Apostolos Spanos

My research and my teaching are based on interdisciplinary approaches to history as a discipline and to historical evolution as a phenomenon. My interests lie in historical consciousness, the coinherence of historical times, modeling history, the use of AI in studying and teaching history, the use of games to study the past, and the study of innovation as a mode of historical existence and evolution.

I have given courses in Historical consciousness; Historical theory and method (including digital history); Understanding historical time and the use of history; Games and gaming as historical sources; Ancient Greek history; Byzantine history and culture; Relationships between Byzantium and Scandinavia. I have used various methods and strateghies of teaching, including flipped classroom and the use of LLMs to improve student performance in classrooms and the exams. I have also used various types of examination, including individualized exams.  

My current research focuses on: (a) Historical consciousness; (b) The multi-dimensionality of historical time; (c) Use of modeling and simulation modeling in studying and teaching history (including AI-assisted modeling); (d) Studying innovation as a historical phenomenon by employing theories on historical temporalities and studying historical development in terms of innovation.

Please find my publications and current projects below.

MONOGRAPHS

Historical Consciousness: Cognitive and Metacognitive Reflections (working title; to be published in 2024). 

History-made: How past and future shape your life, identity and thoughts (working title; to be finished in 2024). 

Games of History: Games and Gaming as Historical Sources, New York & London: Routledge 2021 [Routledge Guides to Using Historical Sources]. doi.org/10.4324/9780429342479

Forced migration in histotemporal terms: The case of Lesbos, Greece (2015–2021) (with Jose Padilla, Erika Frydenlund and Marios Andrioris-Konstantios; to be fulfilled in 2024). The book is related to the project "Computational Framework for Absorptive Capacity" (Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center, 2019–2023). 

Rethinking Innovation in historical terms (in long term preparation). 

Λειμωνιακὸ Ζήτημα. Ἱστορικὴ προσέγγιση καὶ ἔκδοση ἐγγράφων ἀπὸ τὸ Ἀρχεῖο Νικηφόρου Γλυκᾶ (=Leimoniakon Issue. Historical Approach and Edition of Documents from the Archives of Nikephoros Glykas), Kristiansand: Portal books 2013 (565 pp., ISBN 9788292712887).

Codex Lesbiacus Leimonos 11. Annotated Critical Edition of an Unpublished Byzantine Menaion for June, Berlin - New York: Walter De Gruyter [Byzantinisches Archiv, nr. 23], 2010 (452 pp. + 8 pl., ISBN 9783110221299).

Κῶδιξ Α´ Ἱερᾶς Μητροπόλεως Μυτιλήνης (18ος αἰ.) [=Codex A of the Diocese of Mytilene (18th c.)], Mytilene: Editions of the Holy Diocese of Mytilene, 2006 (An annotated edition of the manuscript; 351 pp. + 23 plates; ISBN 960-87733-1-8).

Συνοπτικὴ Ἱστορία Ἱερᾶς Μονῆς Λειμῶνος [=Synoptic history of the Holy Leimon Monastery], Edition of the Holy Leimon Monastery, 2003 (203 pp.; ISBN 978-960-87758-1-7; 2nd edition, 2008).

Christian Monuments of the Diocese of Mytilene, Athens: Ephesus, 2003 (Greek-English edition; 240 pp.; illustrated; ISBN 960-8326-07-9).

Ναοὶ καὶ μοναστήρια Ἱερᾶς Μητροπόλεως Μυτιλήνης [=Churches and Monasteries of the Diocese of Mytilene], Mytilene: Editions of the Holy Diocese of Mytilene, 2003 (155 pp.; illustrated; ISBN 960-87733-0-X).

Sacred Patriarchal and Stavropegic Monastery of Leimon, Athens: Akritas, 2003 (110 pp; ISBN 960-328-211-1; also in Greek: Ἱερὰ Πατριαρχικὴ καὶ Σταυροπηγιακὴ Μονὴ Λειμῶνος, Athens: Akritas, 2003, ISBN 960-328-187-5; 2nd edition 2005, 3rd edition 2006).

EDITED VOLUME 

(In collaboration with Athanasios Kalamatas, eds.), Ἱερὰ Μονὴ Λειμῶνος. Ἱστορία – Παλαιογραφία – Τέχνη. Πρακτικὰ Συνεδρίου, Μονὴ Λειμῶνος 27-30 Σεπτεμβρίου 2001 (=The Holy Leimon Monastery. History – Palaeography – Art. Conference Proceedings, Leimon Monastery, 27-30 September 2001), Athens: Bartzoulianos 2009 (in Greek; 302 pp.; ISBN 978-960-6817-13-7).

ARTICLES

«Greek Codices of the Byzanitne Menaion: History, Types, and Content», in S. Alexopoulos, S. Frøyshov, S. Roye, A. Wade (eds.), Byzantine Liturgical Books. An Introduction, Turnhout: Brepols, 2024, pp. 287–299.

