Bronwen Neil

Biography

Dr Ken Parry is a Senior Research Fellow and Lecturer in the Department of Ancient History, and member of the Ancient Cultures Research Centre. He studied philosophy, theology and comparative religion at the University of Manchester where he specialised in ancient and medieval philosophy, church history and patristics, and gained his doctorate in Byzantine theology. He was awarded various scholarships by the British Academy , the Greek Ministry of Culture, and the former Yugoslav Ministry of Culture to undertake research in the UK and in the Balkans. He researches and teaches in the areas of Late Antiquity, Byzantine Studies and Silk Road Studies, and is a convenor of the MA in Ancient Art and Architecture. He has travelled extensively in Eastern Europe , Turkey , Central Asia, India and China.

Research Interest

The broad swept of Byzantine history from 330 to 1453, but more especially Byzantine cultural and intellectual history, particularly the period from the seventh through to the tenth century. Other areas of research include the interaction between philosophy and theology, Byzantine attitudes towards the classical past, the seven ecumenical councils, Byzantine art and architecture, and the city of Constantinople . My interest in Eastern Christianity focuses on the history and theology of the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox traditions, in their Byzantine, post-Byzantine and contemporary settings. Of particular interest is the early expansion of Eastern Christianity into Asia, particularly so-called 'Nestorian' Christianity in Central Asia, India and China . There are various texts associated with this expansion, as well as inscriptions and iconography from China . This interest in early Christianity in Asia extends to cover the history of trade and religion along the Silk Road, and the interaction of western and eastern religions in Central Asia and China through to the Mongol period.