Kontakt

Conestoga College
School of Interdisciplinary Studies
299 Doon Valley Drive, Office: 2A307
Kitchener, ON N2G 4G4
Canada

https://www.conestogac.on.ca/bios/konstantin-boshnakov

E-Mail: Kboshnakov(at)conestogac.on.ca

Seminar im Sommersemester 2024

Geography of Waterscapes in the “Histories” of Herodotus.

Case Study: “The Danube-Tributary Account”

Links zu Campus:
82-068-GES31-V-S-HS-0914.20241.001
88-068-GES101-V-S-HS-0914.20241.001

Ethno-geographical descriptions in Herodotus’ narratives serve as backdrops for various historical events, highlighting waterscapes as dominant features that shape boundaries, connections, and cultural identities, thereby becoming structuring components of early physical and mental maps. The seminar’s first part will provide students with a comprehensive introduction to Herodotus’ biography, sources, historical and ethno-geographical approaches. A key focus will be on the Danube River’s hydrographic account, exploring the system of its tributaries, their identification, and ancient spatial perceptions. Students will engage in research to assess the authenticity and reliability of Herodotus’ sources and account composition, questioning whether the Danube-tributary account could have originated from Hecataeus of Miletus and segments of his renowned, but now lost, world map. Various approaches, including text criticism, content analysis, analogical reasoning, and cognitive mapping principles, will be applied. In the second part, students will present preliminary analyses on specific research topics related to Herodotus’ descriptions of waterscapes like rivers, seas, and straits. This presentation will culminate in a major written assignment, a 20-page research paper. Through this process, students will develop research skills and gain insights into human geographic experience in exploring, envisioning, and mapping waterscapes across different historical contexts.

1. Academic Background
1.1. Degrees

• DHistSc (Ancient History and Prehistory). 2004. Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Faculty of History, Department of Ancient and Medieval History.
  
  Dissertation: Pseudo-Scymnus or Semos of Delos. Greek Authors on the Western Black Sea Region; published in 2004, Pseudo-Skymnos (Semos von Delos?) (= Palingenesia. Schriftenreihe für Klassische Alter­tumswissenschaftenBd. 82). Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag.
   
• PhD (Ancient History).1993. Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Faculty of History, Department of Ancient and Medieval History.

  
  Dissertation: Evidence of European Thracians and Ancient Thrace in Strabo’s Geography; published in 2003, Die Thraker südlich vom Balkan in den Geographika Strabos. Quellenkritische Untersuchun­gen (= Palingenesia. Schriftenreihe für Klassische AltertumswissenschaftenBd. 81). Wiesbaden: Franz Steiner Verlag.
   

• MA (Major: Ancient and Medieval History). 1987. Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Faculty of History, Department of Ancient and Medieval History.
  
  Thesis: Autobiographical evidence in Strabo’s Geography.
   

• MA (Minor: German Studies). 1987. Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology.
• BA (History). 1985. Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Faculty of History.

1.2 Additional Credentials

• Certificate 2009. George Brown College, Toronto, College Teacher Training Program.

  
  Certificate for Teaching in the Canadian Higher Education (Sept. 2008 – April 2009).
   

• Diploma 2001. Academic Tenure (Associate Professor). Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Faculty of History, Department of Ancient and Medieval History.
  
  Habilitation: published in 2000, Thracian Antiquity. Historical Essays (Bulgarian, with a summary in German). Sofia: Vulkan4.

2. Academic Awards and Fellowships
2.1 Alexander von Humboldt Fellowships

• Free University of Berlin, Friedrich Meinecke Institute, Department of Historical Geography of the Ancient Mediterranean (July–August 2022; July–August 2018; June–August 2014; July–August 2012).
• Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Classics, Departments of Ancient History and Classical Archaeology (February 2008–April 2008; July 2002– August 2003).
• Ruprecht Karls University, Heidelberg, Manuscript Department of the Bibliotheca Palatina (July 2003).
• Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Faculty of History, Department of Ancient and Medieval History (September 2003–August 2004; Principal investigator).
   

2.2 Research Grant by the National Research Foundation of the Republic of Bulgaria

• Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Faculty of History, Department of Ancient and Medieval History (Nov. 2007–May 2008; Principal investigator of an interdisciplinary team).

2.3 German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Fellowship

• Ruprecht Karls University of Heidelberg, Department of Ancient History and Epigraphy (Visiting Professor: Oct. 2005–Feb. 2007).
• Saarland University of Saarbruecken, Department of Prehistory, Early History and Near Eastern Archaeology (March 1992–Dec. 1992).
   

2.4 Academic Exchange Contract between the University of Sofia and the Saarland University of Saarbrücken

• Saarland University of Saarbruecken, Department of Prehistory, Early History and Near Eastern Archaeology (May 1989–July 1989; Nov. 1997; Nov. 1999).
   

3. Academic Positions Held

• Full-time Professor of Liberal Studies, School of Interdisciplinary Studies, Conestoga College, Kitchener. August 2016–Present.
• Lecturer. Department of Historical Studies, University of Toronto Mississauga. May 2016–July 2016.
• Professor. School of Liberal Arts & Sciences, George Brown College. January 2009– April 2016.
• Instructor. Department of Classics, Brock University. September 2009–May 2010; May–June 2012; May–June 2013.
• Lecturer. The Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education, LIFE Institute, Ryerson University. May 2013–present.
• Instructor. Department of Liberal Arts, Sheridan College. January 2011–August 2011.
• DAAD Visiting Professor. Seminar of Ancient History and Epigraphy, Ruprecht Karls University of Heidelberg. October 2005–February 2007.
• Associate Professor. Department of Ancient and Medieval History, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski. October 2001–June 2008.
• Assistant Professor. Department of Ancient and Medieval History, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski. June 1995–October 2001.
• Adjunct Associate Professor. Free Univesity of Varna; University of Plovdiv (College of Smolyan; College of Kardzhali). October 1993–June 1998.
• Assistant Professor. Department of Ancient History and History of Art, Faculty of History, South-Western University of Bulgaria. May 1991–June 1995.
   

4. Academic Leadership and Professional Services

• 1991­–present. Participation in new course and program development (diploma and degree levels) at universities and colleges in Bulgaria, Germany, and Canada.
• 1991–present. Student advisor, supervisor, and referee at undergraduate, MA and PhD levels.
• 2006–2008. Member of the Faculty Council: Faculty of History, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski.
• 1993–1995. Associate Dean of the Faculty of History, South-Western University of Bulgaria.
• 1999–2007. Co-organizer of the annual International Academic Seminar Jubilaeus, the Department of Ancient and Medieval History, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski and co-editor of the same-named journal.
   

5. Languages

• Native or bilingual proficiency: English, German, Russian, Bulgarian (native).
• Professional working proficiency: Greek, Latin (primary source languages).