REBc46 Language and Society in the Greek and Arab worlds

This course explores what Greek and Gulf Arabic societies do with their languages. Major themes include issues of language planning and policies in multilingual societies and linguistic landscaping, namely the use of language in the public sphere. In addition, the relationship between language and politics, as well as language and media will be discussed. The course also deals with the symbolic role of language in constructing social class, national, regional, tribal, and ethnic identities.

Every week of the semester

LJMedB34 Reform and Heresy in 15th-Century Central Europe

The course will focus on the manifold ways of reform that took place in Central and Eastern Central Europe in the 15th century. On a general level, the course aims to discuss how these reforms and reform movements influenced the religious life of the contemporaries on a long run. The course will cover a wide range of topics and for this reason is designed as a blended learning model with the involvement of various experts on individual topics, including lecturers from Palacky University, Olomouc and University of Vienna.

Every week of the semester

KR025 Reading Homer's Iliad

The course "Reading Homer's Iliad" introduces students to the Homeric world by close reading of selected portions of the foundational text of Western literature, ancient Greek epic Ilias. Following the completion of the course, students will become familiar with the contents and the genesis of the work ("Homeric question"), its metrical and linguistic features, as well as basic notions of Homeric morality, religion, warfare and politics.

Every week of the semester

KR021 Presocratics and Sophists

The course serves as an introduction to the Greek philosophy of the Archaic period. Lectures are complemented with readings and discussions of the primary texts. Special attention will be devoted the transition from myth to philosophy and critical, rational thought. Reading of the primary literature will serve as an introduction to the fundamental fields of systematic philosophy (ontology, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy).

Every week of the semester

KR024 Greek philosophy of late Antiquity and early Christianity

The course serves as an introduction to the Greek philosophy of the Late Antiquity and Earliest Christianity. Lectures are complemented with readings and discussions of the primary texts. Following the successful completion of the course, studnents will have obtained an orientation in the works of the most important philosophers of Late Antiquity and Earliest Christianity. Reading of the primary literature will serve as an introduction to the fundamental fields of systematic philosophy (ontology, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy).

Every week of the semester

MED12 Italian Renaissance Humanism

Lectures provide a basic introduction to the Italian renaissance humanism. The course focuses on the theoretical and methodological discussions connected with this historical epoch as well as on the most important figures of renaissance humanism, including its intellectual precursors (Giotto, Nicola and Giovanni Pisano, Dante). Lectures introduce main themes of renaissance thought on the background of fine arts production, literature, and philosophy. Special attention will be paid to the reception of the classical tradition in humanistic thinking.

Every week from 13 March to 15 May 2023

DSMB30 Archaeology and History of Roman Provinces

The course will focus on the latest discoveries in eastern Roman provinces that reveal important details on Roman military activity as well as on economic and religious aspects of the life in Roman provinces. The course, led by Dr. Guy Stiebel (Tel Aviv University), will be held partially online.

Every week of the semester

REBc43 Images of the Balkans in Modern Greek Literature

The course examines representations of the Balkan Other and the Balkans. Using the theoretical tools of Imagology, the aim is to highlight the stereotypical constructions and the main connotations of the term "Balkans" in 19th and 20th century Modern Greek literature. Focusing mainly on literary texts, but also referring to other types of sources, the course aims to reconstruct the way in which the Balkans were perceived in the Μodern Greek imaginary.

Every week of the semester

KR030 Magic in the Graeco-Roman World

The course introduces students to the magical practices in the ancient Greek and Roman world (ca. 500 BCE - 500 CE) by means of analyzing literary texts as well as archaeological evidence. Studens will be familiar with the depiction of magic and magicians in literary texts, they will obtain good knowledge of the main functional types of ancient magic (curses, apotropaic magic etc.) as well as their material supports (lamellae, papyri etc.). Students will also gain insight into the relationship between magic and related knowledge and/or power systems (medicine, religion, law).

