Seminar of Oriental Christianity

lglor2921  2023-2024  Louvain-la-Neuve

Seminar of Oriental Christianity
5.00 credits
30.0 h
Q1

This biannual learning unit is being organized in 2023-2024
Language
Prerequisites
Having completed one or more courses in Oriental, Byzantine or Caucasian History, Culture and Languages. Exceptions may be allowed.
Main themes
This seminar concentrates on the critical analysis of recent studies (monographs, articles). The critical reading of original texts will be research oriented. The seminar addresses the literatures of the Christian Near East, of the classical, medieval and pre-modern time, in a variety of languages, especially in Syriac, Armenian, Georgian.
Various subjects are taken up:
  • Literary, religious and historical themes, relevant for the various communities in the Christian Near East;
  • Interaction of Eastern Christianity with Byzantine, Muslim, Caucasian and European culture etc.;
  • Issues pertaining to translation and to the multilingual setting of Christian Near East;
  • Documentary evidence of the texts and their historical context (author, period, literary genre, typology, text transmission).
Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

At the end of the seminar, the student should have acquired :
  • general knowledge of the various literatures of the Christian Near East;
  • basic knowledge of modern scholarly approaches to these literatures;
  • the heuristic skills of using the main research tools:
  • the ability to conduct personal research on special topics within the field of the Christian literatures of the Near East;
  • the communication skills required to orally present the findings of a small-scale research project on a topic in the field;
  • the communication skills required to actively participate in a discussion on a relevant subject;
  • the ability to write a short essay on a relevant topic within the field and to take into consideration comments by the tutors.
 
Content
This seminar offers a critical analysis of scholarly research (monographs, articles) on special topics in the various literatures of the Christian Near East, mostly of the Classical period, specially in Syriac, Georgian and Armenian texts are used by way of comparision. Students are required to present and discuss their research assignments in the seminar and in a written essay.
Teaching methods
Seminar, with active participation of the students: preparation and discussions of their readings, presentation.
Evaluation methods
Permanent evaluation, based on oral presentations, participation in group discussions, and on the essay. No oral exam at the end of the year.
Other information
Support : translated texts in printed form, in photocopies, and web-based materials. The course provides E-learning activities, with compulsary registration on Moodle.
Bibliography
cf. pour chaque thème, la bibliographie sera donné sur Moodle
Faculty or entity


Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)

Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Learning outcomes
Master [120] in Ancient Languages and Literatures: Oriental Studies

Master [60] in Ancient Languages and Literatures : Oriental Studies