Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "CL/HS 255"
COURSE NAME: "Peoples of the Roman World: Ethnic, Social and Cultural Identities"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2024

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Massimo Betello
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 4:30 PM 5:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course explores the multi-ethnic dimensions of the Roman world with a particular emphasis on the Imperial period (31BCE-476 CE). From Rome's beginnings, its population was characterized by cultural diversity, and one of the Empire's greatest strengths was its ability to integrate diverse peoples into Roman political, social and cultural life. Nevertheless, as the Empire expanded into Europe and the Mediterranean, many peoples who came under Roman rule continued to maintain distinctive ethnic, social and cultural identities. In this course, we will explore the complex processes of social and cultural negotiation between local identities and Romanization that resulted from Roman expansion. In doing so, we will seek a better understanding not only of how and why the cultural identities of such groups differed from mainstream Romanitas, but also the ways in which these interactions contributed to the shaping of Roman identity.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

This course is discussion-based, not lecture-based. Comparison of student ideas and perceptions about the assignments are necessary to understand the fluid nature of “identity”. Every class will include a student debate.

The Roman world in its imperial phase encompassed all the territories that encircled the Mediterranean Sea, and it even reached the British islands in the Atlantic Ocean. What can we understand about all the populations and cultures that ended up into the orbit of Rome? How did they identify themselves? Moreover, Roman culture was not walled within the political boundaries of the Roman state, but it spilled into that of its neighbors and enemies who influenced and were influences by the “Romanitas”.

After a review of Roman history, the course will begin by discussing key words, e.g. “identity”, “race”, “phenotypes”, and “ethnicity”. Then it will lead the students to understand the ancient ideas about the diversities of human beings: mythical theories, genetic determinism, and climatic determinism. The limits and advantages of textual, archaeological, and artistic sources will be presented and discussed.

The identities of different groups will then be introduced: the Etruscans, the Lucanians, the Gauls, the Germans, the Greeks, the Egyptians, the Pheonicians, the Parthians, the Jews, the Christians, the Goth, and the Huns.

At the base of this course there are ancient texts in translation, supplemented by modern commentaries and material culture.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

After a successful conclusion of this course the student will be to:

· discuss the terminology used when talking about identity;

· summarize the different ancient theories about human creation and modifications;

· consider the temporal evolution of the identities of the discussed groups;

· argue about the identities of the discussed groups using literary and archaeological evidence;

· identify the different components that were used to talk and create identities in the past;

· critically evaluate the stereotyped notions surrounding the discussed groups.

TEXTBOOK:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number	Comments	Format
Rethinking the Other in Antiquity	Gruen, Erich S.	Princeton University Press, 2012	978-1-4008-3655-0 (ebook)	Free ebook from JCU library	Ebook
Race and Ethnicity in the Classical World: An Anthology of Primary Sources in Translation	Kennedy, Rebecca F., C. Sydnor Roy, and Max L. Goldman	Hackett Publishing Co., 2013	978-1-62466-089-4	Free ebook from JCU library	Ebook
A Companion to Ethnicity in the Ancient Mediterranean	McInerney, Jeremy	Wiley Blackwell, 2014	9781118834312	Free ebook from JCU library	Ebook

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number	Library Call Number	Comments
Peoples of the Roman World	Boatwright Mary T.	Cambridge University Press	978-0-521-54994-3	DG190 .B63 2012
A History of the Later Roman Empire, AD 284-641	Mitchell Stephen	John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated	978-1-118-34106-3		Free ebook from JCU library
The Art of the Roman Empire: AD 100-450 (2nd ed)	Elsner Jaś	Oxford University Press, 2018	978-0-19-108109-5

