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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "CL/HS 231-4"
COURSE NAME: "History of Ancient Rome and Italy"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2019
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Massimo Betello
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 6:00-7:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS: Wednesday after class or by appointment

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:
This course is designed to allow students to reach a solid knowledge of the main phases of ancient Roman history, with a special focus on the political and constitutional changes of the Roman state and the reasons for such changes. The class discussions and lectures intend to lead students to comprehend the inner working, the strengths, and the shortcomings of the Roman polity, helped by the analysis of selected passages from Roman historians and by a study of the most significant Roman monuments, coins, sculptures, and epigraphs.
The course mainly aims at:
* presenting the students with a well-structured overview of the history of ancient Italy and Rome from the foundation of the city to the end of the Western Roman Empire;
* discussing the significance of selected archeological, epigraphical, numismatic and literary sources of Roman history;
* illustrating the geography of Europe and the Mediterranean basin;
* developing an interest in Roman history and civilization that will help to better appreciate the city of Rome and may possibly guide towards future reading, research, studies;
* showing some of the living effects of Roman civilization.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Taking this course will allow students to:
* identify the main phases, facts, characters and geographical locations of Roman History
* compare and contrast the functions and powers of the political institutions of the Roman state
* illustrate how Roman historians were influenced in their creation of Roman history
* explain the relevance of some of most important Roman monuments and artworks
* give examples of how archaeology has enhanced our understanding of the Roman past
* demonstrate how Roman society and politics were interconnected, and how changes on one created reactions on the other
* evaluate and prioritize the evidence to be used in the analysis of an historical topic
* create a coherent discourse in the analysis of an historical topic
* critically evaluate the stereotyped notions surrounding ancient Rome
* integrate Roman political tactics into modern history
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
A Brief History of the Romans. Boatwright, Mary Taliaferro, Daniel J Gargola, Noel Emmanuel Lenski, and Richard J. A TalbertOxford University Press 2nd ed. (2013)9780199987559DG209 .B582No e-book available   
The Historians of Ancient Rome. An anthology of the major writingsMellor Ronald Routlegde 3rd ed. (2012)978-0-415-52716-3E-BOOK (freely available from JCU library)E-BOOK (freely available from JCU library)   
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
A history of Rome down to the reign of Constantine.Cary and SchullardBedford/St. Martin’s, Third Edition (1976)978-0312383954DG210.C33 
Considerations on the causes of the greatness of the Romans and their decline.Montesquieu CharlesHackett Publishing Company (1999), 0-87220-496-0DG210 .M778Available on line at the address: http://www.constitution.org/cm/ccgrd_l.htm. A similar translation is available at the address https://archive.org/details/cu31924028288722.
Rome: day oneCarandini AndreaPrinceton University Press (2011), 9780691139227DG233.3 .C375 
As the Romans did: a sourcebook in Roman Social HistoryShelton Jo-AnnOxford University Press (1988)9780195089738HN10.R7 S45 

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Readings, classroom participation and assignmentsThe students are asked to complete the readings before coming to class: in this way they will get the most out of this course, and the time of the exams will be much less stressful. The students are welcome to participate appropriately to class discussion and to express their problems, ideas and perplexities about the readings. During the semester students will be asked to complete assignments based on the assigned readings.10
2 testsDates TBA. These short tests (20 minutes) are intended to foster a regular study of the subject and get the students ready for the exams. Most questions will test factual knowledge (events, date, people etc.), but some questions may be about concepts. Format: short answers, multiple choices, true-false, identifications, map questions etc.20 (10% each)
Midterm examDate TBA. The topics tested will be those of the first half of the semester. It will be made up by two parts: • one testing the student’s factual knowledge (events, date, people etc) using identifications, multiple choices, true-false, etc.; • the other testing the student’s understanding and knowledge of the concepts explained using open questions, essays, etc. More specific details will be given during the semester.30
Final examDate TBA The topics tested will be those of the second half of the semester. The format will follow that of the midterm exam. More specific details will be given during the semester. Please, do not make travel plans until the dates of the final exams will be released.30
One projectThe project can take the shape of either a group presentation or a paper. You can either present or write about an aspect of Roman culture and society (no art), or assume the persona of an ancient person living in Roman times. A group can also cook and present a couple of ancient Roman foods. Each presentation-group needs to be of either 3 or 4 students. Project proposals need to be emailed to the professor by the beginning of the 5th class: failure to do so will result in a zero for this whole portion of your final grade. Proposals need to describe both the subject and the format of the project (paper or presentation) with a list of group members). A list of suggestions is available on Moodle. The guidelines are as follow: A) the project needs to be relevant to the field of Roman history, B) the project needs to be original (using the same project for more than one class is considered cheating), C) the project needs to be approved by the professor before starting to work on it, D) the project can follow one of the following two formats: a group presentation, or an exploratory paper. Students are welcome to suggest topics they may be interested in. Each presenter will be given 5 minutes, so presentations will be allowed at most 20 minutes. If a student chooses to write a paper, a first draft needs to be emailed to the professor by the end of Week 06. The late submission policy applies only to papers, not to presentations. More detailed guidelines are available on moodle and are integral part of the syllabus. 10

-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 co
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 will be taken at every class.
Up to six absences are allowed in this course without consequences. More than 6 absences regardless of the reason (that is, missing more than 20% of the course) will have you fail the course.
No justification for any absence is allowed in this course: six absences are enough to cover any event.
Only extended medical emergencies are justified absences. No other reason count as a justified absence: finger-print appointments, sickness, trips, etc. are not justified.
Absences due to lack of registration into the class at the beginning of the semester still count against the 6 absence as the student is missing parts of the course.
Every student who has accumulated ONE or less absences by the day of the midterm will be allowed to answer to the extra credit questions on the midterm. Every student who has accumulated THREE or less absences by the day of the final exam will be allowed to answer to the extra credit questions on the final exam.

