History: Intermediate History : Byzantium - the Great Age

This course will look at how the Roman Empire survived the greatest doctrinal crisis in iconoclasm, and then how the Roman state continued to adapt and evolve into the later 8th century despite a series of internal crises. We will examine in greater details the final campaigns of Konstantine V And his efforts to maintain an imperial supremacy, particularly in the Balkans. We will then go on to consider the administration of Leo IV and his victory against the Arabs before going on to consider the difficulties encountered by Konstantine VI When contending with the ambitions of his mother Irene. We will then go on to examine the struggle between the two of them, before considering the important factors as to why Irene was ultimately successful in her efforts to retain power for herself. As a further part of that, we will go on to consider the main factors behind the choice of the Empress to restore the veneration of icons and reverse the previous policy of iconoclasm. Additionally, we will also look at Irene’s general policies of government and her affairs both with the East and with the Balkans.