![Henry Anderson BA, MA (Newcastle), PhD (Exeter)](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/7192?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Henry Anderson
(he/him)
BA, MA (Newcastle), PhD (Exeter)
Teacher in Late Antiquity
Overview
My broad area of interest is the political history of the Late Roman Empire, but more specifically I have worked on the East Roman court and imperial rule in the fifth-century Roman East. My research as thus far focused predominantly on the reigns of Arcadius (r.395-408) and Theodosius II (r.408-450), engaging with the mechanics of the court system, ideologies of power, imperial women and eunuchs, dynastic politics, and imperial interactions with the city of Constantinople and the Church.
Research
My research remains predominantly focused on East Roman imperial rule and I am working to convert my PhD thesis into a monograph on emperor and court in the reign of Theodosius II. I am particularly interested in exploring and explaining how imperial authority was maintained in the East during the Fifth Century CE, at a time when centralised rule in the western half of the empire was fragmenting. I am also interested in rulership more broadly and I am therefore currently co-editing a book with former colleagues from Exeter entitled Stranger Kings in Antiquity, which explores the anthropological theory of 'stranger-kingship' and is set for publication with Routledge.
Teaching
Undergraduate Modules:
- HS3205 - The Late Ancient World
- HS3201 - Past and Present: Encountering Antiquity
- HS3107 - Ancient Objects Then and Now
- HS3103 - Investigating the Ancient World: Skills and Evidence
- HS3202 - Independent Second Year Study
- HS3109 - Empires East and West, 323 BCE to 680 CE
- HS4335 - Final Year Dissertation
- HS0303 - Crossing Boundaries: Interdisciplinary Dissertation
- HS2362 - Roman Britain
Biography
I am originally from the small town of Ulverston in the North West of England. I graduated with a degree in History in 2017 before switching to Classics and Ancient History for my Masters, both of which I completed at Newcastle University. After a few years out working in the tourist industry I moved to the University of Exeter where I completed my PhD this year. During my time at Exeter I worked as Postgraduate Teaching Assistant where I taught on courses on Greek, Roman, and Early Medieval History.