«Was Innovation Unwanted in Byzantium?», in Ingela Nilsson & Paul Stephenson (eds.), Byzantium Wanted: The Desire for a Lost Empire, Uppsala 2014 [Studia Byzantina Upsaliensia 15], pp. 43–56.    

«Political Approaches to Byzantine Liturgical Texts», in Roy Eriksen & Peter Young (eds.), Approaches to the Text. From Pre-Gospel to Post-Baroque, Pisa-Rome: Fabrizio Serra Editore [Early Modern and Modern Studies 9] 2014, pp. 63–81.

«Imperial Sanctity and Politico-Ecclesiastical Propaganda in Byzantium (9th-15th c.)», in: A. Michaels (et al.), Ritual Dynamics and the Science of Ritual. Volume III. State, Power, and Violence, Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 2010, 197–213. 

(In collaboration with Dr. Nektarios Zarras) «Representations of Emperors and Royals as Saints in Byzantine Virtual and Textual Sources», in M. Borgolte – B. Schneidmüller (eds.), Hybrid Cultures in Medieval Europe. Papers and Workshops of an International Spring School, (Europa im Mittelalter. Abhandlungen und Beiträge zur historischen Komparatistik 15), Berlin: Akademie Verlag, 2010, pp. 63–78.

«“To Every Innovation Anathema”(?). Some preliminary thoughts on the study of Byzantine Innovation», in Harald Knudsen et al. (eds.), Mysterion, Strategike og Kainotomia, Oslo: Novus forlag 2010, pp. 51-59 (free online: http://brage.bibsys.no/hia/bitstream/URN:NBN:no-bibsys_brage_29599/1/Spanos_2010_Some.pdf). 

«Λειμωνιακὸ Ζήτημα. Ἀνέκδοτα πατριαρχικὰ ἔγγραφα ἀπὸ τὸ Ἀρχεῖο τοῦ Μητροπολίτη Μηθύμνης Νικηφόρου Γλυκᾶ (1881–1888)» [=The Leimoniakon Issue. Unpublished patriarchal documents from the Archives of the Bishop of Methymna Nikephoros Glykas (1881–1888)], Hagia Sion 3 (Mytilene, 2010) 73–120.

«Ἡ συλλογὴ χειρογράφων τῆς Μονῆς Λειμῶνος» [=The Collection of Manuscripts at the Leimon Monastery], in Spanos – Kalamatas, The Holy Leimon Monastery (see above), pp. 35-51 (+5 plates in pp. 52-56).

«Δύο ὁμάδες σταχώσεων Βυζαντινοῦ τύπου, ἔργων Κωνσταντινουπολίτικου(;) ἐργαστηρίου τοῦ 16ου αἰ., σὲ Βυζαντινὰ χειρόγραφα τῆς Μονῆς Λειμῶνος» [=Two groups of bookbindings of the Byzantine type, products of a Constantinopolitan(?) scriptorium, in Byzantine manuscripts at Leimon Monastery], Vivlioamphiastis 3 (=The Book in Byzantium. Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Bookbinding. Proceedings of an International Symposium, Athens 13-16 October 2005, edited by Niki Tsironis), Athens 2008, pp. 287-315.

«Λειμωνιακὸ Ζήτημα. Ἐπισκόπηση βάσει τοῦ ἀρχειακοῦ ὑλικοῦ» [=The Leimoniakon Issue. Overview of the relevant documents], Hagia Sion 1 (Mytilene, 2006) 67-99.

«Ἡ ἀλληλογραφία Μονῆς Λειμῶνος καὶ Οἰκουμενικοῦ Πατριαρχείου κατὰ τὸν “Μέγα Κώδηκα” τῆς Μονῆς (19ος αἰ.)» [=The correspondence between the Leimon Monastery and the Patriarchate of Constantinople according to the ‘Grand Codex’ of the Monastery (19th c.)], Lesbiaka 20 (Mytilene, 2004) 190-214.

«Χρονολογικὰ καὶ ἄλλα προβλήματα περὶ τὸν βίο τοῦ ἁγίου Ἰγνατίου, κτίτορος τῆς Μονῆς Λειμῶνος» [=Chronological and other questions on the Vita of Saint Ignatios, founder of the Leimon Monastery], Gregorios o Palamas 87 (Thessaloniki, 2004) 55-68.

«Πέντε ἀνέκδοτα Πατριαρχικὰ ἔγγραφα τῆς Μονῆς Λειμῶνος. Συμβολὴ στὴ βιογράφηση τοῦ Μητροπολίτη Μηθύμνης Νικηφόρου Γλυκᾶ» [=Five unpublished patriarchal letters of the Leimon Monastery. Contribution to the composition of the Vita of Nikephoros Glykas, Bishop of Methymna], Lesbiaka 19 (Mytilene, 2002) 137-145.