Every week of the semester

KR023 Hellenistic Philosophy

The course serves as an introduction to the Greek philosophy of the Hellenistic period. Lectures are complemented with readings and discussions of the primary texts.
Following the successful completion of the course, studnents will have obtained an orientation in the works of the most important figures of Hellenistic philosophical schools (Epicureism, Skepticism, Stoicism). Some attention will be dedicated also to the Roman authors writing in Latin (Lucretius, Cicero, Seneca).
Reading of the primary literature will serve as an introduction to the fundamental fields of systematic philosophy (ontology, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy).

every other week of the semester

DSMB29 What Inscriptions May Reveal: Discovering the Roman World through Epigraphy

The course will provide students with a deep insight into the life of the inhabitants of the Roman Republic and Empire based on epigraphic evidence. The course will be organized thematically and will present various aspects of the daily life in Roman times, e.g. Roman household, religion and magic, death and funerary practices, political life in a Roman town. The course also includes a field trip, which will be transmitted live for those who will not be able to participate (Vindobona + Museu do Teatro Romano in Lisbon).

every week of the semester

LJMedB33 Czech Reformation and the History of Ideas

The Czech Reformation was an influential intellectual and spiritual movement of the 14th and 15th centuries with the aim to reform the contemporary Church. Focusing especially on the primary literature, the course will show you how the most important social and ecclesiological topics (e.g. the Eucharist, sinful pope, Antichrist) were communicated by its representatives both in written and oral forms (sermons, letters, polemics etc.). Moreover, we will take a look at literary and argumentation techniques that were used in negotiation with the opponents of the reformers and how the reform ideas were accepted or rejected in other medieval European lands, especially in Germany and Poland.

Every week of the semester

Reading Homer's Odyssey

The course "Reading Homer's Odyssey" introduces students to the Homeric world by close reading of selected portions of the foundational text of Western literature, ancient Greek epic Odyssey. Following the completion of the course, students will become familiar with the contents and the genesis of the work ("Homeric question"), its metrical and linguistic features, as well as basic notions of Homeric society, morality, religion, warfare and politics.
Lectures are held in English, the course is therefore well suited for incoming Erasmus students.

Every week of the semester

Classical Greek Philosophy: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle

The course serves as an introduction to the Greek philosophy of the Classical period. Lectures are complemented with readings and discussions of the primary texts.Following the successful completion of the course, studnents will have obtained an orientation in the works of Plato and Aristotle, foundational figures of the European thought. Special attention will be devoted to Socrates and minor Socratics.Reading of the primary literature will serve as an introduction to the fundamental fields of systematic philosophy (ontology, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy).

Every week of the semester

Italian Renaissance Humanism

Lectures provide a basic introduction to the Italian renaissance humanism. The course focuses on the theoretical and methodological discussions connected with this historical epoch as well as on the most important figures of renaissance humanism, including its intellectual precursors (Giotto, Nicola and Giovanni Pisano, Dante). Lectures introduce main themes of renaissance thought on the background of fine arts production, literature, and philosophy. Special attention will be paid to the reception of the classical tradition in humanistic thinking.

every week of the semester

KR021 The Beginnings of Greek Philosohy: Presocratics and Sophists

The course serves as an introduction to the Greek philosophy of the Archaic period. Lectures are complemented with readings and discussions of the primary texts. Special attention will be devoted the transition from myth to philosophy and critical, rational thought. Reading of the primary literature will serve as an introduction to the fundamental fields of systematic philosophy (ontology, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy).

every week of the semester

KR025 Reading Homer's Iliad

The course "Reading Homer's Iliad" introduces students to the Homeric world by close reading of selected portions of the foundational text of Western literature, ancient Greek epic Ilias. Following the completion of the course, students will become familiar with the contents and the genesis of the work ("Homeric question"), its metrical and linguistic features, as well as basic notions of Homeric morality, religion, warfare and politics.

every week of the semester

KR030 Magic in the Graeco-Roman World

The course introduces students to the magical practices in the ancient Greek and Roman world (ca. 500 BCE - 500 CE) by means of analyzing literary texts as well as archaeological evidence. Studens will be familiar with the depiction of magic and magicians in literary texts, they will obtain good knowledge of the main functional types of ancient magic (curses, apotropaic magic etc.) as well as their material supports (lamellae, papyri etc.). Students will also gain insight into the relationship between magic and related knowledge and/or power systems (medicine, religion, law).

