Students

AHIS323 – Byzantium: East and West

2016 – S2 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Lecturer, tutor, course co-ordinator
Danijel Dzino
Contact via email
W6A 506
by appointment
Lecturer, tutor
Meaghan McEvoy
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
39cp or (6cp in AHIS or AHST units at 200 level)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit comprises the study of Byzantine history from Justinian in the sixth century to Alexios Komnenos in the twelfth century. It focuses on the continuity/discontinuity of the classical tradition, and on contacts between the Byzantines and the Arabs (East), Medieval Europe (West), and the Silk Road (East). Major themes include: the Eastern Orthodox tradition; historiography; art and architecture; philosophy; humanism; monasticism; iconoclasm; and the role of women in society.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Acquire the ability to demonstrate an appreciation of the larger issues that engage historians.
  • Acquire the ability to formulate arguments and articulate ideas.
  • Acquire advanced research skills.
  • Acquire broad knowledge of Byzantine history, art and religion in different periods and regions from Late Antiquity to its end in 1453.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Major essay 40% 4/11/16
Tutorial paper 30% Monday, Week 2-13
Quiz 30% Week 8 and Week 13

Major essay

Due: 4/11/16
Weighting: 40%

Word Count = 2500-3000 words with a minimum of 10 article and book references.

Due date = Sunday 4th November, 2016 at 11:55pm EST (Week 12).

All students choose one question from a list of essay questions below. Students may devise their own essay question in consultation with the Convenor if they wish (the question must be related to one of the weekly lecture or tutorial topics). Late submissions are penalized with 2% per day.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Acquire the ability to demonstrate an appreciation of the larger issues that engage historians.
  • Acquire the ability to formulate arguments and articulate ideas.
  • Acquire advanced research skills.
  • Acquire broad knowledge of Byzantine history, art and religion in different periods and regions from Late Antiquity to its end in 1453.

Tutorial paper

Due: Monday, Week 2-13
Weighting: 30%

Word count = 1200-1500 words with a minimum of 5 article and book references

Due date = On the date of the chosen tutorial (tutorials 2-12 only). This applies to external students too – so if you want to do the tutorial paper on topic 7, the deadline will be on Monday 12th of September by 5PM.

Tutorial papers should be written as responses to tutorial topics questions. Late submissions are penalized with 2% per day.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Acquire the ability to demonstrate an appreciation of the larger issues that engage historians.
  • Acquire the ability to formulate arguments and articulate ideas.
  • Acquire advanced research skills.
  • Acquire broad knowledge of Byzantine history, art and religion in different periods and regions from Late Antiquity to its end in 1453.

Quiz

Due: Week 8 and Week 13
Weighting: 30%

There will be 2 online quizzes, which are going to be posted on iLearn. Each quiz will have 20 questions (multiple choice or short answers for 20 minutes, and only one attempt will be allowed. The questions will be based on lectures and tutorial readings

Quiz 1: Week 8. The quiz will open on Thursday 6th of October 6PM and close on Sunday 9th of October 11.55PM. The questions will be based on lectures and tutorial readings from the weeks 1-7

Quiz 2: Week 13. The quiz will open on Thursday 10th of November 6PM and close on Sunday 13th of November 11.55PM. The questions will be based on lectures and tutorial readings from the weeks 9-13.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Acquire the ability to demonstrate an appreciation of the larger issues that engage historians.
  • Acquire advanced research skills.
  • Acquire broad knowledge of Byzantine history, art and religion in different periods and regions from Late Antiquity to its end in 1453.

Delivery and Resources

To complete the unit satisfactorily you will need to achieve an overall mark worth 50% or above

Early feedback will be provided to students through tutorials, lecture questions and Week 3 exercise in proper referencing of academic paper. 

Lectures will be recorded and available via Echo 360, together with powerpoints from the lectures.

There are also significant resources online (see iLearn for recommended websites)

Attendance at lectures is highly recommended, and tutorial attendance is compulsory for internal students.

Personal computer and Internet access are required. Basic computer skills (e.g., internet browsing) and skills in word processing are also a requirement. Any problem, contact onehelp@mq.edu.au (9850 4357) and not the unit convener.

