Social Hierarchies in Early Byzantium: Power, Status, and So

Social Hierarchies in Early Byzantium: Power, Status, and Society (330–700 CE)

Uncover the social world of Early Byzantium—where emperors ruled, clergy guided, soldiers fought, and commoners toiled. Explore how religion, law, and the economy shaped identity and mobility, bringing primary sources vividly to life.

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Course begins October 19, 2025
This 4-week course includes live sessions with the instructor each week
Sessions are from 10:00am to 12:00pm Eastern U.S. time
All sessions are recorded so you can watch them at your convenience

Session 1

Foundations of Byzantine Society

From Rome to Byzantium: trace the Roman class system’s transformation, Constantinople’s rise as imperial hub, and the emperor’s power with his central administration.

Session 2

The Imperial Elite and Bureaucracy

Power, land, and prestige: explore the senatorial elite, the Byzantine bureaucracy’s structure, and how court culture and patronage shaped influence and authority.

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Session 3

Clergy, Monasticism, and Religious Authority

Church and Class: examine bishops as urban leaders, the rise of monastic communities, and how church wealth, land, and influence shaped Byzantine society.

Session 4

The Common People, Slaves, and Soldiers

Life Outside the Elite: explore peasants, craftsmen, and city dwellers, the rise of the military farmer-soldiers in the themata, and the realities of slavery and servitude in Early Byzantium.

Meet Your Instructor

Zoe Tsiami

Zoe Tsiami is a PhD(c) in Byzantine History at University of Thessaly. Her research interests include baptism, catechism and naming practices in the Early Byzantine period. She has published papers and taught at workshops relevant to Early Byzantine/Christian history.