idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Founded in 2011, the Leibniz ScienceCampus 'Byzantium between Orient and Occident – Mainz/Frankfurt' in Germany successfully completed its second funding phase with the Leibniz Association on 30 June 2025. In recent years the cooperation between the Leibniz-Zentrum für Archäologie (LEIZA), the Leibniz Institute of European History (IEG), Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), and Goethe University Frankfurt (GU) has established itself as an internationally linked research and training centre for Byzantine studies in the Rhine-Main region, a position that will endure beyond the conclusion of the funding period.
The Byzantine Empire played a key role in shaping modern Europe and the Middle East. Between the 4th and 12th centuries, it set standards in all areas of life and significantly influenced neighbouring regions. Byzantium thus formed a bridge between antiquity and modern times, as well as between Europe and the Orient. The Orthodox Church is one legacy of the Byzantine Empire that is still present in many countries today. Despite its historical significance, however, the study of Byzantine history and culture remains a niche research area in Germany, even though the Byzantine element is gaining new importance against the backdrop of the European unification process.
An established centre for Byzantine research
The Mainz/Frankfurt ScienceCampus has institutionally established a broad platform for interdisciplinary Byzantine research. All subjects contributing to research into the Byzantine Empire and its culture are involved. This enables topic-oriented, multidisciplinary historical and cultural research to be conducted under one roof, improving the visibility of this specialist area through a joint presence for Byzantine research.
'Thanks to the dedicated work of all those involved, and with the help of many years of financial support from the Leibniz Association and the partners involved, we have succeeded in establishing an internationally recognised centre for interdisciplinary Byzantine research in the Rhine-Main region over the past 14 years. The close cooperation between a wide range of disciplines has significantly contributed to an urgent change of perspective regarding the role of Byzantium as a mediator between the Orient and the Occident,' summarises Prof. Dr Alexandra W. Busch, spokesperson for the ScienceCampus Byzantium and Director General of LEIZA.
Prof. Dr Johannes Pahlitzsch, spokesperson of the Research Training Group 'Byzantium and the Euro-Mediterranean Cultures of War' and member of the ScienceCampus board at JGU, also emphasises this aspect: 'The enlargement of the European Union to include countries with Byzantine cultural heritage, the outdated stereotypes that still characterise the Western view of Eastern Europe, and the presence of people in Central and Western Europe whose cultural roots were directly influenced by Byzantium, make this clear: the traditional Western European perspective on the development of European history and culture needs to be broadened.'
Bundled expertise in the Rhine-Main region in Germany
Among the most noteable achievements of the second Leibniz funding phase from 2019 to 2025 are the regional research and teaching structures: JGU's first transdisciplinary research training group on the significance of Byzantine culture for Europe, funded by the German Research Foundation, has been extended. Furthermore, the international Master's degree programme 'Byzantine Studies. Perspectives on the Global Middle Ages' at JGU has been accredited. Prof. Dr Dirk Wicke from the GU in Frankfurt, member of the ScienceCampus board, also emphasises: 'The targeted establishment of a junior professorship for Islamic Archaeology and Art History at Goethe University with funding from the Volkswagen Foundation has significantly expanded the range of subjects active in Byzantine research in the region.'
Prospects beyond funding
The participating institutions will continue their collaboration even after the Leibniz funding ends in July 2025. The aim is to expand the network to include further national partners and establish the centre for interdisciplinary Byzantine research on a permanent basis. To this end, joint research and transfer projects will also be realised in the future and coordinated applications for third-party funding will be submitted. The internationally recognised publication series ‘Byzantium between Orient and Occident’, which soon comprises more than 30 volumes, will also be continued. However, after the end of official funding, the 'Leibniz' suffix will be dropped from the ScienceCampus name.
The Leibniz ScienceCampi
The 'ScienceCampus' cooperation model was launched by the Leibniz Association to facilitate networking between universities and non-university research institutions within specific thematic areas. One of the first initiatives of this kind was the Leibniz ScienceCampus 'Byzantium between Orient and Occident – Mainz'. Launched in 2011 with start-up funding from the Leibniz Association, followed by funding from the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, regional expertise was brought together in two successful funding phases (2015–2019 and 2019–2025) to establish a unique, internationally networked centre for interdisciplinary Byzantine research in Germany. Funding from the Leibniz Association totalled around 2.3 million euros.
Dr Benjamin Fourlas
Managing Director of the Leibniz ScienceCampus 'Byzantium between Orient and Occident – Mainz/Frankfurt'
Leibniz-Zentrum für Archäologie (LEIZA)
+49 (0)6131/8885-168
benjamin.fourlas@leiza.de
https://www.byzanz-mainz.de/en/ Leibniz ScienceCampus 'Byzantium between Orient and Occident – Mainz/Frankfurt'
https://books.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/propylaeum/catalog/series/byzanzoo Publication series 'Byzantium between Orient and Occident'
https://grk-byzanz-wars.uni-mainz.de/ Research Training Group 'Byzantium and the Euro-Mediterranean Cultures of War. Exchange, Differentiation and Reception'
https://www.leibniz-gemeinschaft.de/en/research/leibniz-sciencecampi Leibniz ScienceCampi
This depiction of Empress Theodora holding a magnificent chalice is one of the most famous motifs in ...
Source: René Müller, LEIZA
Copyright: Leibniz-Zentrum für Archäologie (LEIZA) / R. Müller
Criteria of this press release:
Journalists
Cultural sciences, History / archaeology, Politics, Religion, Social studies
transregional, national
Cooperation agreements, Research projects
English
This depiction of Empress Theodora holding a magnificent chalice is one of the most famous motifs in ...
Source: René Müller, LEIZA
Copyright: Leibniz-Zentrum für Archäologie (LEIZA) / R. Müller
You can combine search terms with and, or and/or not, e.g. Philo not logy.
You can use brackets to separate combinations from each other, e.g. (Philo not logy) or (Psycho and logy).
Coherent groups of words will be located as complete phrases if you put them into quotation marks, e.g. “Federal Republic of Germany”.
You can also use the advanced search without entering search terms. It will then follow the criteria you have selected (e.g. country or subject area).
If you have not selected any criteria in a given category, the entire category will be searched (e.g. all subject areas or all countries).
