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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "AH 290-4"
COURSE NAME: "Ancient Rome and Its Monuments"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2025
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Crispin Corrado
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: W9:15 AM 12:00 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: On-site; activity fee: €40 or $52
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:

STUDENTS SHOULD NOT REGISTER FOR BOTH AH 190 and AH 290
Rome City Series - This on-site course considers the art and architecture of ancient Rome through visits to museums and archaeological sites. The course covers the visual culture and architecture of Rome beginning with the Iron Age and ending with the time of Constantine. A broad variety of issues are raised, including patronage, style and iconography, artistic and architectural techniques, Roman religion, business and entertainment.

Satisfies "the Ancient World" core course requirement for Art History majors
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course will familiarize students with the topography of the ancient city of Rome, while focusing on architectural development as Rome grew from hilltop village to world city (c. 753 B.C. – A.D. 337). Students will learn Roman building processes, building materials, and building types, as well as the changes in these aspects over the years and what those changes reflected about the current political and cultural transformations that Rome was experiencing. Students will also learn to appreciate Roman expression through building, and recognize the messages carried by individual examples and intended by individual commissioners. In addition, students will obtain a very good idea about the daily lives and movements of the Romans in and around their monuments, through close investigation of the public buildings, and the city itself. Finally, students will come away with a better understanding of what the Romans have left us in terms of physical and cultural legacy, and the many ways in which the ancient city of Rome has influenced the city over time. This course is held completely on-site, and is arranged chronologically and by theme. At each class meeting we will investigate monuments in a different part of the city, and will discuss specific aspects of Roman life. We will also visit the major museum collections in the city, in order to heighten understanding of Roman principles of ornamentation and memory preservation, as well as the original appearance of the ancient monuments and Roman spaces.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students will consider several different types of evidence, including material culture and literary sources, which will allow and encourage them to think critically, and better understand the sites and monuments visited, as well as the role of the archaeologist in reconstructing the past. The written and oral assignments will help improve research and communication skills.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Rome: An Oxford Archaeological GuideAmanda ClaridgeOxford University Press978-0199546831 E-Format is fine.Ebook  
A History of Roman ArtSteven L. TuckWiley-Blackwell978-1119653288 This is available as a free e-book on JCU's library website.Ebook  
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Course EngagementIt is essential that students fully engage with the course material, including all lectures, site visits, and readings. Thus, students will be asked to answer two questions pertinent to the day’s lesson, at the end of every class session. Students thus should bring paper and pen to class, every session (in addition to their notebooks for note taking). These “exit reflections” along with class participation will count for 30% of the final grade.30
Presentation and Write UpEach student will give a formal presentation on an ancient Roman monument (to be assigned). Each presentation should be 10 minutes in length, and will be presented to the class on-site. The presentation should cover every aspect of relevance to our course, including: who built the monument, with what materials, why, where it was located in ancient times (and near what), it measurements, what it was used for, what happened to it after antiquity. After the presentation, classmates will ask questions for the next ten minutes. In other words, each presentation will last 20 minutes. The student presenting is expected to know how to answer all questions well and in an informed way – this is a large part of the grade. This means that a part of the participation grade of the other students is thinking up and asking questions during their colleague’s presentation Q & A. Students will turn in their notes/outline for the presentation, as well as a bibliography of at least five academic sources consulted for the presentation (no websites or Wikipedia). The presentation is worth 15% of the final grade. The student will then turn in a written and expanded version of the presentation, due at the end of the course. The write up should have a cover sheet, and should be at least 1,000 words. It should include an Images section at the end of the body of the text, and then a correctly formatted, full bibliography of at least five academic sources (students may use any stylistic guideline they prefer). The write-up should be edited and perfect; it is worth 10% of the final grade. The presentation, in sum, is worth 25% of the final grade.25
Midterm Exam 20
Final Exam 25

-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 cours
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:
One unexcused absence is permitted. Classes start on-site and thus punctuality is essential; three late arrivals will count as one unexcused absence.
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

TENTATIVE DAILY SCHEDULE

Week 1
Lecture: Course Introduction
Meeting Place: JCU Classroom

Week 2
Lecture: Early Rome; City Boundaries, Death and Burial
Site Visits: Tiber and Tiber Island, Mouth of the Cloaca Maxima, Circus Maximus
Meeting Place: In the middle of the Ponte Fabricio (Pons Fabricius)

Week 3
Lecture: Roman Religion and the Roman Temple; Roman Building Methods and Materials
Site Visits: Largo Argentina, Capitoline Hill/Forum Temples, Forum of Caesar
Meeting Place: On the Campidoglio, beneath the statue of Marcus Aurelius

Week 4
Lecture: The Roman Republic
Site Visits: The Lower Campus Martius, including the Theater of Pompey

 Meeting Place: Tower in Largo Argentina

Week 5
Lecture: Architecture Walk; Triumphal Parade and Route
Site Visits: Forum Boarium, Temples beneath San Nicola in Carcere, Theater of Marcellus, Porticus of Octavia
Meeting Place: Outside the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin/La Bocca della Verita’

Week 6
Lecture: Augustan Rome I
Site Visits: Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
Meeting Place: Entrance to the Roman Forum off the via dei Fori Imperiali at Largo Ricci (Salara Vecchia)

Week 7

Lecture: Augustan Rome II and the Julio-Claudians, Roman State Art, Roman Roads and Commemorative Monuments
Site Visits: Augustus’ Horologium, the Ara Pacis & Claudian Altar, Augustus’ Mausoleum, via Flaminia
Meeting Place: In front of the Ara Pacis Augustae (Lungotevere in Augusta)


Week 8
MIDTERM EXAM
Meeting Place: JCU Classroom

Week 9

Lecture: Rome of the Flavians; Public Venues
Site Visits: Colosseum, Ludus Magnus, Circus Maximus
Meeting Place: In front of the Metro B “Colosseo” stop

Week 10

Lecture: Rome of Trajan and Hadrian
Site Visits: The Pantheon, Column of Marcus Aurelius, Temple of the Deified Hadrian, Stadium of Domitian

Meeting Place: In front of the Pantheon

Week 11
Lecture: Rome of the Antonines and Severans
Site Visits: The Markets and Forum of Trajan, Tomb of Bibulus, The Imperial Fora, and the Forma Urbis Romae
Meeting Place: Beneath the Column of Trajan in Piazza Venezia

Week 12

Lecture: Roman Portraiture and Wall Painting

Site Visit: Palazzo Massimo Museum

Meeting Place: In front of the Palazzo Massimo Museum, Largo di Villa Peretti 2

Week 13
Lecture: Rome from the Soldier Emperors through Constantine; Review for Final Exam
Site Visits: Arch of Constantine, Baths of Caracalla
Meeting Place: At the Base of the Arch of Constantine, corner closest to the Colosseum

Week 14

Site Visits: The Capitoline Hill and Museums
Meeting Place: On the Campidoglio, beneath the statue of Marcus Aurelius

FINAL EXAM T.B.A.