Programme details
This programme closes after session 2011/12. Please see our new MSc in Late Antique, Islamic and Byzantine Studies instead.
By encouraging reflection on essential themes, sources and scholarly approaches, providing training in relevant language skills and allowing for detailed study of focused topics in small seminar-groups, the programme bridges the disciplinary divides between History, Classics and Archaeology to give students detailed understanding of a fascinating epoch.
"Greek Fire" used against the fleet of Thomas the Slav, challenger for the Byzantine throne (from Madrid Skylitzes, 12th century illuminated manuscript)
The MSc in First Millennium Studies offers an opportunity to undertake advanced multi-disciplinary study in Late Roman, Byzantine and Islamic studies or in early medieval Scottish, English and Celtic studies, or in a mix of the two. It provides detailed knowledge of key topics within these important and interesting fields and enhances students’ skills in independent research, original languages, critical analysis, and both oral and written presentation.
The programmed is designed either as:
- a preparation for further study at PhD level, or
- a standalone course for those with an intellectual interest in this broad-ranging field who are looking for a highly regarded academic qualification.
Structure
The required courses for this programme include essential skills training, normally 40 credits of language instruction across two semesters (Latin, Greek, Arabic, Early Gaelic, Middle Welsh and Old Norse are taught, subject to availability) and at least one team-taught core course focused on essential themes, sources and issues for scholars.
Students choose a further two/three courses (20 credits each), one in the first semester and one/two in the second, from a list of options. These courses involve small-group seminars taught by a specialist in the field and require extensive reading and advanced discussion of specialized topics.
Courses that may be available
| Course | Core / Optional | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Latin OR Greek OR Arabic (also various others) | Core | 40 |
| Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic Scotland | Core/optional | 20 |
| The Fall of Rome | Core/optional | 20 |
| Contacts and Conflicts in the Early Medieval Mediterranean | Optional | 20 |
| Scandinavian Place-Name Studies | Optional | 20 |
| The Seven Ecumenical Councils | Optional | 20 |
| Byzantine Archaeology | Optional | 20 |
| Mosques, Palaces and Gardens in the Golden Age of Islam | Optional | 20 |
| The Celtic Question: Art in Early Britain and Ireland | Optional | 20 |
Dissertation
The centerpiece of the programme is a 12,000 word dissertation (60 credits) which students complete during the summer months. This is an independent, primary source-based research project supervised by one or more members of the academic staff.
Students have considerable freedom to define their own dissertation project, as long as it is a feasible project which one or more staff members have the expertise to supervise.
Possible dissertation topics
The potential range of topics in this field is vast, but recent examples include:
- The transformation of Roman Africa in the Vandal and Byzantine periods
- The image of the Viking warrior in western Europe during the Viking Age
- Roman and Byzantine survivals in the Ummayad Caliphate
- Icons as an issue in Byzantine-Western relations c. 726-843
- The Church and war in early Irish society
This article was published on Feb 8, 2012