Every student who has accumulated ONE or less absences by the day of the midterm will be allowed to answer to the extra credit questions on the midterm. Every student who has accumulated THREE or less absences by the day of the final exam will be allowed to answer to the extra credit questions on the final exam.

As from the university catalog:
Attendance Policy
Specific requirements for attendance in any given course, except as described below, are the prerogative of the instructor and will be stated in the course syllabus distributed by the instructor at the beginning of the term. 

The Dean’s Office may grant exemptions from specific attendance policies in the case of a chronic medical condition or other serious problem. Students seeking such an exemption must ask a Dean as soon as they are aware of a situation impeding their required attendance. Students who cannot meet the attendance requirements for a particular class may be advised to withdraw from it.

Absences from major examinations require a Dean’s Office excuse, insofar as the student may seek to take a make-up exam. The Dean’s Office will only excuse such absences when they are caused by serious impediments, such as a student’s own illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which the student is attending 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 seeking such an excuse must notify their instructor, or the Dean’s Office, as soon as possible, and no later than the beginning of the 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 must notify their instructors by the end of the Add/Drop period (during the first week of classes). Students missing a class for this reason also must make prior arrangements with their instructor to make up any work

Exams - Absences and Makeups
Instructors may, at their discretion, give makeups on quizzes or other less important graded work to students absent without an official excuse. However, because make-up exams require new exams to be prepared, written and proctored at times outside the regular class period, major examinations (midterms, finals) may only be re-administered with approval from the Dean’s Office. 

A student absent from a class meeting in which a major examination has been scheduled, who wishes to make-up that exam, must ask the Dean’s Office for an official excuse. Such absence will be excused only if the student: 

  1. has notified the Dean’s Office or his or her instructor of his or her inability to attend before the beginning of the class meeting in which the examination was scheduled
  2. subsequently presents to the Dean’s Office with documented evidence of a serious difficulty preventing attendance. 

A serious difficulty entitling a student to make-up a missed exam includes a student’s own illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which the student is attending the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Missed exams owing to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel plans or difficulties, student misunderstandings, alarm clock failure, or personal convenience, will not be excused.”


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

Week 01

 

Introduction to the course: syllabus, assessments, logistics, textbooks.

What are we going to deal with in this class? Roman History: What is history? How to write history. Cyclical vs Unpredictable nature of History. A quick general outlook to all Roman History.

How do we know what we know? Our main sources: ancient historians, archaeology, epigraphy, numismatics.

At the beginning it was just Early Italy (Latins, Etruscans, Greeks in Italy).

 

 

Week 02

 

Mythical and archaeological origins of the city of Rome.

Monarchy and the 7 mythical kings.

The deposition of the last king and the Early Republic.

The Struggle of the Orders

 

Week 03

 

Conquest of Veii, and the sack of Rome in the fourth century

Roman political institutions in the fourth century

The conquest of Italy (Samnite-Latin wars, and wars with the Greeks of Italy)

 

Week 04

 

How Rome dealt with her newly conquered Mediterranean empire.

A new way of doing politics: the assassination of the Gracchi.

 

Week 05

 

External forces attack the Republic: the war with Numidia, and the menace of the German populations Cimbri and Teutones

The first of a series of civil wars: the clash between the generals Marius and Sulla.

The end of Sulla, the beginning of Pompey.

Slave revolts, pirate wars, Catiline’s attempted revolution.

 

Week 06

 

The penultimate chapter in the history of the Roman Republic: the first Triumvirate and another civil war.

Gaius Iulius Caesar: his rising, assassination and his dream of a new order for Rome.

 

SUNDAY

DEADLINE: BY THIS SUNDAYSUBMIT THE FIRST DRAFT OF YOUR PAPER BY EMAIL TO THE PROFESSOR (Sunday of week 06)

Week 07

 

Octavian Augustus: the establishment of new order within the hollowed out Republican institutions.

 


Week 08

 

Octavian Augustus: the establishment of new order within the hollowed out Republican institutions (continued).

The Julio-Claudian Emperors: Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero.

 

Week 09

 

The end of the Julio-Claudia dynasty

The secret of the empire

The Imperial Cult

 

Week 10

 

The Flavian Emperors

The Age of the Adopted Emperors (the five good emperors): a new golden age for humanity?

 

Week 11

 

The Age of the Adopted Emperors (the five good emperors): a new golden age for humanity?  (continued)

The Severan Emperors

Caracalla and the granting of citizenship to all the free inhabitants of the Empire.

Christianity and the Romans

 

SUNDAY

DEADLINE: BY TODAY (SUNDAY), SUBMISSION FOR ALL THE PAPER PROJECTS.

Week 12

 

The Soldier emperors: Aurelian, a case study

The Tetrarchy: Diocletian

 

Week 13

 

Constantine: the first Christian Emperor

The fall of the Roman Empire: part one

 

Week 14

 

The fall of the Roman Empire: part two

Review

 

 

Week 15

 

FINAL EXAM

TBA

FINAL EXAM

TBA

Do not make travel plan for this week