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| Unit name |
Rome: Republic to Principate |
| Unit code |
CLAS12383 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
C/4
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
|
| Unit director |
Dr. Tom Geue |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None
|
| Co-requisites |
None
|
| School/department |
Department of Classics & Ancient History |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Arts |
Description including Unit Aims
The end of the Roman Republic and the establishment of autocracy under the emperors is a crucial test case for understanding how a political system can collapse; however, politics was not the only aspect of Roman society that changed in this period. Rome was no longer a small city-state but a global empire; the city of Rome had grown to an extraordinary size, while the rest of Italy was increasingly urbanised and integrated into the wider world; the countryside was transformed by the crisis of the traditional peasant class and the influx of slave labour, while trading activities became ever more extensive and important. The aim of this unit is to explore the causes and consequences of this transformation, looking not only at the political history of the period but also at longer-term changes in economy, society and religion.
This unit aims to present students:
- with a general knowledge of the history of Rome and its empire, and of the key events and changes of this period;
- with a detailed knowledge of one aspect within this period and the central themes arising from this aspect;
- with a developed knowledge of the sources for this period and the issues involved in interpreting these sources.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students should:
- Have a good knowledge of the varied sources available for studying the history of the Roman Empire, and have further developed their understanding of the best way to make use of these sources.
- Have developed a good knowledge of the political and social developments in the Roman empire, and an advanced understanding of how to analyse these.
- Be able to use the knowledge acquired in lectures and through their own researches to construct coherent, relevant and persuasive arguments on different aspects of the subject.
- Have had an opportunity to further develop their skills in oral and written communication, in small groups and general discussion, and in an essay and a written exam.
Teaching Information
Lectures and Seminars.
Assessment Information
- 1 essay of c. 2,000 words (50%)
- 1 90 minute exam consisting of 2 essays from a choice of 8 (50%).
Reading and References
- M. Beard & M. Crawford, Rome in the Late Republic 2nd edn, 1999
- M. Crawford, The Roman Republic 2nd edn, 1992
- H.I. Flower, ed.The Cambridge Companion to the Roman Republic 2004
- N. Morley,The Roman Empire: roots of imperialism 2010
- N. Rosenstein & R. Morstein-Marx, eds., A Companion to the Roman Republic 2006
- D. Shotter, The Fall of the Roman Republic 2nd edn, 2005