Set books

Required:

T. Gregory, A History of Byzantium (Oxford, 2010). 

Recommended:

A. Cameron, The Byzantines (Oxford, 2006) 

Unit Schedule

Week 1: Byzantium: The Empire and its reception

Week 2: Byzantine historians and historiography

Week 3: The City of Constantinople

             Eastern Roman survival and Western Roman disintegration

Week 4: From Justinian to Heraclius

             The Rise of Islam and Arab invasions

Week 5: Byzantium, Sclavenes and Avars

Week 6: 7th century change – urban and elite transformation

Week 7: Byzantium and the Carolingians

             Byzantium and the Crusades

Week 8: LABOUR DAY, No lectures or tutorials

Week 9: Women in Byzantium

             The Byzantine Outsider

Week 10: Iconoclasm in Byzantium

Week 11: Byzantium and the Balkans 1 (500-1025)

Week 12: Byzantium and the Balkans 2 (1025-1453)

Week 13: Byzantine Art and Architecture

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

New Assessment Policy in effect from Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html. For more information visit http://students.mq.edu.au/events/2016/07/19/new_assessment_policy_in_place_from_session_2/

Assessment Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html​

Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Acquire the ability to demonstrate an appreciation of the larger issues that engage historians.
  • Acquire the ability to formulate arguments and articulate ideas.
  • Acquire advanced research skills.
  • Acquire broad knowledge of Byzantine history, art and religion in different periods and regions from Late Antiquity to its end in 1453.

Assessment tasks

  • Major essay
  • Tutorial paper
  • Quiz

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Acquire the ability to demonstrate an appreciation of the larger issues that engage historians.
  • Acquire the ability to formulate arguments and articulate ideas.
  • Acquire advanced research skills.
  • Acquire broad knowledge of Byzantine history, art and religion in different periods and regions from Late Antiquity to its end in 1453.

Assessment tasks

  • Major essay
  • Tutorial paper
  • Quiz

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Acquire the ability to demonstrate an appreciation of the larger issues that engage historians.
  • Acquire the ability to formulate arguments and articulate ideas.
  • Acquire advanced research skills.
  • Acquire broad knowledge of Byzantine history, art and religion in different periods and regions from Late Antiquity to its end in 1453.

Assessment tasks

  • Major essay
  • Tutorial paper
  • Quiz

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Acquire the ability to demonstrate an appreciation of the larger issues that engage historians.
  • Acquire the ability to formulate arguments and articulate ideas.
  • Acquire advanced research skills.
  • Acquire broad knowledge of Byzantine history, art and religion in different periods and regions from Late Antiquity to its end in 1453.

Assessment tasks

  • Major essay
  • Tutorial paper
  • Quiz

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Acquire the ability to demonstrate an appreciation of the larger issues that engage historians.
  • Acquire the ability to formulate arguments and articulate ideas.
  • Acquire advanced research skills.
  • Acquire broad knowledge of Byzantine history, art and religion in different periods and regions from Late Antiquity to its end in 1453.

Assessment tasks

  • Major essay
  • Tutorial paper
  • Quiz

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Acquire the ability to demonstrate an appreciation of the larger issues that engage historians.
  • Acquire the ability to formulate arguments and articulate ideas.
  • Acquire advanced research skills.
  • Acquire broad knowledge of Byzantine history, art and religion in different periods and regions from Late Antiquity to its end in 1453.

Assessment tasks

  • Major essay
  • Tutorial paper
  • Quiz

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Acquire the ability to demonstrate an appreciation of the larger issues that engage historians.
  • Acquire the ability to formulate arguments and articulate ideas.
  • Acquire advanced research skills.
  • Acquire broad knowledge of Byzantine history, art and religion in different periods and regions from Late Antiquity to its end in 1453.

Assessment tasks

  • Major essay
  • Tutorial paper
  • Quiz

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Acquire the ability to demonstrate an appreciation of the larger issues that engage historians.
  • Acquire the ability to formulate arguments and articulate ideas.
  • Acquire advanced research skills.
  • Acquire broad knowledge of Byzantine history, art and religion in different periods and regions from Late Antiquity to its end in 1453.

Assessment tasks

  • Major essay
  • Tutorial paper
  • Quiz

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Acquire the ability to demonstrate an appreciation of the larger issues that engage historians.
  • Acquire the ability to formulate arguments and articulate ideas.
  • Acquire advanced research skills.
  • Acquire broad knowledge of Byzantine history, art and religion in different periods and regions from Late Antiquity to its end in 1453.

Assessment tasks

  • Major essay
  • Tutorial paper
  • Quiz