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, we have succeeded in establishing an internationally recognised centre for Byzantine research in the Rhine-Main region over the past 14 years. Close cooperation between a wide range of disciplines has significantly contributed to an urgent change of perspective in historical studies,' 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this aspect: 'The enlargement of the European Union to include countries with Byzantine cultural heritage, the outdated stereotypes that still characterise the Western view of Eastern Europe, and the presence of people in Central and Western Europe whose cultural roots were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.
Contact
Dr. Benjamin Fourlas
Geschäftsführer des Leibniz-WissenschaftsCampus „Byzanz zwischen Orient und Okzident – Mainz/Frankfurt“
Leibniz-Zentrum für Archäologie
Tel.: +49 (0) 6131 8885-168 | Mail: benjamin.fourlas(at)leiza.de
LEIZA Press office
Stephanie Mayer-Bömoser M.A.
Tel.: +49 (0) 6131 8885 165 | Mail: stephanie.mayerboemoser(at)leiza.de
Further information
- Leibniz ScienceCampus 'Byzantium between Orient and Occident – Mainz/Frankfurt': https://www.byzanz-mainz.de/en/
- Publication series 'Byzantium between Orient and Occident': https://books.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/propylaeum/catalog/series/byzanzoo
- Research Training Group 'Byzantium and the Euro-Mediterranean Cultures of War. Exchange, Differentiation and Reception': https://grk-byzanz-wars.uni-mainz.de/
- Leibniz-WissenschaftsCampi: https://www.leibniz-gemeinschaft.de/en/research/leibniz-sciencecampi
Leibniz-Zentrum für Archäologie (LEIZA)
As a Leibniz Research Institute and Museum for Archaeology, LEIZA studies humans and their development based on material remains that span three million years across time and space. The fundamental insights we gain improve our understanding of human behaviour, actions and the development of societies. In this way, LEIZA enriches our knowledge of humans from an archaeological perspective and creates essential foundations for reflecting on the present and shaping the future. With archaeology, LEIZA views human beings in context and shares the knowledge gained in international dialogue. LEIZA is active worldwide and has successfully and comprehensively conducted research in various regions of Africa, Asia and Europe. The unique concentration of archaeological, scientific, restoration and information technology expertise, combined with important workshops, laboratories and archives, makes it possible to conduct object-oriented research into the archaeology of the ancient world (Asia, Africa, Europe) from the beginnings of human history to modern times. As one of eight research museums in the Leibniz Association, LEIZA combines excellent science with exhibitions and, with its educational mission, is also a place for dialogue with the public.
Until its renaming on 1 January 2023, LEIZA was known internationally as the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum (RGZM), which was founded in Mainz in 1852 by resolution of the German Historical and Antiquities Societies. Since 2024, LEIZA is represented at four locations in Germany: Mainz, Neuwied, Mayen, and Schleswig. www.leiza.de
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