Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "AH 190-1"
COURSE NAME: "Cities, Towns & Villas: Rome, Ostia, Pompeii (On-site; mandatory trip to Pompeii; activity fee €40 or $52) (N.B. On-campus sessions for this class will be held 8:30-11:15)"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall Semester 2012

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Koehler Jens
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: T 9:15-12:00
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: On-site; mandatory trip; activity fee: €40 or $52
OFFICE HOURS: cell 338-5256504

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course has the following objectives:

- understanding of the ancient urban development in central Italy: Rome and other examples
- understanding of ancient Roman architecture: public and private
- acquisition of knowledge about ancient Roman civilization: history and society

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The course introduces to ancient Roman civilization. We will study the ancient topography of Rome, with a focus on the city’s most important elements: Temple, Forum, Palace, Theatre, Baths, Aqueducts, City Walls and Cemeteries. The urban development from the foundation in 753 BC to the decline in the 5^th century AD goes hand in hand with the chronology of events, or the historical background. Visits to the well preserved towns of Ostia and Pompeii will contribute to understand the transformation of Roman cities through time, and the role of particular building types in ancient society. A view on Roman villas can show private architecture and life in the countryside. The last part of the course is dedicated to Late Antique Rome.

There is a mandatory field trip to Pompeii on Friday, Oct. 5th (equivalent to 2 class meetings).

The course will be conducted entirely on site. Be prepared for longer walks. Use appropriate clothing and shoes!

Students may have to pay some extra-fee (Euro 40) to cover entrance fees to archaeological sites and museums.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students are introduced to different methods of archaeological analysis. The first-hand experience of unknown monuments and the examination of their historical and social context allow students to study and think critically. The nature of the exams, the class notes and term paper, as well as class discussion, are aimed to a further development of critical analysis, presentation and communication skills.

TEXTBOOK:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number	Library Call Number	Comments	Format	Local Bookstore	Online Purchase
Rome. Oxford Archaeological Guide (2nd ed., 2010)	A. Claridge		N/A

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number
Rome and Environs (2007)	F. Coarelli	California University Press	N/A
The Art of Rome (1973/1977)	B. Andreae		N/A
Roman Art. Romulus to Constantine (2005)	N. H. Ramage - A. Ramage		N/A
Cambridge Illustrated History of the Roman World (2003)	G. Woolf (ed.)		N/A
A New Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome (1992)	L. Richardson		N/A
Roman Building. Materials and Techniques (1994)	J. P. Adam		N/A
A History of Rome (2005)	M. Le Glay, J. L. Voisin, Y. Le Bohec (ed.)		N/A
The Ancient Roman City (1988)	J. Stambaugh	Johns Hopkins Press	N/A

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
midterm		20
class notes		15
paper		25
final exam		30
attendance & participation		10

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:

Exams

The exams are structured to assess students‘ knowledge of essential facts about monuments and their cultural/historical significance. The exams are based upon lectures and readings.

Midterm Test 20% of course grade

The midterm test is on Oct. 9 at 8:30 am. It will consist in identifications and short questions.

Final Exam 30% of course grade

The final exam takes place in the week of Dec. 8 - 15 (excact time and classroom to be announced). It consists in identification, short questions and cumulative essay questions.

Class Minutes 15% of course grade

Each student is responsible for class minutes, i. e. one oral presentation due to the following class meeting and a typed revised version due to midterm or final (2-3 double-spaced pages and sketches). You are expected to return to sites (or prolong your visit) before organizing your thoughts and completing your final analysis. The aim of the presentations/minutes is to communicate effectively what you had seen and been taught.

Paper 25% of course grade

The paper should be 5-7 double-spaced pages, exclusive of images and bibliography.

Due dates: Nov. 6 for outline and Dec. 4 for final paper. No late papers are accepted. Please refer to additional term paper guidelines. The outlines (1-2 pages) should consist of a thesis statement, table of contents, and bibliography.

Participation 10% of course grade

In addition to timely presence, active participation is expected of all students. You are expected to come to class having read the assignment and to be prepared to answer and make relevant questions and to share your own observations.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

All scheduled classes are mandatory. You are allowed only one unjustified absence; every unjustified absence thereafter will result in the lowering of your grade. Attendance will be taken at each class. Because this is an on-site course with special scheduled permits to sites and museums it has strict time limitations. You must, therefore, always be punctual. You should calculate around 40-50 minutes travel time to our meeting points (specified below in the class schedule). Please refer to the university catalog for attendance and absence policy.

For legal reasons no visitors are allowed to follow the class.

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

Session	Session Focus	Reading Assignment	Meeting Place/Exam Dates
Sept. 4	Ancient Rome: Introduction. Chronological Overview - History and Topography. First short walk to see some ancient monuments.		in classroom G. K. G. 3
Sept. 11	Capitol and survey of the ancient city centre. Historical overview. Origins and Early Rome.		meet on Capitoline Hill, Piazza del Campidoglio
Sept. 18	Palatine and Forum Romanum. From Romulus to the Republic.		meet at the entrance in Via dei Fori Imperiali
Sept. 25	Circus Maximus and Colosseum valley. Nero's Golden House.		meet at the Arch of Constantine
Oct. 2	no class
Friday, Oct. 5 at 7 am !	Fieldtrip to Pompeii. City development. Daily life.		meet at 7 am on Piazza Trilussa
Oct. 9 at 8:30 am !	MIDTERM TEST	exam	in classroom
Oct. 16	Imperial Fora. Political propaganda from Caesar to Trajan.		meet at Trajan's Column, near Piazza Venezia.
Oct. 23	Field of Mars. From Augustus to Hadrian. Victory temples, Mausoleum and Ara Pacis, Pantheon.		meet at the tower on Largo Argentina
Oct. 30 (at 8:30 am ?)	Ostia Antica. Harbor and trade. City planning.		meet at the pyramid of Cestius, Piazzale Ostiense
Nov. 6	City walls and aqueducts. Aqua Claudia, Porta Maggiore.	paper outline due	meet at the Metro stop Manzoni
Nov. 13	Baths of Caracalla and Mons Caelius. Baths and bathing. Emperor cult.		meet at Metro stop Circo Massimo
Nov. 20	Late Antiquity: Arch of Constantine. Basilica Nova, San Clemente.		meet at the Arch of Constantine
Nov. 27	no class
Dec. 4	Early Christians: Catacombs of St Agnes, Mausoleum of Constantina. review for final exam.	paper due	meet at the entrance to the Catacombe di Sant'Agnese, Via Nomentana
Dec. 8-15	FINAL EXAM Week	exam	room TBA
	this class schedule may be changed - students will be informed of any change. You can call the front office at 06-6819121
	PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FIELD TRIP TO POMPEII HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR Friday, Oct. 5th. WE WILL DEPART FROM PIAZZA TRILUSSA PROMPTLY AT 7:00 a.m. AND EXPECT TO RETURN TO ROME BY 7:00 p.m. WE WILL TRAVEL WITH THE OTHER SECTIONS OF AH190.