The course is an upper level survey of the city of ancient Rome, and of its major monuments and artworks – from its origins (8th cent. BC) to the reign of Constantine (4th cent. AD). Classes are taught entirely on site at archaeological sites and in museums in a first-hand encounter with the monuments, spaces and artworks of the city.

Proficiencies
Ability to analyze – and contextualize – characteristics of ancient cultures over time
•   Understanding of key aspects of Greco-Roman art – and ability to analyze motives in their creation and reception
•   Ability to identify trends and long-term developmental aspects, as well as to follow the complex reasoning inherent in their particular discourses
•   Awareness of cultural individuality and cross-cultural inspirations – within and between cultural and social groups
Ability to analyze art, architecture and material culture as primary sources
•   Awareness of the impact of form, style, medium and material, and ability to interpret diverse artistic media and their impact
•   Familiarity with relevant historical, art historical and architectural terminology and ability to deploy these with precision and to effect
•   Understanding of the socio-political context of public and private art and architecture – and the ability for comparative analyses of these as expressions of culture and acculturation
Ability to articulate interests and developments as affected by cultural factors
•   Awareness of avenues and motivations for socio-political participation by the elite, as well as appreciation of the relationship between ruler and community
•   Appreciation of directions of artistic inspiration – and of the expression of non-elite participation in a dominant culture (the world of Rome)
Ability to analyze the construction and articulation of cultural identities
•   Ability for analyzing material culture as dynamic interactions of inspiration, response and emulation – not simply imperialism or control
•   Awareness of how the image of the ‘other’ is shaped by a culture’s (Rome’s) perception of ‘self’ and sense of security within a wider world
•   Ability to see the selectivity in adoption of non-traditional forms, and a capacity for identifying a permanence of cultural outlook/identity within mutable artistic forms and foreign inspirations

Skills
Communicative skills – writing and oral competence
Term paper: Skills of organization of material, focus on topic, and nuance in discussion
Exams: Aptitudes for contextualization and nuanced discussion of works, as well as for focused presentation of data
Class presentations: Skills of public speaking (presentation of material, development of argument, illustration of evidence) and didactic methods (engaging audience through description, posing questions, responding to answers)
Participation: Skills of formulating reviews and analytical responses; participating in debates; posing questions

Cognitive skills – critical thinking and interpretation
Class presentation: Skills of evaluation and consideration of evidence; analysis of information gathered from observation; and skillful reflection on significance
Participation: Skills of reasoned consideration of evidence and methods; willingness to adapt/revise ways of thinking; and openness to alternative perspectives
Term paper and exams: Development of subtlety and engagement of mental approach to the topic at hand
Lectures and class presentations: Adeptness at visual analysis. That is, the formal analysis of an object, the contextualization of this in space and history, and the formulation of an interpretative thesis, as well as ability to draw out observations on the cultural outlook, norms and histories that inform the making of the object

Collaborative and shared inquiry skills
Lectures and participation: Development of investigative response-skills; collaborative contributions; and open debate – ability to test, explore and communicate complex ideas
Class presentations: Skills of thoughtful dialogue; sharing of observations; and active contribution to an academic milieu

Investigative skills and evaluation of data
Term paper and class presentations: Skills of using and evaluating secondary texts of diverse focus, specialism and target audience; as well as of interpreting both the inherent interests of these and the arguments presented
Lectures and participation: Skills of evaluation of context, impact and patronage of objects and spaces

Attendance requirements
• All scheduled classes are mandatory. Please refer to the university catalogue for the attendance and absence policy.
• All classes start promptly at 9.05 am. You must always be punctual; late arrival will be noted and may affect your final grade.
• You are responsible for identifying the location of, and route to, the meeting points of the classes. You should calculate around 40-50 minutes travel time to our meeting points. Note that most classes will end at on-site locations different from the meeting point. For bus/subway route planner see www.atac.it.
• Class will take place no matter the weather. Please dress accordingly and appropriately for visiting public sites and museums in the city. Please bring sunscreens and water as necessary.

Study guides – image archive
• Study guides to help you organise your notes and gain an overview of the material – and hence to assist you revise – will be posted in advance of each class on MyJCU.
• An image archive of material discussed in class will be created on ARTstor. These, together with the images in the course reader, will form the basis for examinations.
• Make-up work is not offered, except in exceptional circumstances and after consultation with the Dean of Academic Affairs.

Changes to / cancellation of class
• For specific inquiries or to set up an appointment please contact me via email on [email protected]
• Changes, additional course information, etc will be posted on MyJCU. Please check this regularly and, certainly, in advance of each class.
• In case of unavoidable cancellations of class, notification will be posted at the front desk at both Tiber and Guarini campuses. A suitable date and time for a make-up class will subsequently be established.