Course Catalogue

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Despite the disappearance of the Western Roman Empire in 476, the Eastern Roman Empire, or Byzantium, remained a major power in west Eurasian history. In the sixth century, its emperors, most notably Justinian, actively engaged with the wider world from (allegedly) Britain to central Asia, while the political, theological, and military conflicts of this period, not to mention the arrival of the plague in the 540s, also ushered in a period of transformation for the wider Mediterranean. Using a rich range of written and material sources from across Europe, Asia, and North Africa, this course will examine the end of late antiquity through a Mediterranean lens and explore how a Eurasian, even global, approach can be used to study the sixth century.

10 x 1-hour lectures and 10 x 1 hour seminars. This is one of the Honours options in History and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into History, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation.

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The standard assessments for this course are: 

■ Course essay - 3,000 words - 60% 

■ Report - 1000 words - reflection on editing a Wikipedia article relating to this module - 30% 

■ Oral assessment: seminar participation - 10% 

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available: 

■ There are no alternatives to the essay, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

■ There are no alternatives to the report, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

■ Written self-evaluation reflecting on seminar contribution and/or written response to seminar material in advance or after seminar as alternative to seminar participation.

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.  

This course aims to:

■ develop an understanding of the political, cultural, and social transformations that occurred in the sixth century Mediterranean.

■ assess a wide range of primary sources and hone students' skills in source criticism.

■ analyse and respond to key historiographical debates in the study of late antiquity.

■ engage with Wikipedia and reflect on how to present history to the wider public.

■ enhance students' oral presentation skills through seminar presentations.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

• explain key developments in the history of the Mediterranean in the sixth century.

• analyse and critique key debates in the historiography of late antiquity and the early Middle Ages.

• articulate their arguments based on independent analysis and a wide range of sources in both oral

  presentations and written assessments.

• apply their knowledge of the topic to editing Wikipedia articles and reflect on the problems and opportunities

  offered by this platform for public history.