration of historical framework and textual analysis and aims to relate literary forms to their contexts of production and to the cultural functions of writing. From this perspective, the Greek tradition is not understood as mere continuity, but as a resource actively reworked within Byzantine culture.

Particular attention is devoted to the relationship with the Greek tradition and to the reuse of classical models, as well as to the role of intellectuals in the definition and transmission of literary practices.

The course takes into account the diversity of students’ backgrounds and provides differentiated paths for those who know Greek and those who do not. Students with knowledge of Greek are encouraged to work with texts in the original language; for others, the work is carried out on texts in translation, without this limiting the acquisition of the necessary interpretative tools.

Finally, the course aims to develop the ability to read texts critically and to engage with historiographical and literary debates, providing the tools necessary to address research problems in the field of Byzantine studies independently.

By the end of the course, students will have acquired:

A) Knowledge and understanding

An advanced knowledge of the history and literary production of the Eastern Roman Empire between the fourth and the fifteenth centuries, with particular attention to the contexts of production and circulation of texts.
An understanding of the main interpretative issues related to the definition and study of Byzantine literature, in relation to the Greek tradition and medieval culture.
Familiarity with major authors, texts, and discursive practices, situated within their historical and cultural contexts.

B) Tools for analysis and interpretation

Critical analysis of Byzantine texts (in translation and, where possible, in the original language), with attention to their forms, functions, and contexts of production.
The ability to relate texts to the historical, political, and religious contexts in which they were produced.
The ability to identify research questions and to formulate independent interpretations based on the analysis of sources and relevant scholarship.

C) Independent critical thinking and communication

The ability to discuss texts and problems critically, using appropriate disciplinary language.
The ability to present a structured and well-argued analysis, both orally and in writing.
The ability to use specialist bibliography effectively and to engage with scholarly debates.

A basic knowledge of ancient and medieval history and of classical culture is useful, but not essential. The course is structured so as to provide students with the tools necessary to engage with the history and literary production of the Eastern Roman Empire, including those who have not previously taken courses in Byzantine studies.

Knowledge of Greek is not required. Students who are familiar with the language are encouraged to work with texts in the original; for others, analysis will be based on texts in translation, with particular attention to interpretative issues.

The course introduces the study of Byzantine literature from the fourth to the fifteenth century, approaching it not as a simple succession of genres, but as a set of discursive practices through which authority, identity, and memory are constructed and transmitted within the Eastern Roman Empire.

The course develops through the guided reading of texts in translation (and, for students who know Greek, also in the original language), organized around key interpretative issues. The aim is to relate literary forms to their contexts of production and to the cultural functions of writing, highlighting the role of texts in shaping political, religious, and cultural discourse.

Particular attention is devoted to the relationship with the Greek and Roman tradition and to the reuse of classical models, as well as to the role of intellectuals in the definition and transmission of literary practices.

The course includes moments of discussion and further exploration, also through short presentations or written assignments on selected texts, with the aim of developing independent analytical and interpretative skills.

Main topics:

Writing in the Roman Empire
Continuity and transformation of the Greek and Roman tradition; models, authority, and the use of the past.

Word and power
Rhetoric and encomium as forms of constructing and legitimizing imperial authority.

Truth and orthodoxy
Theology, doctrinal controversies, and hymnography; the definition of truth and the construction of consensus.

Narrating the saint
Hagiography as a space for the construction of religious and social models.

Writing among intellectuals
Epistolography and philosophy as practices of interaction, self-representation, and the transmission of knowledge.

Constructing the past
Chronography and historiography: selection, interpretation, and the construction of memory.

Narrative and rewriting
The Byzantine novel as a reworking of narrative models from the tradition.

Poetry and the function of form
Poetic writing between continuity of models and the redefinition of expressive practices.

Byzantium after Byzantium
Reception and transformation of Byzantine literature in modern culture.

Reference texts

The course is primarily based on the texts discussed in class and on the materials provided by the instructor, which constitute an essential part of the programme.