e-learning

DSBcB44 Alexander the Great

The subject is concentrated on the life, youth, reign and campaigns of Alexander the Great. The goal of the subject is to introduce the students to the history, reforms, politics, wars and personality of Alexander of Macedonia. After finalization of this subject, the students will be orientated in the Alexander´s personality and career on the background of historical events.

every week of the semester_online

DSMB28 Memory and Past in the Ancient Greek World

This module examines the significance of the past in the Greek world, introducing the students to recent scholarly discussions on social and collective memory and its application to ancient material. By using a variety of sources (literary, epigraphic, numismatic, and archaeological) it investigates the connections between identity formation, myth, politics and the past for ancient Greeks.

Every week of the semester

DSMB27 Methodology of Papyrology

The course aims at giving a solid scientific method to work with papyrological texts. In particular, it focuses on the decipherment and interpretation of unpublished papyri from various collections, also with the help of modern digital tools. The course is taught online in MS Teams.

Every even week of the semester

Marvellous and Macabre Tales from Byzantium: Novels and Romances

The goal of this course is to introduce students to Byzantine novelistic literature by offering an overview of all these texts and genres and examining different functions and levels of novelisation and fiction, the intentions of the respective author and the contemporary audience’s reception of such texts. Each unit will concentrate on a different genre through a close reading of texts labelled by modern scholarship as “novels”: hagiographical novels, historical novels, and erotic novels/romances. The selected texts will be read in English translation.

Every week of the semester.

Love, Wine, and Muses: Central themes in archaic Greek poetry

Students will acquire good knowledge of all leading figures of archaic Greek poetry, appreciation of the peculiar nature of preservation of their works and the ability to interpret foundational pieces of European poetical tradition.

Every week of the semester

KR027 Historical and Critical Introduction to the New Testament

The course is intended to provide a historical and critical introduction to the New Testament, arguably the single most influential collection of written texts in European history.
No previous knowledge of the New Testament or earliest Christianity is presupposed. The lectures are open to students from different fields of study that will benefit from the deeper knowledge of the New Testament literature (esp. Religious Studies, History, Fine Arts, National Literatures etc.). The lectures are likewise well suited for incoming Erasmus students.

Every week of the semester

KR023 Hellenistic Philosophy

The course serves as an introduction to the Greek philosophy of the Hellenistic period. Lectures are complemented with readings and discussions of the primary texts.
Following the successful completion of the course, studnents will have obtained an orientation in the works of the most important figures of Hellenistic philosophical schools (Epicureism, Skepticism, Stoicism). Some attention will be dedicated also to the Roman authors writing in Latin (Lucretius, Cicero, Seneca).
Reading of the primary literature will serve as an introduction to the fundamental fields of systematic philosophy (ontology, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy).

Every odd week of the semester

DSMB26 Introduction into Papyrology

The course aims at giving a general introduction into Papyrology both on the discipline itself and on its research methods. After completing the course a student will know history and theoretical aspects of Papyrology, the language and main issues of the papyrological documents and their context, the main writing styles occurring in the papyri and the main bibliographical and digital tools available for papyrological research.

online, e-learning

DSBcB44 Alexander the Great

The subject is concentrated on the life, youth, reign and campaigns of Alexander the Great. The goal of the subject is to introduce the students to the history, reforms, politics, wars and personality of Alexander of Macedonia. After finalization of this subject, the students will be orientated in the Alexander´s personality and career on the background of historical events.

the week from October 12 to October 16, 2020

DSMB25 Archaeology of the Holy Land: New Studies and Discoveries in Roman Judaea

The course will be devoted to the exploration of some of the most dramatic events in the history of the Holy Land during the early Roman period. It will examine aspects of life as well of the manifestations of resistance in Roman Judaea (the two Jewish Wars), as well as the interface between historical and archaeological sources. The course will present some of most recent archaeological discoveries, such as in Jerusalem, Caesarea Maritima, Herodium, the Judaean desert and Masada. For now, the course is scheduled for the week from October 12 to October 16, 2020.

