Political Debates in the Empire of New Rome

Harvard FAS

The course investigates the principal political debates in the Eastern Roman (the Byzantine) Empire. Topics for seminar discussion include debates on empire, sovereignty, tyranny, justice, the role of paid public service, and relations with the barbarians. Special attention is paid to the reception of Greek political philosophy. Seminar discussions focus on primary sources in translation (including law, political rhetoric, and history-writing) and the examination of recent trends in modern…