AH290 is a survey of ancient Rome from its archaic beginnings though Constantine and the legalization of Christianity. The course is conducted entirely on site at the city's many monuments. The monuments are treated both chronologically and thematically. Chronology underscores the historical context of these ancient Roman buildings, artworks, and infrastructure and it highlights their functional and symbolic continuity. Thematic treatment will stress the ways in which visual art creates and communicates meaning.

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.

General Course Outline. Specific outline will be distributed in class.


Week 1  Introduction: Looking at art and material culture
                        Meeting location: GK1.1

Week 2 Thinking historically: Going backwards in time and historiography
                       Meet: Campidoglio, top of steps right side
                       Site: Capitoline Museums
                        Reading: see post-it no. 1 or access following article directly from JSTOR: Hayden White,"Interpretation 
                        in History," New Literary History vol 4 n.2 (winter 1973): pp281to end of 1st paragraph p. 287)
                      *summary due /discussion 

Week 3.   Origins: Myth, written history, archeology
                        Meet: Piazza del Popolo, obelisk. 
                        Site: Villa Giulia
                        Reading: post-it no. 2, Ramage and Ramage,ch. 1

Week 4  Republican expansion and its monuments            
                        Meet: classroom GK 1.1.                         Sites: Forum Boarium, Forum Holitorium, Circus Flaminius, Largo ArgentinaReading: 
                        Reading:  Stamper, ch.3, and ch. 4  pages on Forums Holitorium and Boarium
                        *summary/discussion 2

Week 5  City Center and its symbolism: Archaic to early Imperial monuments
                        Meet: Entrance to Palatine, Via San Gregorio
                        Sites: Palatine Hill, Roman Forum
                        Reading: Stamper, ch.6, pp. 90-104, ch 7, pp. 105-118                      
                                       Ramage & Ramage, pp. 78-83

Week 6  The rhetoric of portraiture: Republican and Augustan sculpture
                        Meet: base of pyramid of Cestius, Metro B Pyramide stop
                        Site: Centrale Montemartini
                       

Week 7  Midterm 

Week 8          Make-up class on Friday 26 October 
                        Thursday: Image of Empire: Ara Pacis, Mausoleum of Augustus and Fascist scenography
                        Meet: fountain in front of Museum of Ara Pacis
                        Sites: Ara Pacis, Mausoleum of Augustus, Piazza Augusto Imperatore, Augustan obelisk and meridian
                        Reading:  Zanker, ch 2, 33-48
                        * summary/discussion 3
                       
                         Friday:Daily life at the height of Empire
                        Meet: Column of Trajan
                         Sites: Imperial forums, markets of Trajan, Colosseum
                         Reading: Clarke, "Glory and the Games, pp. 143-159
                         Ramage & Ramage, ch. 6 pp. 207-220

 
Week 9 Good Emperors
                        Meet: Piazza Rontonda by fountain (in front of Pantheon)
                        Sites: Pantheon, Temple of Hadrian, Column of Marcus Aurelius
                        Reading: Claridge, 218-232, 
                        

Week 10        Displaying refinement and expressing ideals: Art, decoration, and pictorial and space
                        Meet: Entrance to Palazzo Massimo (Museo Nazionale Romano), far left corner of Piazza dei Cinquecento,
                         as you exit Termini station
                        Site: Palazzo Massimo
                        Reading: Zanker, ch. 7 pp.265-274, 279-295 

Week 11    Term paper due  13 November
                    Decline?: Severans, Constantian, and late Empire
                        Meet: Campidoglio
                        Sites: Arches of Septimius Severus, and Constantine, Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine, 
                        Reading: Clarke, "All-seeing Emperor and Ordinary Viewers" 

Week 12     No Class (made up 26 October)

Week 13    Translation of status through space and imagery: Imperial forms for Christianity
                        Meet: in front of Termini Station, by taxi stand
                        Sites: Basilica of S. Agnese, Mausoleum of S. Costanza
                        
Week 14      Review
                     Meet: Palazzo Massimo