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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "CL/HS 231-3"
COURSE NAME: "History of Ancient Rome and Italy"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring Semester 2012
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Bessi Benedetta
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 14:30-15:45
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
Mon-Wed 1.15-2.15
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The objectives of this course are to explore and to better understand the history of ancient Rome from the earliest times down to the beginning of the decline of the Roman Empire.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course surveys the history of ancient Rome and Italy. Focus will be on the main lines of the development of Rome from its archaic foundation as an Italic-Latinate kingship down to the age of Constantine. The course will examine the establishment, expansion, and conflicts of the Roman Republic and the political and cultural evolution of the Augustan ‘Principate’ to the rise of the Empire. Readings (in translation) will include the writings of Livy,Cicero, Caesar, Tacitus, Suetonius and other ancient authors, with some consideration of Roman culture, society and religion.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of the course, students will have learned of the methods, means, and justifications by which the Roman city-state expanded into a politically and militarily strong, ethnically diverse and geographically complex empire as well as the reasons for its eventual collapse.
Key Skills Taught: Critical analysis of sources - Clearer writing ability - More lucid oral expression - Greater facility in working independently and in teams.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| A History of Rome | M. Le Glay-J.-L. Voisin-Y. Le Bohec | Blackwell Publishing | 978-0631218593 | | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| attendance and participation | regular attendance and active engagement | 10% |
| short site report | 1200 word paper | 10% |
| research paper | 3000 word paper | 25% |
| midterm exam | in class exam | 25% |
| final exam | non cumulative final exam | 30% |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
The objectives of this course are to explore and to better understand the history of ancient Rome from the earliest times down to the beginning of the decline of the Roman Empire.
Participation and Attendance 10%
Museum or archaeological site report 10%
Research Paper 25%
Midterm Exam 25%
Final Exam 30%
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Please note that since a portion of the grade for the course will be based not only on each student's participation, but also on attendance, it is extremely important that you not only participate in class, but that you attend on a regular basis. Attendance will be taken at each scheduled class session. Each unjustified absence after the second absence will affect your final grade.
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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.
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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.
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SCHEDULE
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Session
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Session Focus
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Reading Assignment
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Other Assignment
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Meeting Place/Exam Dates
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Mon. Jan. 16
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Introduction to course and material. Introduction to the history and the geography of ancient Italy
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Textbook, Introduction
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Familiarize with MY JCU course page and with the material posted on line
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midterm exam
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Wed. Jan. 18
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Italy before Rome
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Textbook, Ch.1
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midterm exam
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Mon. Jan. 23
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The Formation of Rome
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Textbook, Ch. 2
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midterm exam
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Wed. Jan. 25
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The Origins of Rome in the Literary tradition. Class discussion
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Livy, Book 1 (online). Extremely important that you come to class having read the text and ready for class discussion!
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midterm exam
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Mon. Jan 30
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The Young Republic: the Fifth and Fourth Centuries BCE
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Textbook, Ch. 3
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midterm exam
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Wed. Feb. 1
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The Growth of the Republic: War and Conquest in the Third century BCE
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Textbook, Ch. 4
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midterm exam
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Fri Feb.3
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Watch DVD
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midterm exam
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Mon.Feb. 6
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Consequences of Conquest: the Second Century BCE
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Textbook, Ch. 5
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midterm exam
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Wed Feb. 8
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The Punic Wars
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material online
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Midterm exam
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Mon. Feb. 13
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The Rise of Personal ambitions: Marius and Sulla
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Textbook,Ch. 6 only up to p. 136)
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Midterm exam
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Wed. Feb. 15
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Slavery and the Slave Wars
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Reading posted online
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MUSEUM/SITE VISIT REPORT DUE
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Midterm exam
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Mon. Feb. 20
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Julius Caesar and the Fall of the Republic
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Read Julius Caesar's life by Plutarch and answer the questions on the reading guide (material online)
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Midterm exam
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Wed. Feb. 22
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Julius Caesar continued
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Textbook, Ch. 6 (to the end)
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Midterm exam
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Mon. Feb. 27
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Midterm review
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Textbook, Ch.1-6
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Midterm exam
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Wed. Mar. 29
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Midterm exam
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Mon. Mar.5
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Octavian Augustus
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Textbook, Ch. 7
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Final exam
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Wed. Mar. 7
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Octavian Augustus: The Birth of the Imperial Regime
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Textbook, Ch. 8
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Final exam
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Fri. Mar. 9
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Watch DVD Engineering an Empire
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Answer questions as you watch the DVD
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Mon. Mar. 12
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The Julio-Claudian dynasty
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Textbook, Ch.9
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Final exam
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Wed. Mar. 14
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Nero and the stereotype of the bad ruler
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Read Nero's life by Suetonius and answer questions in the study guide (material online).
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Final exam
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Mon. Mar. 26
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The Flavian Dynasty
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Textbook, Ch.10
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Final exam
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Wed. Mar. 38
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Nerva, Trajan and Hadrian
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Textbook, Ch.11 (up to 339) and selected passages from the Historia Augusta (online)
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Final exam
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Mon. Apr. 2
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Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius and Commodus
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Textbook, Ch. 11 (to the end)
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Final exam
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Wed. Apr. 4
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Watch DVD: Engineering an Empire
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Answer questions as you watch the DVD
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Final Exam
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Wed. Apr. 11
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Septimius Severus: The Severan Dynasty
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Textbook, Ch. 12
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Final exam
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Mon. Apr.16
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The Third Century Crisis and the Military Emperors
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Textbook, Ch. 14
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Final exam
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Wed. Apr. 18
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A Different Order: Diocletian, Constantine and his Christian Successors
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Textbook, Ch. 15
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Final exam
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Mon. Apr. 23
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The End of the Roman World?
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Textbook, Ch. 19 (only from par. 19.3 to the end)
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RESEARCH PAPER DUE
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Final exam
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