Research Projects
- (B-5-1) The personal authorization of knowledge in ancient succession narratives
This project has investigated issues of succession in various cultural and religious contexts of the ancient Mediterranean and neighboring areas. In particular, it was examined how narratives of succession and/or genealogy served to create and stabilize collective identities, and how attempts were made to demarcate these from other sources of knowledge authorities and traditions.
- (B-5-2) Personal and nonpersonal authority in ancient Greek theoretical knowledge
The project has, as part of a more encompassing interest in how experts create and manage their respective microcosms, investigated the forms of personal and of non-personal constructions of authority in ancient Greek knowledge traditions with a focus on theoretical knowledge. Proceeding from sociological and theoretical work on authority, Markus Asper has channeled his input into three conferences and the ensuing proceedings as well as 15 papers devoted to aspects of the overarching cluster of questions.
- (B-5-3) Authorization of early Christian knowledge claims in Asia Minor and Greece
Within this research project the rise and expansion of Christianity have been investigated in a series of regional histories.
- (B-5-4) Places and authorities of the Christianization of knowledge
This project investigated the Christianization of knowledge in the Palestinian and Arabian provinces as well as the late antique province of Isauria, with particular consideration given to places and authorities central to this Christianization process. The research was supplemented by studies of Jewish models and influences in the research area.
- (B-5-5) Basic structures of Jewish genealogies in Hellenistic times
The project analysed literary genealogies in Jewish writings of the Hellenistic time. It focussed on the tradition-historical background, the narrative function and the meaning for the self-conception of the authors and readers of each scripture.
- (B-5-6) Auctoritates magicae. Edition of the curse tablets of Attica (Corpus defixionum Atticarum)
Focus of this research project was the final edition of roughly 510 curse tablets discovered in Athens and Attica (including around 40 inedita) within the new Corpus defixionum Atticarum.
- (B-5-7) Genealogical and dynastic space
The research project focused on politically loaded concepts of space, especially in archaic and Hellenistic Greece and Augustan Rome, resp. The leading concepts were genealogical notions of space and “dynastic” concepts.
- (B-5-8) The Construction of Personal and Nonpersonal Authority
This project has investigated forms of authority and the authorization of knowledge from a perspective informed by modern sociological theory.
Dissertations
- (B-5-2-1) Medical Experts in Imperial China (10th to 19th centuries) – Competition, Legitimation, and Professionalization
This project investigates the ways in which authority of knowledge was constructed in late imperial Chinese medical cases (16th to 19th centuries).
- (B-5-2-2) Literary studies on imperial Greek doxographical texts
The project aims to investigate a certain group of imperial Greek texts known as ‘doxographical texts’ from a literary perspective. The primary aim is to show that doxography is an independent literary form of philosophico-scientific re-writing within the larger context of imperial Greek literature.
- (B-5-2-3) Diagrammatic issues concerning Aristotle
This dissertation deals with diagrams in ancient Greek scientific texts, in particular in Aristotle’s logical and natural scientific writings. Because diagrams accompanying ancient texts are generally only found in hand-written texts from the Middle Ages, the question arises as to the existence and the original appearances of antique diagrams. This question can be investigated from explicit and implicit references in the ancient texts, which also give clues as to the various ways in which diagrams were used.
- (B-5-3-1) Early Christianity in Galatia
Like many regions in Asia Minor, Galatia in Central Anatolia most probably came into contact with Christianity already in New Testament times. However, the process of Christianization in this region has not been described in detail yet. This might be due to the fact that, although there were Christian congregations from an early date on, Galatia did not play a central role in early ecclesiastical history. In order to understand the propagation of Christianity in Asia Minor in general however, it is crucial to take a closer look at Christian life in Galatia.
- (B-5-4-1) Early Christianity in the Kalykadnos valley and adjacent areas
This project investigated the history of early Christianity in the Kalykadnos valley and adjacent areas. To fulfill this task a cross-disciplinary approach has been chosen. A variety of sources – ranging from literary to epigraphic and archaeological material – was taken into account.
- (B-5-8-1) Authority and the authorization of knowledge in a sociological perspective
The thesis deals with questions of methodology in authority and knowledge research within various disciplines, particularly Ancient Mediterranean Studies and History, as well as Sociology.
- (Z-BerGSAS-X-15) Das frühe Christentum zwischen der Donau, der Ägäis und dem Schwarzen Meer (Moesia Secunda, Haemimontus, Thracia und Rhodope, 3.-6. Jh. n. Chr.)
The dissertation project focuses on the study of early Christianity (3rd-6th century) in the region of Thrace.
Third-party Funded Project
- (B-5-COFUND-1) Eastern Promises of Salvation: Religious Authority, Spiritual Pedigree, and the Globalization of Knowledge in Ancient Asian Christianities, c. 100 - c. 400 CE
The project set out to examine how ancient Christianities located beyond the frontiers of Rome in late antique Western and Central Asia were shaped by the dual promises of empire and salvation.