2022-23

The first part of the course deals with the nature and methodology of ancient Greek history, with emphasis being placed upon the nature and range of coverage provided by the primary sources and thus on the appropriate approach and use of such sources by the ancient historian. The second part of the course offers a survey of ancient history from the Archaic period to Hellenistic times. Here stress will be laid upon how the subject matter of the survey is affected by the nature of the primary sources.

The course deals with the gradual penetration by Latins of the Byzantine empire and the conquest of Byzantium by the Crusaders in 1204. It examines in detail Venetian rule in Crete, the Ionian Islands and the Peloponnese, with emphasis upon various matters regarding the administrative and social organization, relations between Orthodox and Latins, the cultural environment and the economic activity of Venetian citizens. The course rests on the examination of archival sources, which it employs to justify the various conclusions that it draws.

The aim of the course is to acquaint students with the basic concepts and principles involved in the history of art and with the development of theory regarding the ‘reading’ and interpretation of art as a phenomenon and of particular works of art.
 
In particular, upon completion of the course, the student will be acquainted with:
 
·       what painting, sculpture and architecture is,
·       the role of line and colour,
·       form and style,
·       painting techniques,
·       general subject categories,

Introduction to scientific thought, hypothesis, theory and law. The physical sciences in anthropology, history and archaeology. Ancient Greek evolutionists. The creation of the universe, the Big Bang, elementary particles. Galaxies and planetary systems. Plate tectonics. The evidence for evolution. Natural selection. Speciation, Darwinism and creationism. Mutations and chromosomal rearrangements. Evolutionary mechanisms and events up to the appearance of man on earth. The course is a pre-requisite for other courses in Physical Anthropology.

The course deals with methodological questions involved in the history of Byzantine art.  It examines the terms ‘iconography’ and ‘iconology’, theories pertaining to iconology, various schools of painting, such as the ‘Vienna School’ and the founders of iconology in Europe.  It also deals with the term ‘Byzantine iconology’ and iconological matters in the history of Byzantine art.