Every week of the semester

Reading Homer's Odyssey

Students will become familiar with the contents and the genesis of the work ("Homeric question"), its metrical and linguistic features, as well as basic notions of Homeric society, morality, religion, warfare and politics.

Every other week of the semester. Christodoulos Papavarnavas, Ph.D. (Universität Wien)

Saints and Holy (Wo)Men in Byzantine Literature and Art

This course will introduce students to the Byzantine concept of sanctity through the examination of depictions of saints and holy (wo)men in hagiographical texts (saints’ Lives), manuscript illustrations, icons, wall paintings and other cult objects. Saints’ Lives (vitae) vividly describe various episodes of the life of holy persons and endeavour to sketch the holiness of the protagonists, while other cult objects mostly relate to only some specific and characteristic episodes of their life. All topics will be investigated from several aspects based on critical theories of narrative, gender, performance, space, emotions and the senses.

Every week of the semester.

Reading Homer's Iliad

...introduces students to the Homeric world by close reading of selected portions of the foundational text of Western literature, ancient Greek epic Iliad.

Every week of the semester.

Animals in Antiquity: from Everyday Life to Magic

The course offers the overview of the presence of animals in various areas of ancient life (economy, gastronomy, ancient literature, mythology, religion, medicine, art...). The course is suitable to students from various disciplines, particularly then to majors in ancient history and history, classical languages, classical archeology and mediterranean studies...

Every week of the semester.

Mothers and Daughters in Arab Women's Literature

This course focuses on a key relationship forged between women in Arab families and its effects on the shaping of self and gender roles in a broader family dynamics that also affects men, especially fathers and sons. We will explore this relationship from various perspectives; psychological, feminist, cultural as well as political, based on how it is represented in Arab women's literature.

14/10 - 18/10 2019 dr. Riccardo Massarelli, dr. Paolo Vitellozzi (Perugia)

The Etruscan Civilisation: History, Language and Culture

The aim of the course is to provide the students with an overview of history of the Etruscan civilization (first part) and a deeper insight into the Etruscan language (second part of the course).
Mon 14. 10. 16:00–17:40 A21 
Tue 15. 10. 16:00–19:40 A21 
Wed 16. 10. 16:00–19:40 B2.21 
Thu 17. 10. 16:00–17:40 C33

29/10 - 31/10 2019 Dr. Béla Adamik (Budapest)

Introduction to the problem of linguistic Romanisation and Latinisation of the Roman Empire

The aim of the course is to provide Latinists with a reasonably comprehensive introduction to the problem of linguistic Romanisation and Latinisation of the Roman Empire in the Imperial Age. 
Meeting 1 (29/10 10-11:30, room D41)
Meeting 2 (30/10 10-11:30, room A21)
Meeting 3 (31/10 10-11:30, room A21)

18/11 - 22/11 2019 dr. Mohammed Al-Nasarat (Ma'an, Jordan)

Selected Issues in the History of the Nabataean Kingdom

The course will focus on the origin of the Nabataeans, and trace the rise of this civilization in Jordan. The course will examine how the people of the Nabataeans were able to develop their society. The course will explore the social and religious history of the Nabataeans. We will also explore the Petra church archive that was discovered in 1993.

09/12 - 12/12 2019 Aleksandar Shopov

Urban Farming and the Environmental History of Istanbul

This course uses an interdisciplinary approach to educate students from diverse academic backgrounds (such as history, biology, environmental studies, public policy, heritage management, archaeology) about the context and history of urban farming practices and water management in Istanbul.

06/11 2019 Dr. Otto Sosztarits (Museum Savaria)

The role of the Iseum in Savaria in the religious life of Pannonia between the 1st and 4th centuries A. D.

06/11 14:00, room A21

Block lectures.

Expert Lectures

The course is built from the lectures delivered by some prominent specialists in the relevant fields of study from abroad.