The following volumes and contributions are recommended:

Papaioannou, Stratis (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Byzantine Literature, Oxford University Press, 2021.
Rhoby, Andreas, La letteratura bizantina. Un profilo storico, Rome, 2022.
Kambylis, A., “Compendio della letteratura bizantina”, in Introduzione alla filologia greca, ed. H.G. Nesselrath; Italian ed. by S. Fornaro, Rome, 2004, pp. 446–478.
Agapitos, P.A., “The Periodization of Byzantine Literature: From a Historical to a Literary Model”, in Anekdota Byzantina. Studien zur byzantinischen Geschichte und Kultur. Festschrift für Albrecht Berger anlässlich seines 65. Geburtstags, ed. by I. Stadelmann-Grimm et al., Munich, 2023 (Byzantinisches Archiv, 41), pp. 1–20.

The volume edited by Papaioannou and the selected essays will be used through a set of readings indicated during the course; Rhoby’s book provides a general framework for orienting oneself within Byzantine literary production.

Anthologies and collections of texts

The following anthologies, available in the library, may be used for work on the texts:

Bisanzio nella sua letteratura, ed. U. Albini and E. V. Maltese, Milan, 1984.
Romanzi cavallereschi bizantini, ed. C. Cupane, Turin, 1995.
Il romanzo bizantino del XII secolo, ed. F. Conca, Turin, 1997.
Poeti bizantini, ed. R. Cantarella, Milan, 1992.
Mille anni di poesia greca: antologia dai secoli V–XV, ed. F. Tissoni, Milan, 2012.
Materials provided during the course

During the course, an anthology of texts (in translation and, where possible, in the original language) will be provided, together with a selection of critical essays.

These materials constitute an integral part of the programme and will be discussed and assessed in the examination.

Assessment methods

The final grade is determined by the combination of:
oral examination (70%)
research assignment (30%)

Research assignment

Students may choose between:
a short oral presentation (10–15 minutes) on an agreed text or topic
or
a short written paper (approximately 3,000 words)

The assignment constitutes an integral part of the final assessment.

Its purpose is to develop:
the ability to analyse and interpret texts
a critical and informed use of bibliography
the ability to formulate and discuss a research question

Students who know Greek are encouraged to work with texts in the original language; for others, the work will be based on texts in translation.

Oral examination

The oral examination will cover the contents of the course, the texts analysed, and the reference materials, and will assess:
the ability to interpret texts within their historical and cultural context
understanding of the main issues addressed during the course
the ability to construct an independent and well-founded argument

oral

The lecturer has a duty to ensure that the rules regarding the authenticity and originality of exam tests and papers are respected. Therefore, if there is suspicion of irregular conduct, an additional assessment may be conducted, which could differ from the original exam description.

Grading scale
Oral examination
18–24/30 (sufficient) → basic knowledge of the course content, with difficulties in framing the main issues and in developing an argument; limited use of disciplinary language.
25–26/30 (fair) → adequate understanding of the topics covered, with generally correct but still limited autonomy in argumentation; overall appropriate use of disciplinary language.
27–28/30 (good) → clear and well-structured presentation; good ability to interpret texts and frame key issues; informed use of terminology.
29/30 (very good) → solid and independent argumentation; ability to connect texts, contexts, and problems; confident use of disciplinary language.
30/30 (excellent) → full command of the subject; developed critical skills and convincing interpretation of texts.
30/30 cum laude → particularly refined and original argumentation; high level of critical autonomy and strong capacity for problematization.
Research assignment
18–24/30 (sufficient) → predominantly descriptive work, with limited analytical ability and insufficiently informed use of bibliography.
25–26/30 (fair) → clear and well-structured work, but with limited depth of analysis and critical engagement.
27–28/30 (good) → solid analysis, with good interpretative skills and appropriate use of bibliography.
29/30 (very good) → well-developed work, with independent interpretations and a confident use of sources and scholarship.
30/30 (excellent) → in-depth analysis, strong capacity for problematization, and full command of critical tools.
30/30 cum laude → particularly original work, with advanced interpretative ability and a high level of awareness of the scholarly debate.

Teaching methods

The course combines lectures and discussion, with particular emphasis on the guided analysis of texts.

Classes are organized around thematic units and interpretative problems and aim to relate literary forms to their contexts of production and to the cultural functions of writing. A significant part of the course is devoted to the reading and commentary of texts in translation (and, where possible, in the original language), considered as situated testimonies and as instruments for the construction of political, religious, and cultural discourse.

Students are expected to participate actively through short presentations or contributions on agreed texts, with the aim of developing skills in analysis, discussion, and argumentation.

La frequenza, pur non obbligatoria, è fortemente consigliata.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "International cooperation" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development