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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "CL/HS 231"
COURSE NAME: "History of Ancient Rome and Italy"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Summer Session I 2019
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Dustin Gish
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MTWTH 3:40-5:30 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course surveys the history of ancient Rome and Italy, focusing on the origins and metamorphoses of Rome from its archaic foundations as an Italic-Latinate kingship to an imperial city. The course examines the establishment, expansion, and conflicts of the Republican period; the political and cultural revolution of the Augustan ‘Principate’; the innovations of the High Empire; and the transition into Late Antiquity. Course materials include the writings of ancient authors in translation (these may include Polybius, Sallust, Cicero, Livy, Augustus, Suetonius, and/or Tacitus) as well as modern historians and archaeologists, along with considerations of Roman art, architecture, and archaeology.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

SCHEDULE             

Week 1          FOUNDINGS   

Assigned Readings:       History of Rome  (Introduction, Chapters 1-2)

                                          LIVY  (Book 1)

            Mon.    5/27   < class will not meet (on-site in Week 3) >

            Tues.   5/28   Outline of Roman History from Kingship to Republic      

            Wed.   5/29   Founding the Kingship:  Romulus & Numa  [Livy Bk 1, Chs. 1-33]

            Thur.   5/30   Re-Founding the Kingship:  Tarquin & Servius  [Livy Bk 1, Chs. 34-48]

 

Week 2          REVOLUTIONS

Assigned Readings:       History of Rome  (Chapters 3-4)

                                          LIVY  (Book 2) 

            Mon.    6/3     Revolution:  The Tyranny of Tarquin ‘Superbus’  [Livy Bk 1, Chs. 49-60]

            Tues.   6/4     Founding the Republic:  Brutus & Publicola  [Livy Bk 2, Chs. 1-17]

            Wed.   6/5     < class will not meet (on-site in Week 4) >

            Thur.   6/6     Struggle of the Orders:  Secession of the Plebs  [Livy Bk 2, Chs. 18-44]                                                                                        

Week 3          CONQUESTS,  CONSPIRACIES, CIVIL WARS

Assigned Readings:       History of Rome  (Chapters 5-6)  &  POLYBIUS  (handout)

                                          CICERO  (On the Command of Pompeius, Against Catilina I-IV)

            Mon.    6/10   Roman War Machine:  The Punic Wars

            Tues.   6/11   Burdens and Temptations of Empire:  Pompeius ‘Magnus’

            Wed.   6/12   ESSAY 1 due  // Crisis of the Republic, I:  Cicero versus Catilina

            Thur.   6/13   Crisis of the Republic, II:  Pompey versus Caesar           

Week 4          COLLAPSE OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC

Assigned Readings:       History of Rome  (Chapters 7-9)

                                          CICERO  (In Support of Marcellus)  &  VIRGIL  (handout)

            Mon.    6/17   Crisis of the Republic, III:  ‘Caesar’

            Tues.   6/18   The Age of Augustus:  Visual Rhetoric of Imperial Peace

            Wed.   6/19   Imperial Consolidation and Expansion     

            Thur.   6/20   Imperial Mis-Rule:  The Julio-Claudians                

Week 5          RE-FOUNDINGS OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE          

Assigned Readings:       History of Rome (Chapters 10-11)

            Mon.    6/24   Imperial Re-Founding:  The Adoptive Emperors

            Tues.   6/25   Conversion of Imperial Rome:  Constantine

            Wed.   6/26   ESSAY 2 due  // Review

            Thur.   6/27   EXAM

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of this class, students should be familiar with the main events, people, and broad chronology constituting the history of ancient Rome and Italy. Students will work with primary sources (in translation), artistic and archaeological evidence, and historical documents. 
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Cicero: Selected Political SpeechesEdited by M. GrantPenguin978-0140442144     
Livy: The History of RomeEdited by V. WarriorHackett978-0872207233     
History of Ancient Rome (textbook)Edited by Glay, Voison, et al.Blackwell978-1405183277     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Essay 1750-word essay (topic: TBA)15
Essay 2750-word essay (topic: TBA)15
Final ExamFinal examination over all course material20
ParticipationActive participation in seminar discussions during class30
AttendanceAttendance is required and rewarded20

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until June 28, 2019.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE