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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "CL/HS 231-4"
COURSE NAME: "History of Ancient Rome and Italy"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring Semester 2012
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: De Sena Eric
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 10:00-11:15
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS: M 11:30-13:00

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

CL/HS 231-4 presents students with a detailed overview of the history of ancient Rome and Italy from the early 1st millennium BC through the late Imperial period. Students will be exposed to historical events, political movements, relations between the Romans and foreign powers and Roman culture and social history. We cannot possibly cover all of Roman history; therefore, stress is placed on major trends, personalities and pivotal moments.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

This course surveys the history of ancient Rome and Italy, the institutions of Roman society (e.g., family, government, economy, religion) as well as aspects of Roman culture (e.g., literature, art, architecture, entertainment). The course essentially follows a timeline between the foundation of Rome as an Italic-Latinate kingship through the establishment of the Empire under Augustus and the transformations leading to the late Roman Empire. The readings include both primary and secondary sources.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Students will:

  • Learn the methods, means, and justifications by which the Roman city-state expanded into a politically and militarily strong, ethnically diverse and geographically complex empire;
  • Learn the reasons and outcomes of the various crises and transformations;
  • Learn how to use the ancient sources and archaeological evidence to understand Roman history.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
NONE

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:

Assessment Guidelines for assigning main letter grades: A, B, C,D, and F.

A:  Work of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensiveknowledge 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.

B:  This 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.

C:  This is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.

D:  This 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.

F: This 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:

In addition to attending class, students are expected to do the readings in time for each class session and be ready to discuss issues and pose questions. Both physical and intellectual absences will result in an exponentially lower final grade. If you are ill or have another valid reason for missing class, please obtain a doctor's note or see Prof. Andrea Lanzone, the Assistant Dean of Student Academic Affairs.

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 COURSE SCHEDULE:

 

Week 1 Itroduction to the course and overview of Roman history; Foundation myths

Readings: Livy Book 1; Scullard 1980 Ch. I

 

Week 2 The Roman Monarchy – fiction and facts

Readings: Livy, Book 1; Scullard 1980 Ch. II

 

Week 3 Birth of the Republic (subtheme: Roman families and social structure)

Readings: Scullard 1980 Ch. III-V

 

Week 4 The Roman Republic – conquest and consolidation

Readings: Scullard 1980 Ch. VI- VIII

 

Week 5 The Roman Republic – colonies, commerce and change (subtheme: slavery)

Readings: Scullard 1980 IX-X, XIV, XVI; Shelton Ch. VII-IX

 

Week 6 The Late Roman Republic

Readings: Scullard 1976 Ch. I-II; Plutarch, Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus

TEST ON Feb. 22

 

Week 7 The Late Roman Republic (subtheme: Roman Army)

Readings: Scullard 1976 Ch. 5-6; Shelton Ch. X-XI; Plutarch, Gaius Marius, Cornelius Sulla, Gneus Pompey

 

Week 8   Republic to Empire: Julius Caesar

Readings: Scullard 1976 Ch. VII; Plutarch, Julius Caesar; Suetonius, Julius Caesar

 

Week 9 Republic to Empire – Augustus

Readings: Scullard 1976 Ch. VIII; Suetonius, Augustus; Horace, Carmen Saeculare, Augustus’s Res Gestae, Virgil, The Aeneid

 

Week 10  The Roman Empire – Flavians and the Five “good” Emperors

 

Readings: Lives of the Later Caesars (Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius); Optional: Marcus Aurelius, Meditations.

 

Week 11 The Roman Empire – Flavians and the Five “good” Emperors

 

Readings: Lives of the Later Caesars (Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius); Optional: Marcus Aurelius, Meditations.

 

 

Week 12 The Roman Empire – the Severan Dynasty and the Third Century “Crisis”

 

Readings: Lives of the Later Caesars (Septimius Severus, Geta, Caracalla, Alexander Severus, Maximinus Thrax)

 

Week 13 The Tetrarchy and Constantine

Readings T.B.A.

Week 14 
The “Fall” of the Roman Empire

Readings: T.B.A.

 

 

FINAL EXAM T.B.A. (n.b. the exam may take place on a Saturday or Sunday)