Four Byzantine Cities . . .

For over a thousand years, the Byzantine Empire was a dominant artistic, cultural, and political force in the eastern Mediterranean and broader medieval world. At its greatest expanse under the Emperor Justinian I (r. 527–565), the empire nearly surrounded the Mediterranean Sea, from today’s Spain in the west to Syria in the east. Byzantine emperors, who saw their empire as the continuation of the ancient Roman Empire, ruled from Constantinople (modern Istanbul). Byzantium, or the Eastern Roman Empire, was Roman in law, Greek in language, and Orthodox Christian in religion. In order to appreciate the size, longevity, and diversity of the Byzantine Empire, we will study four of Byzantium’s best-known cities. Through this lens, we will survey Byzantine history, art, and culture.

Constantinople

Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, was dedicated by the Emperor Constantine I in 330. Constantine’s city, which over the centuries was filled with great public spaces, palaces, churches, and monasteries, came to be the preeminent city of the Christian East. Its siting on the Bosporus, the strait that links the Black Sea with the Aegean and ultimately the Mediterranean, and at the juncture of two major highways, the Via Egnatia and the road leading from Chalcedon to Nikomedia and further east, allowed the Byzantine Empire to control some of the most important trading routes in the Mediterranean world. The course will explore the urban history, monuments, and the artistic and cultural legacy of one of the world’s most fascinating cities.

Jerusalem

One of the world’s oldest cities, Jerusalem is considered holy by the three major Abrahamic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Prior to 326, when according to tradition Emperor Constantine’s mother Helena uncovered the tomb of Christ and discovered the True Cross, Christians had little presence in the city. Following Helena’s revelations, Jerusalem became a pilgrimage goal for Christians across the Roman world. Christian monuments dramatically altered the city’s topography. The funds for many of these building projects flowed from imperial coffers. Jerusalem was lost to the Byzantine Empire in the seventh century, first to the Persians and then to the Arab Islamic armies. The course will consider the creation of the city’s Christian topography, its relationship to Constantinople, which was often referred to as the New Jerusalem, and the conception of the city after its loss.

Thessaloniki

Second only to Constantinople in size and wealth, Thessaloniki is rich with monuments spanning the breath of the Byzantine period. Following the Roman conquest of Macedonia in the second century B.C., it became one of the Empire’s provincial capitals. Thessaloniki’s location on important trade routes traversing the Balkan peninsula assured the city’s commercial success and its strategic role in the history of the region throughout the Roman and Byzantine periods. A cosmopolitan port, Thessaloniki was visited by St. Paul around 50 and became an important center for the spread of Christianity. The course will analyze the city’s topography, particularly in relation to its Christian monuments, its role as a commercial center, and its contribution to artistic and cultural legacy of the Byzantine empire.

Mystras

Mystras, a city in the Peloponnese, west of Sparta, was founded as a fortress by the Frankish noble William II Villehardouin around 1250. Following the surrender of the site by the Franks to the Byzantines in 1262, instability spurred the region’s inhabitants to relocate to the relative safety of the city built under the fortress. From the mid-fourteenth to the mid-fifteenth century, Mystras was the capital of the despotate of Morea (the Peloponnese), which was generally ruled by a close relative of the Byzantine emperor. As the seat of the despotes, arts flourished in the city. Mystras preserves seven churches and some of the best examples of domestic architecture from the Byzantine period. The course will compare the development of the medieval city to that of cities that evolved over hundreds of years and will consider how its status as a regional capital contributed to its development.

The Course

Coursework will include readings, research and writing assignments, museum visits, and guest lectures by experts in Byzantine studies. The course will provide knowledge of the Byzantine Empire and its material culture, give an introduction to historical and anthropological conceptions of the city, build analytic skills, and improve writing mechanics and the ability to craft a clear and concise academic paper. In addition, students will gain invaluable experience in a college classroom setting, alongside students and instructors who share their passion for intellectual exploration.

Because learning expands beyond the classroom, students will visit one of the world’s greatest collections of Byzantine art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and tour the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Worcester Art Museum.

Before arriving on campus, students will be required to complete the equivalent of two week’s reading assignments and view a series of introductory lectures through the course website.

Students who successfully complete all course requirements will earn three college credits. Credits earned during the summer program are accepted at Hellenic College and may be transferable to another college program. Acceptance of transfer credit is always at the discretion of the accepting institution.

. . . One of America’s Great Cities

Boston is one of America’s oldest and most vibrant cities, home to world leaders in education, science, and technology. From the Freedom Trail and Fenway Park to the Charles River and the Museum of Science, Boston offers historical, cultural, and natural riches in a compact and walkable city. Cambridge is a short trip away, and the town of Brookline combines small town charm and big city sophistication with terrific restaurants, one of the nation’s best bookstores, a national landmark movie theater, and beautiful parks. Outside of class, students will explore all these attractions and more. They will also experience independent living on a college campus, make new friends, and take part in activities designed to prepare students for the college application process and college life. All summer program participants have the option to take an intensive SAT preparation class and attend a sequence of talks and workshops on the college application process.

Hellenic College is the only fully accredited four-year Orthodox Christian college in America. Located on a hilltop above Jamaica Pond, part of Boston’s “Emerald Necklace,” the beautiful 52-acre campus offers a breathtaking view of Boston and access to its many attractions. All students will live in campus housing and take their meals in the dining hall. Rooms provide typical college furnishing. Residential life staff live in the residence hall. These carefully selected individuals are on hand to assist students with the transition to college life. The residential staff members help students balance academic and social life, provide information and support, organize and supervise on and off campus activities, and enforce policies when necessary.

Program Fee

The program fee of $4100 includes tuition, required trips, room and board, and the SAT preparation class and college application workshops. No refund or reduction in program fee will be made for a student who arrives to the program late, leaves the program early, or is dismissed from the program due to violation of the program guidelines. The Mary Jaharis Center reserves the right to change or withdraw offerings if necessary.