As later medieval Roman society moved through the 7th century, it faced its most challenging and existential threats. How did the Empire survive its darkest hour, when the most degenerate emperor to ever reign governed the Roman world? How did the Romans then manage the world-changing events of the Islamic Conquests, and the profound consequences that it would bring? This course will outline those key events and circumstances, and will attempt to provide some analysis of the key personalities and incidents which shaped that period.
Course aim
The course aims to give a brief but wide-ranging account of Roman society and its transformation through the seventh century AD. It is primarily intended for those who would like to pursue an interest in the nature of Late Antiquity.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- This course is for beginners and improvers
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- State at least two facts about the character of the Emperor Phokas.
- Give at least three reasons for the survival of the Roman state after 620 AD
- Give a broad outline of the direction of the Islamic Conquests 632 - 646 AD
- Provide at least three facts about the Herakleian Dynasty
What else do I need to know?
Recommended reading: Forgotten Power: Byzantium, Bulwark of Christianity, Roger M Keane (Thalamus Publishing 2005) The Byzantines, Averil Cameron (Blackwell 2009)
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