E-learning course.

Alexander the Great

The subject concentrated on the life, youth, reign and campaigns of Alexander the Great. The goal of the subject is to introduce the students to the history, reforms, politics, wars and personality of Alexander of Macedonia. After finalization of this subject, the students will be orientated in the Alexander´s personality and career on the background of historical events.

Every week of the semester.

Love, Wine, and Muses: Central themes in archaic Greek poetry

Students will acquire good knowledge of all leading figures of archaic Greek poetry, appreciation of the peculiar nature of preservation of their works and the ability to interpret foundational pieces of European poetical tradition.

Every week of the semester

Reading Homer's Odyssey

Students will become familiar with the contents and the genesis of the work ("Homeric question"), its metrical and linguistic features, as well as basic notions of Homeric society, morality, religion, warfare and politics.

Every week of the semester.

Ethnographic field research methods

As research activity staged in the host community ethnographic field research cannot be done without at least some self-reflection, restraint and wariness. As part of a preparation for the practical aspects of ethnoarchaeological research, the lecture part aims to make the students familiar with the ethics and best practices of ethnographic field-work.

Every other week of the semester. Matthew Kinloch, Ph.D. (ÖAW, Wien)

A Theoretical History of Byzantium

This course will introduce students to late Byzantine history and historiography through the examination of critical theoretical approaches to its study. The class set text is the Chronikē syngraphē or History of George Akropolites. In each class, we will examine a different theoretical approach to historiographical analysis, with reference to key passages of the Chronikē syngraphē. These topics will include Postmodernism, Narratology, Gender and Queer Theory, Social History, and Postcolonialism.

Block lecture.

Special Topics of the Cultural Anthropology

The course should be both a means to brief students about the most recent discourses & and serve as a ‘think tank’ for the Centre of Prehistoric Archaeology of the Near East. The main accent, however, will lay on media culture, the popularization of anthropological content, ethics of journalism, applied gender study, cultural heritage protection, minority politics and topics that point towards developmental cooperation & advocacy. 

Block lecture. Dr. phil. Arnulf Hausleiter, Priv.-Doz. (Berlin)

The Middle and Late Bronze Age in Syro-Palestine

The objective of this course is to provide its students with a basic overview of historical development since middle Bronze Age IIC until the end of late bronze age (1200 BC) in Syro- Palestine area, as well as with information about relevant written and archaeological material.

18. - 23. 2. 2019 Francesca Romgnoli, Ph.D. (Madrid)

Palaeolithic Stone Industries of the Near East and the Mediterranean

The course is designed to present the current data about Palaeolithic evidences in Near East and Europe and to show how multidisciplinary analysis of stone industry techniques can be used to understand and interpret past human activities within theoretical frames. Students will learn how to analyse knapped stone tools and how to relate knapped stone tools to socio-economic phenomena...

25. - 30. 3. 2019 Prof. Reinhard Berbeck, Ph.D. (FU Berlin)

Theories in Archaeology

The course is designed as chronological overview of the development of archaeological discipline. Its main topic is gradual development of theories and approaches to processing and interpretation of archaeological finds and situations. The aim is to explain and clarify development of the scientific discipline since oldest cultural-historical approach, through the development of processualist and post-processualist approach to the development of current theories. 

1. - 5. 4. 2019 Maher Hamoud, Ph.D. (Gent/Leuven)

Political Economy of the Arab Uprisings

A cross-examination of the political economy of Middle Eastern countries in relation to the wave of uprisings that broke out in late 2010 and still continues to unfold. The course breaks down the three elements; the political, the economic, and the social; explaining how each influences the other and how together they brought an ongoing regional unrest in.

1. - 12. 4. 2019 Roberto Dan, Ph.D. (Rome)

Set in Stone. Art and Architecture in Iron Age Northern Mesopotamia

The course provides the introductory overview of the problems concerning visual culture and its architectonical heritage in Western Asia during Iron Age. In the lectures the students will be at first acquainted with the archaeological and socio- cultural aspects of this topic and they will eventually discover specific and relevant case studies.