Byzantium at Ankara Spring 2020 Lecture Series

February 27, 2020 – May 8, 2020

Bilkent University and Hacettepe University

The schedule for the Spring 2020 Byzantium at Ankara series has been released. This series aims to implement the interest and knowledge of the history and culture of the Byzantine Empire by bringing together local and visiting scholars in order to cover different aspects of the history, archaeology and art history of the Byzantine Empire. Lectures are hosted at Bilkent and Hacettepe Universities.

27 February 2020, 14.30, at Bilkent University
Sema Dogan (Hacettepe University)
A PILGRIMAGE SITE IN LYCIA: SAINT NICHOLAS CHURCH AND MONASTERY IN MYRA
Myra, the city housing the Church of Saint Nicholas, became a metropolis in Lycia after Theodosius II (408-450) separated the provinces Lycia and Lycaonia in the mid-5th century. During the excavation campaigns carried out from 1989 until today, new outbuildings were unearthed around of the Church. The architectural finds uncovered during the excavations have revealed that the church is situated inside a large monastery. In this presentation, the historical sources of the St. Nicholas Church and Monastery in Myra will be introduced with new archaeological data.

11 March 2020, 14.00, at Bilkent University
Alex Beihammer (University of Notre Dame)
BYZANTINE-TURKISH DIPLOMACY AND THE LOSS OF WESTERN ASIA MINOR (1260-1335) The deep crisis of the Seljuk sultanate of Rum, which resulted in the Turkish expansion over the Byzantine territories of western Asia Minor since the 1260s, put an abrupt end to a period of mostly peaceful coexistence. This talk discusses the gradual re-emergence of Byzantine-Turkish modes of communication and diplomatic approach in the turbulent time period up to the 1330s.

10 April 2020, 10.00, at Hacettepe University

Tolga Uyar (Nevşehir University)
Lecture title and abstract TBA

24 April 2020, TIME TBA, Bilkent University
Nathan Liedholm (Bilkent University)
Lecture title and abstract TBA

7-8 May 2020, Bilkent and Hacettepe Universities
Byzantium at Ankara MayFest