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may be broken. Future versions of this course will not
necessarily follow the same syllabus.
Roman
Civilization
Spring 2007
Fresco of a woman with a writing tablet from Pompeii,
1st century CE
CLST 12S.2
MWF 1:30-2:20
Soc Sci 111
Office: 232 Allen Building
Office Hours: MW 12:00-1:15, F 12:-12:45 & by
appointment
Download a hard copy of the syllabus here.
This is a seminar on Roman Civilization based on the works
(in translation) and achievements of the Romans themselves.
The course will cover the period from the founding of Rome
(traditionally 753 BCE) through the high period of the
Roman Empire (180 BCE). Not open to students who have
taken, or are taking, CLST 54. Class will focus mainly on
the literature of the Romans, and what it has to teach us
about them and their history, but we will also touch on
many other diverse topics.
Books: There is a basic textbook,
abbreviated Boatwright in the syllabus. It will provide you
with the historical narrative and I expect you to be
familiar with it and the important people and events, even
though they will not always be covered in class. The other
three texts are translations of primary sources, and the
remaining texts will provided via the course website listed
above.
Papers: There will be two short papers,
the first 3-4 pages long and the second 5-7
pages long. Note that short does not mean unimportant,
rather you must work hard to be clear and stay focused
on the main points of your argument. Topics will be
announced later, but both will be based on the primary
texts. Use of secondary materials is not permitted.
Papers are due at the beginning of class on February 9
and April 20. For each day a paper is late one letter
grade will be deducted. For an overview of grading
policies for papers, see this page.
Quizzes and Exams: There will be three
short quizzes, two on geography and one on the chronology
of Roman Emperors. There will be an in-class midterm on
February 26, and a final exam from 7-10 pm on May 2. Both
will consist of identification, short answer, and essay
questions.
Discussion and Participation: Since this
is a seminar, much of the class will be devoted to
discussion of the literary texts we have been reading. I
will provide open-ended discussion questions, and students
will take turns giving short (5-10 minute) reports on them
and the issues raised. The entire class will then discuss
this, so it is important for everyone to put some thought
into the questions and consider the readings carefully. For
an overview of grading for discussion, see this page.
Oral Reports: Each student will give one
20 minute oral report on a topic not otherwise covered in
class. I will provide a list of topics and basic
bibliography, or you may choose your own as long as you
receive approval first. Wikipedia and other online sources
are not to be used unless I approve them first. Handouts
and slideshows are encouraged, but not essential.
Attendance: Since active class
participation is essential to this course, it is vital that
you attend every class and arrive on time. Please notify
the instructor if you have to miss a class and be sure to
go over a classmate’s notes to find out what was covered.
Frequent absence or tardiness will negatively impact your
participation grade.
The grade breakdown for the class will be as follows:
Quiz 1: 3%
Quiz 2: 3%
Quiz 3: 3%
Paper 1: 10%
Paper 2: 20%
Participation: 15%
Oral report: 15%
Midterm: 10%
Final: 21%
Required Texts (available at the textbook
store, but do not hesitate to order a copy from Amazon or
the used bookstore of your choice):
Boatwright, Mary T., Daniel J. Gargola, & Richard J. A.
