Sergey Ivanov

Sergey Ivanov is interested in how the Rus’ understanding of Byzantium characterizes Rus’ itself. It takes a Byzantinist to look at Rus’ perception through a Byzantine lens; it requires knowledge of Byzantine options to conclude which options were finally adopted by the Rus’. This interdisciplinary research spans two distinct cultures. The complexities of the interrelationship between Byzantine texts and those translated, or freshly composed, in Rus entail close study of many different types of literary work and of the cultural axioms therein. Close investigation of non-literary evidence is also necessary. Ivanov believes that this project will make a major contribution to reception studies, and its methodology should open up fresh pathways to the study of interaction between other cultures. Furthermore, it should guide social scientists towards better comprehension of the political structures that have emerged across the territories of Old Rus in the centuries since the Mongol invasions and the subsequent emergence of Muscovy. The fruits of this study will also permit clearer evaluation of the claims about the nature and extent of Old Rus that are now being made in the Russian Federation.

This Fellowship is part of the Progressive Int. Initiative.

Two Russian intellectuals recently wrote articles about Byzantium: one an encomium titled “On the Solid Ground”, the other a defamation titled “Byzantium: the Ideal Catastrophe”. Although their attitudes were diametrically opposed, the two authors shared a belief that Byzantium was responsible for everything in Russia today. Why does Byzantium appear so crucial in the current political and historiosophic debate in Russia? To answer, one must look at this undeservedly forgotten empire in the context of Russia’s self-perception in the last several centuries.