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
Participation	Participation will be evaluated during every class. Students are expected to show that the assignments have been done and digested. Comments, questions, perplexities, and analogies to modern day situations are welcome. The late submission polity does not apply.	5
Presentation	Every student (or group) will present to the class one of the topics of the semester	15
Final Paper	The final paper (2000 words) is supposed to be an elaboration of the presentation, developed as a compare-and-contrast essay (Chicago style). The topic of the paper must be pre-approved by the professor. The paper is due by the end of the 10th week.	20
Midterm exam	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 in class using open questions, essays etc.	25
Final exam	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 in class using open questions, essays etc.	25
Assignment and comments	All the assignments (readings, videos, etc) are supposed to be completed, but only those readings/videos that on Moodle have a Perusall link are part of this assessment method, and thus evaluated. Perusall.com is the online platform where the assignments are to be done, and no other ways are accepted for these assignments. Perusall will calculate a positive grade based on the following: A) the amount of time spent doing active reading; B) whether the assignment was concluded on time; C) if the assignment was done in chunks (instead of trying to do it all at once); D) the quality of the thoughtful questions and comments posted, and if they are spread throughout the entire assignment. The late submission policy does not apply. The classes of the add/drop period are excluded from this assignment, but the topics assigned will be tested in the tests and exams.	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 course. A 94 – 100; A- 90 - 93.99;
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. B+ 87 - 89.99; B 84 - 86.99; B- 80 – 83.99;
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. C+ 77 – 79.99; C 74 - 76.99; C- 70 – 73.99;
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. D+ 67 - 69.99; D 60 – 66.99;
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. F 59.99 >0;

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Attendance will be taken at every class (except during the add-and-drop period.)

Up to five (5) absences are allowed in this course without consequences. More than 5 absences regardless of the reason (that is, missing more than 20% of the course) will have you fail the course.

No justification for any regular absence is allowed in this course: five absences are enough to cover any regular event.

Only extended medical emergencies and extraordinary situations are justified absences. No other reason counts as a justified absence: lack of registration, finger-print appointments, sickness, trips, etc. are not justified. In case of these extraordinary circumstances and if you are going beyond the number of allowed absences, you can fill the “Excused Absences Request Form” in the webpage of the Registrar Office (click here)

As from the university catalog (https://www.johncabot.edu/academics/academic-policies.aspx)

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 and day	Topic	Class number
01 week	Introduction: what we will study. Expectations and assignments.	01
01 week	Review of Roman History (part 1 of 2)	02
02 week	Review of Roman History (part 2 of 2)	03
02 week	Race and Ethnicity in the Greek and Roman Worlds	04
03 week	Being Roman 1. Deadline: by today – before class – profile photo on moodle (see syllabus) 2. Deadline: by today—before class—students must have submitted through Moodle their presentation topic (starting from week 04 included)	05
03 week	The Romanization debate (part 1 of 2). Romanization hellenization romanitas hybridization – creolization - fusion Language and identity.	06
04 week	The Romanization debate (part 2 of 2). Here I can deal with the archaeology	07
04 week	The Etruscans (part 1 of 2)	08
05 Week	The Etruscans (part 2 of 2)	09
05 week	Black Athena and Greek identity 1	10
06 week	Greek identity 2	11
06 week	Greek identity 3	12
07 week	The Lucanians	13
07 week	MIDTERM EXAM during class time	14
08 week	The Phoenicians	15
08 week	Gauls	16
09 week	Germans and Britons	17
09 week	“Wild Card” Day: presentations, review, make-up etc Final PAPER workshops: appropriate sources, primary VS secondary sources, bibliography, notes, format.	18
10 week	Hellenistic Egypt	19
10 Week	Roman Egypt	20
11 week	Ethiopia and Beyond	21
11 week	The Jews during the Republic	22
12 week	The Jews during the Empire	23
12 week	Economy and identity at the frontiers (Dura Europos and Petra) By the end of this week (Sunday at 11:59 PM), the final paper must be submitted through Moodle.	24
13 week	The Christians pre-edict of Constantine (part 1)	25
13 week	The Christians pre-edict of Constantine (part 2)	26
14 week	The Christians post edict of Constantine	27
14 week	Conclusions and review	28