«Μέθοδοι διδασκαλίας τῶν ‘Ἑλληνικῶν μαθημάτων’ (18ος-19ος αἰ.). Μαρτυρίες τῶν χειρογράφων τῆς Μονῆς Λειμῶνος» [=Teaching methods for the ‘Greek courses’ (18th-19th c.). The evidence in the manuscripts of the Leimon Monastery], Paidagogiko Vima Aigaiou 36 (Mytilene, 2000) 11-20.

«Οἱ ‘Πίνακες’ τοῦ ἱεροδιδασκάλου Πορφυρίου: Νόμοι καὶ κανόνες λειτουργίας τῆς Λειμωνιάδος Σχολῆς» [=The ‘Tables’ of the monk and teacher Porphyrios: Regulations of the ‘Leimonias’ School], Paidagogiko Vima Aigaiou 36 (Mytilene, 2000) 60-66.

PAPERS - LECTURES 

Alexandra Lazareva, Sondre Vindbo, Apostolos Spanos, “Student Experiences with Using ChatGPT in History Classes”, in Luis Gómez Chova, Chelo González Martínez & Joanna Lees (eds.), INTED 2024, 18th International Technology, Education and Development Conference, Valencia (Spain) – 4–6 March 2024: Conference Proceedings, pp. 2335–2342. 

«Optimising social innovation in the refugee crisis», Presented in the international interdiciplinary meeting Lesbos Dialogues: Technology and the Refugee Crisis, Mytilene 9-11 November 2017. 

«Approaching Innovation in Byzantium: theoretical and methodological challenges». Presented in the Second Meeting of Greek Byzantinologists, University of Patras, 13–15 December 2017. 

«Towards a multidimensional study of innovation». Presented in 4S/EASST conference, Barcelona 31 August – 3 September 2016. 

«Is Innovation an Essentially Contested Concept?». International interdisciplinary Workshop: Ideologies and Imaginaries of Innovation, Technical University of Munich, Munich Center for Technology in Society, 19–21 May 2016. 

«Innovation Approaches to Historical Temporalities». International interdisciplinary Workshop: Innovation Approaches to Human and Social Sciences, University of Agder, 18-19 February 2016.

«Rethinking innovation in Byzantium». Memorial lecture on Julian Chrysostomides, given at the Hellenic Centre, London, 16 October 2015. 

«Towards a Historical Definition of Innovation: Conceptual Challenges». International CASTI-Workshop: How can conceptual approaches contribute to science and technology studies? Methodological and theoretical aspects, Humboldt University of Berlin, 15–17 June 2015.

«Historical Approaches to the Idea of Innovation», Doctoral Summer School, University of Lisbon, 18–22 June 2015. 

«Rethinking Innovation in Historical Studies». International CASTI-Workshop: Meta-reflections on Science, Technology, and Innovation, University of Agder, 16–17 October 2014.

«Liturgical Texts and Imperial Propaganda». Colloquium: Turning over the Pages of Byzantium: Manuscript – Texts – Ideas, University of Patras, 22 April 2013. 

«Byzantine Innovation: Not Wanted?». International Conference: Wanted: Byzantium, Stockholm 26–28 October 2011. 

«Menaion». International Expert Meeting: The Codico-Liturgical Method and its Implications for Cataloguing, Athens, 8–10 December 2011. 

«Emperors and Saints. Imperial Sanctity and politico-ecclesiastical propaganda in Byzantium». International Conference: Ritual Dynamics and the Science of Ritual, University of Heidelberg, 29 September – 2 October 2008. Abstract in Alexandra Heidle (ed.), International Conference Ritual Dynamics and the Science of Ritual, held at the Neue Universität Heidelberg 29 September – 2 October 2008. Abstract Collection and Programme [Heidelberg, 2008], p. 134.

«Byzantine manuscripts at the Leimon Monastery». 3rd Conference of Byzantinologists of Greece and Cyprus (University of Crete, 22-24 September 2000. Summary in J. Vassis - M. Loukaki - E. Papadopoulou (eds.), Γ´ Συνάντηση Βυζαντινολόγων Ἑλλάδος καὶ Κύπρου. Περιλήψεις (=3rd Conference of Byzantinologists of Greece and Cyprus. Abstracts), Rethymno 2002, pp. 77-78.

Conferences organized

Lesbos Dialogues: Technology and the refugee crisis, Mytilene 9–11 November 2017.

Leimonos Monastery: History ­– Palaeography ­– Art, Monastery of Leimon, 27–30 september 2001.

ONLINE DATA BASE

Byzantine Manuscripts at the Leimon Monastery. Palaeographical description of 108 manuscripts published in an online digital library at http://84.205.233.134/library/xeirografa_en.php