Late Antique and Byzantine Studies

The Hellenic Institute, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX
Tel : +44 (0)1784 443086/443791/443311; Fax: +44 (0)1784 433032

MA Late Antique and Byzantine Studies (V105PM)
This is a federal University of London programme taught jointly with King’s College London (KCL) and with the participation of other Colleges, especially University College and Birkbeck College. Taught over one year (full-time) or two years (part-time), it is designed especially for those who are interested in progressing to doctoral research in Byzantine studies, especially in the middle and later period, and particularly in reading and editing Byzantine texts from manuscripts. It also aims to relate Byzantine history to the wider world.

The Programme is composed of four elements.

1. Greek language, at Beginners', Intermediate or Advanced Level

RHUL students must attend one of the following three compulsory courses:

K005/CL5001A Greek for Beginners
An introductory course to the Greek language for complete beginners, designed to bring students to a point where they can read simple texts in Greek. Assessment by one three-hour unseen written examination in May, including prepared translation, unprepared translation, English to Greek, and grammatical analysis

or

KO15/CL5002A Intermediate Greek
A course for students who have completed a beginners' course in Greek, designed to extend their knowledge of the language to the point where they are ready to read substantial texts. Assessment by one three-hour unseen written examination in May, including prepared translation, unprepared translation, English to Greek, and grammatical analysis

or

MB02/HS5122A Byzantine Greek II
The aim of this course is to provide students who arrive with a reasonable knowledge of Classical or Byzantine Greek with a wide experience of reading and translating Byzantine authors. Over the year, students will read extensive passages from at least four different authors. Students will be expected to prepare written translations each week. Assessment by one three-hour written examination in May.

2. Methods and Techniques

Students must attend (a) and (b):

(a) MB03.i Introduction to Byzantium Seminar

A two-hour Topics Seminar in the first seven weeks of the first semester, where a variety of experts provide an introduction to their own subject. In early June, the Seminar is reconvened, and students are expected to make their own presentations of their dissertation topics. There is no assessed work.


(b) RHUL Students must attend one of the following two compulsory courses

M380/HS5124A Greek Palaeography

The aim of the course is to acquaint students with the main forms taken by Greek books and Greek handwriting from the Hellenistic period to the fifteenth century AD, and to give them the ability to read new samples from any point within this timespan with confidence. The first five weeks of the first term are devoted to developments between the third century BC and the eighth century AD, including the transition from roll to codex form; the rest of the first term and the second term consider developments from the emergence of minuscule as a book-hand to the production of the first fonts for printed Greek. The course develops a practical skill valuable both in itself, as training in scholarly habits of precise observation and accurate description, and as a tool for the production of critical editions of Greek texts. At the same time, it increases students' knowledge of an important aspect of the transmission of classical literature, and of the cultural history both of classical antiquity and of the Byzantine era.
Assessment by four written assignments of 3,000 words each.

or

MB23/HS5123A Elementary Greek Palaeography
The course concentrates on the minuscule script from the 9th-15th centuries. It aims to bring students up to a level where they would be able to transcribe texts from facsimiles of Greek manuscripts, and distinguish different styles. The material is adapted each time to the level of the class. In general, the course covers simpler minuscule literary hands, nomina sacra, ligatures, abbreviations and symbols. The course involves 40-60 hours of teaching and coursework, mainly transcribing texts from facsimiles of manuscripts and commenting on the layout of the text and on the script, either in class or individually. This course may be taken by students who are starting to learn Greek. Assessment by one three-hour examination in May.


3. A course option

One course must be selected from the following list. The courses marked with an asterisk are those which are likely to be available in the next academic year (for descriptions of courses, please click here):

CLAFG500 Philosophy under the Roman Empire*
91AHG026 Codes and Practice: the World of Roman Law from Antiquity to the Early Middle Ages*
HICL079P Language and Power in the later Roman Empire
HICL004P Ancient Political Thought and its Medieval Legacy (0.5)
Code (tbc) The Mediaeval Mediterranean (0.5)
CL5314 The Late Roman and Early Byzantine City
MB06 Constantinople and its Descriptions*
M590 Byzantine Egypt
MB10 Living in Byzantium: Material culture and built environment (ca. AD 300-1500)*
MB07 The Reign of Constantine I
M720 The Christianisation of the Roman World: from Constantine to Justinian
MB03 Byzantium and the West, AD 843-1002
HS5219 Byzantium and the First Crusade (0.5)*
HS5220 Byzantium and the Fourth Crusade (0.5)*
K866 Gender from Antiquity to Byzantium
AB/MA26 The Greek Novel and Its Influence (1st to 21st Centuries)*
MB09 Byzantine Hagiography
HS5128 Byzantine Autographs of the Palaeologan Period (13th-15th century)
HS5127 Greek Hands of the Palaeologan Period (13th-15th century)*
4. MA dissertation of 10,500-12,000 words on an approved subject, under the supervision of a member of the staff.

Studentships, bursaries and awards: A number of Studentships are available at the History Department, RHUL. UK/EU applicants for this MA are eligible also for the following Hellenic Institute studentships:

The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomaios I Postgraduate Studentship in Byzantine Studies
The Nikolaos Oikonomides Postgraduate Studentship in Byzantine Studies
The Panagiotis and Eleni Xenou Postgraduate Studentship in Hellenic and Byzantine Studies
The Charalambos and Eleni Pelendrides Postgraduate Studentship in Hellenic and Byzantine Studies.
All studentships cover the annual tuition fees. Candidates who are not awarded any of these studentships may apply for a George of Cyprus bursary, from a fund donated by the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Cyprus, to meet general expenses of studying.

The Hellenic Institute is also offering The Joan Mervyn Hussey Prize in Byzantine Studies in memory of the eminent Byzantine scholar and teacher J.M.Hussey (1907-2006), Emeritus Professor of History in the University of London and former Head of the History Department at Royal Holloway College. The Prize is awarded to Hellenic Institute students who complete the MA in Late Antique and Byzantine Studies with the mark of distinction. For further information on the studentship and bursaries, please click here.

Legal Disclaimer: The information on this web site is accurate at the time of being uploaded, but tutors may be changed and/or courses may be withdrawn in the light of tutor availability and student numbers. While the Hellenic Institute makes every effort to run all listed courses, it cannot guarantee the availability of every course throughout the duration of each student's time on the MA course. In the event of unavoidable changes to the programme students may still be enabled to study their chosen themes by special arrangements within the broad ambit of some of the MA programmes - via choice of topics for essays, Skills Project or Dissertation, in consultation with the Programme Director.

For further information please contact the Programme Director, Dr Charalambos Dendrinos, The Hellenic Institute, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, United Kingdom

Tel. +44 (0)1784 443791/443086/443311

Fax +44 (0)1784 433032