Nuffic Van Gogh programme awarded for project on using Byzantine legal sources in the Humanities

Prof. Frits Brandsma and Dr. Daphne Penna have been awarded the Nuffic Van Gogh programme for a project on using Byzantine legal sources in the Humanities. The project aims in joining academic forces in the Byzantine fields of humanities and law in France, University of Sorbonne and the Netherlands, University of Groningen.

The collaboration between both universities will consist of a three-phase plan including:

• a masterclass on Byzantine law taught in Paris by F. Brandsma and D. Penna from Groningen for doctoral and master students
• mobility and training of doctoral students in using the sources in the library of Groningen
• a joint workshop in Paris of members of both departments tailored to the needs of the doctoral students.    

Legal sources of the Eastern Roman Empire (also known as Byzantium) offer a wide range of information enabling us to reflect on the Byzantine political system and justice, as well as the society of the Byzantines. Nevertheless, Byzantine legal sources remain a difficult subject for historians to use. Understanding the origin and structure of Byzantine legal sources is essential in studying them and reaching right conclusions on social and political issues at different periods of Byzantine history.

Currently, at Sorbonne University, doctoral research is being conducted by Béatrice Caseau, Professor of Byzantine History, on topics that are strongly related to Byzantine legal sources, such as Byzantine criminal law, justice and canon law. The University of Groningen has a wealth of expertise on Byzantine law and is internationally renowned for its research on Byzantine legal sources.

Dr. Daphne Penna, researcher Byzantine Law: ‘This project will allow us to join academic forces in the Byzantine fields of humanities and law, in our two countries, to learn from each other’s disciplines and to create a base for further co-operation for joint supervision of doctoral theses.’

About the Van Gogh programme

The Nuffic Van Gogh programme promotes exchanges between Dutch and French researchers. It targets specific research projects and annually supports around 40 researchers from both countries. Van Gogh applicants are excellent researchers. They must have an outstanding track record and international exposure.

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This article was published by the Faculty of Law.