Talbert. A Brief History of the Romans. Oxford,
2006. ISBN 0195187156
Grant, Michael. Cicero Selected Works. New York,
1971. ISBN 0140440992 (Abbreviated Cicero below)
Grant, Michael. Tacitus the Annals of Imperial
Rome. New York, 1996. ISBN 0140440607 (Abbreviated
Tacitus below)
Mandelbaum, Allen. The Aeneid of Virgil. New York,
1971. ISBN 0553210416 (Abbreviated Aeneid below)
Syllabus
Week 1 Beginnings of
Rome (Boatwright Chapter 1)
January 10 Introductions
January 12 Slideshow - The
Etruscans
Week 2 The Roman Republic I (Boatwright
Chapter 2)
January 17 Livy Book I
January 19 Polybius Book VI
Discussion Questions for Polybius VI
Week 3 The Roman Republic II (Boatwright
Chapter 3)
January 22 Lecture on Roman Theater
January 24 Plautus Menaechmi - Discussion Questions
January 26 Plautus Swaggering
Soldier Part 1 Part 2 - Discussion Questions
Week 4 Rome Expands! (Boatwright Chapter
4-5)
January 29 Polybius I Part 1 Part 2 - Discussion Questions
Quiz 1 Italian Geography,
January 29
List of Places for
quiz
Blank Map of Italy for Practice
January 31 Livy Book XXI.1-38 - Discussion Questions
February 2 Oral Presentations -
Chris (Temple of Jupiter OM), Matt (Gladiators)
Week 5 An Empire Without an Emperor
(Boatwright Chapter 6-7)
February 5 Cicero - Against Verres
I - Discussion Questions
February 7 Sallust - Catiline - Discussion Questions
February 9 Oral Presentations -
Cindy (Vestal Virgins), Timi (Medicine)
First Paper due, February 9
- Description of First Paper
Week 6 Crisis of the Roman Republic
(Boatwright Chapter 8)
February 12 Cicero - Letters -
Discussion Questions
February 14 Caesar - Civil War I - Discussion Questions
February 16 Oral Presentations -
Brittany (Theater of Pompey), Candice (Triumphs)
Week 7 The Roman Revolution (Boatwright
Chapter 9)
February 19 Cicero - Philippic II -
Discussion Questions
February 21 Cicero - On Duties III
- Discussion Questions
February 23 Slideshow - Octavian v.
Antony in art
Week 8 Age of Augustus I
February 26
Midterm
February 28 Aeneid I-III - Discussion Questions
March 2 Aeneid IV-VI - Discussion Questions
Week 9 Age of Augustus II
March 5 Aeneid VII-IX - Discussion Questions
March 7 Aeneid X-XII - Discussion Questions
March 9 Oral Presentations - Bonnie
(Aqueducts),
Week 10 Age of Augustus III
March 19 Ovid: Metamorphoses Books
VI & VII
March 21 Res Gestae
March 23 Slideshow - the Augustan
Building Program
Quiz 2 Mediterranean Geography
March 23
List of Places for quiz
Blank Map for Practice
Week 11 Julio-Claudians I (Boatwright
Chapter 10)
March 26 Tacitus Annals (pp. 30-89)
Discussion Questions
March 28 Tacitus Annals (pp.
104-128, 157-197) Discussion Questions
March 30 Tacitus Annals (pp.
198-227)
Week 12 Julio-Claudians II
April 2 Tacitus Annals (pp.
231-283) Lyon Speech Discussion Questions
Quiz 3 Roman Emperors April
2 List of Emperors
April 4 Tacitus Annals (pp.
284-344) Discussion Questions
April 6 Tacitus Annals (pp 360-397)
Discussion Questions
Week 13 Julio-Claudians III
April 9 Lucan - Civil War I Discussion Questions
April 11 Seneca - Thyestes
April 13 Oral Presentations - Lucia
(amphitheaters)
Week 14 Flavians and Antonines (Boatwright
Chapter 11)
April 16 Pliny Letters
I.1,6,9,10,12,13,15; II.1,6,11,20; III.2,5,14,16,19,21;
IV.13,19,30; V.8,9,19; VI.16,20
April 18 Pliny Letters
VII.9,17,18,24,27,33; VIII.8,16,21,24; IX.6,19,23,33,36;
X.31,32,33,34,81,82,96,97,110,111
Pliny Letters Texts: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
April 20 Oral Presentations - Joe,
John (The Legion)
Second Paper due, April 20
Description of Second Paper
Week 15 The Happiest Time on Earth?
(Boatwright Chapter 12)
April 23 Tacitus: Agricola Discussion Questions
April 25 Oral Presentations -
Kerry, Rachel