History 5485, Ancient Rome

Fall 2005

 

 

 

Instructor: Dr. Justin Stephens

Lecture: M W F 10-10:50 Pafford 204

Office: TLC 3224

Office Hours: 9-10 and 11-12 M W F and 2-3 M W and by appointment

Email: jstephen@westga.edu

 

Course Description and Objectives:

 

  Historians divide the history of ancient Rome into two periods--Republic and Empire.  This course will cover both of these periods.  It will begin with an examination the first 700 years of Rome's history from the founding of Rome to the fall of the Republic in the 1st century BCE.  During this period, Rome grew from a small town in the middle of Italy into an empire that controlled the entire Mediterranean.

  There are two themes that will provide a framework for understanding the historical events of this period.  First, is the question of Rome's rise to power:  how and why was this small city-state able to control Italy and eventually the entire Mediterranean?  An answer to this question will require an understanding of the means by which Rome expanded as well as an understanding of the social and political makeup of the Roman Republic.  The second theme will be an examination of the effects which the empire had upon the Roman Republic and its eventual collapse.

  The Second half of the course will focus upon the Roman Empire--a period of Roman history defined by its form of imperial government.  The first point of examination will be a comparison of the republican and imperial forms of government.  The focus will then shift to the long transformation traditionally known as the "Decline and Fall" of Rome.  We will examine the role that Christianity played in transforming the Roman state and vice versa.  Ultimately, each of you will be required to reach your own conclusion regarding the "Fall of Rome."      

 

 

Learning Outcomes:

 

In addition to the learning outcomes for 4485, Graduate students who complete this course will:

            Demonstrate verbally and in writing knowledge of the major historiographical trends in   Roman history.

            Lead the discussion of primary sources in class.

            Research and write a 12-15 page paper incorporating primary and secondary sources.

            Deliver a lecture based upon research topics.

           

Course Requirements:

 

1.  In addition to attending lectures, it is critical that you carefully read all assigned readings.  There will be discussion of these readings throughout the semester during lecture. 

 

2.  There will be two papers, which are due at the start of lecture on the dates listed in the lecture schedule.   

 

3.  There will be a midterm and final exam.  Both exams will consist of short essays and at least one long essay.  For both the identifications and essays, you will need to demonstrate knowledge of material from lectures and primary source readings.

 

Grading:

Class Participation: 10%

First Paper: 10%

Second Paper: 25%

Midterm: 25%

Final: 30%

 

Miscellaneous:

There will be no make-up exams.

Late papers will not be accepted.

There will be no extra-credit.

Grade information will not be given out via email.

 

Cheating:

Cheating of any kind will result in an "F" for the course and further disciplinary action may be taken.

 

Readings:

Heichelheim, Yeo, Ward, A History of the Roman People, 4th ed.

Plutarch, Fall of the Roman Republic, Penguin Classics

Livy, History of Early Rome

Primary source selections on electronic reserve at the library

 

Textbook Assignments:

 

The text is intended to give you background for the lectures of the week.  You are advised to read it and to use it for clarification of material in lecture. 

 

Week 1:  Chapters 1-3

 

Week 2:  Chapter 4

 

Week 3:  Chapters 5-6

 

Week 4:  Chapters 7, 9

 

Week 5:  Chapters 10, 14

 

Week 6:  Chapters 15, 16

 

Week 7:  Chapters 19, 20

 

Week 8:  Chapter 22, 24

 

Week 9:  Chapters 29, 33

 

Week 10:  Chapters 34, 35

 

Week 11:  Chapter 36

 

Week 12:  Chapter 38

 

Week 13:  Chapter 39

 

Week 14:  Chapter 40

 

Week 15:  Chapters 41, 42

 

Week 16:  TBA

 

 

 

Lecture Schedule and Reading Assignments for Lecture:

 

The reader and additional books are sources from the period and selections from modern historians.  These readings are essential for both exams and papers.  Make sure that you have read the assigned reading prior to the lecture.

 

 

Week 1                        Lecture                                               Read for Class

Aug. 22 (M)                 Introduction                                          (e)=electronic reserve

Aug. 24 (W)                 Early Rome                                         

Aug. 26 (F)                  Roman values                                       Livy, pp. 29-90                                                                                                           

Week 2

Aug. 29 (M)                 Res Publica                                         Livy, pp. 90-104

Aug 31 (W)                  Polybius                                               (e) Polybius, The Roman Constitution

Sept. 2 (F)                   Early Roman Expansion

 

Week 3

Sept. 5 (M)                  No Class

Sept. 7 (W)                  Punic Wars

Sept. 9 (F)                   Conquest of the East

 

Week 4

Sept. 12 (M)                Cato the Elder (First Paper due)

Sept. 14 (W)                Scipio Aemilianus

Sept. 16 (F)                 The Gracchi

 

Week 5

Sept. 19 (M)                Marius and Sulla

Sept. 21 (W)                Pompey and Spartacus

Sept. 23 (F)                 The First Triumvirate

 

Week 6

Sept. 26 (M)                Civil War

Sept. 28 (W)                Caesar                                                 Plutarch, Life of Caesar

Sept 30 (F)                  Antony and Octavian

 

Week 7

Oct. 3 (M)                   Augustus                                              (e) Res Gestae

Oct. 5 (W)                   Nero and Friends

Oct. 7 (F)                     Five good emperors

 

Week 8

Oct. 10 (M)                 The Roman Army

Oct. 12 (W)                 TBA

Oct. 14 (F)                   First Exam

 

Week 9

Oct. 17            (M)                  The Problem of the fall

Oct. 19            (W)                 Early Christianity and Rome                  (e) Pliny; Celsus

Oct. 21 (F)                   Crises of the Third Century

 

Week 10

Oct. 24 (M)                 Diocletian and the Great Persecution

Oct. 26 (W)                 Christianity succeeds

Oct. 28 (F)                   Constantine

 

Week 11

Oct. 31 (M)                 Emperor and Church

Nov. 2 (W)                  Julian the Apostate                                (e) Basil, To Julian

Nov. 4 (F)                    Theodosius and Ambrose                     (e) Theodoret, Ambrose and Theodosius

 

Week 12

Nov. 7 (M)                  Chrysostom and Libanius

Nov. 9 (W)                  New Christian heroes                           (e) Life of Daniel the Stylite

Nov. 11 (F)                  Barbarians

 

Week 13

Nov. 14 (M)                The West in the Fifth Century

Nov. 16 (W)                Justinian and the revival of the empire

Nov.  18 (F)                 Justinian and the Church

 

Week 14

Nov. 21 (M)                Graduate student presentation (Second Paper due)

Nov. 23 (W)                No class

Nov. 25 (F)                  No class

 

Week 15

Nov. 28 (M)                Graduate student presentation

Nov. 30 (W)                Islam and Rome

Dec. 2 (F)                    Late Antiquity and the concept of the Fall

 

Week 16

Dec. 5 (M)                   To Fall or not to Fall?

Dec. 7 (W)                   TBA

Dec. 8 (TH)                 Review for exam