Professor Claudia Rapp FBA to deliver prestigious British Academy Lecture at the University of Leeds this March
Professor Rapp will explore how people in the Byzantine Empire navigated power, status and social hierarchies
Professor Claudia Rapp FBA, a world-leading authority in Byzantine Studies, will deliver a prestigious British Academy Lecture at the University of Leeds on Monday 10 March.
In her lecture, Bonds That Last: The Social Life of Byzantium, Professor Rapp will explore how people in the Byzantine Empire navigated power, status and social hierarchies. Drawing on little-known evidence from manuscripts, texts and material culture, she will uncover the hidden social world of the Byzantines and consider what their experiences can reveal about human relationships and agency – both then and now.
Professor Claudia Rapp FBA said:
“We often think of history as the stories of emperors, patriarchs and elites – but what about ordinary people? In Byzantium, individuals found ways to navigate power structures, forge connections and shape their own social worlds, and their struggles and strategies offer fresh perspectives on society today. I am delighted to be delivering this year’s British Academy Lecture and very much looking forward to visiting Leeds to share these insights.”
Claudia Rapp is Professor of Byzantine Studies at the University of Vienna and Director of the Institute for Medieval Research at the Austrian Academy of Sciences. A Fellow of the British Academy – the UK’s national academy for the humanities and social sciences – she is internationally recognised for her work on late antiquity and Byzantine society.
Running since 1908, the British Academy Lecture series showcases the best new research in the humanities and social sciences, with distinguished scholars from the UK and beyond delivering thought-provoking lectures on a wide range of topics.
The event is free to attend and open to all.
Event details
Monday 10 March 2025
18:30 – 20:00
Location: Esther Simpson Lecture Theatre, University of Leeds.
