Unit information: Responses to the Roman Empire in 2010/11

Unit name	Responses to the Roman Empire
Unit code	CLAS30005
Credit points	40
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Hales
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 Roman empire has long attracted attention and fascination for its size, longevity and apparent success. It is often seen as the ultimate example or point of comparison for those involved in imperialist enterprises or for those critiquing the imperial enterprises of others. This is particularly the case for those who were responsible for the British empire and for our current thinking about our own imperial past. Throughout this course, we shall explore a number of these modern responses to the Roman empire. Even in ancient times what it meant to rule an empire, the impact of empire on Rome and what it was to be a subject of the Roman empire were debated and contested. Did a 'Roman' living in Rome have anything in common with a Roman citizen in Britain, Asia Minor or North Africa? How did people in those provinces imagine Rome and vice versa? In addressing these issues, we will consider what it really means to say a person, territory or artefact is 'Roman' and will explore the relationship between power and culture in maintaining empire. Ancient and modern responses to the Roman empire cannot, however, be studied in isolation from one another. This course will thus also be concerned with how these ancient and modern perspectives interact with one another and together shape our view of the nature of Roman imperialism and of Roman imperial culture.

Aims:

To develop students knowledge of ancient Greek and Roman responses to the Roman empire, and to develop their skills in the interpretation of ancient and modern cultural and historical perspectives on the Roman empire.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the unit, students should:

• Have a good knowledge of ancient Greek and Roman responses to the Roman empire and of the nature of Greek and Roman culture under Roman rule.

• Have a good understanding of the different way that Roman imperialism has been characterized in modern times and the extent to which this is related to our own views about empire past and present.

• Be able to use the knowledge acquired in seminars and through their own researches to construct coherent, relevant and persuasive arguments on different aspects of the subject.

• Have had an opportunity to develop their skills in oral and written communication, in small groups and general discussion, and in an essay and a written exam.

Teaching Information

Seminars.

Assessment Information

• 1 essay of 3,000 words (25%);

• 1 seminar presentation of 20 minutes duration, followed by leading of seminar discussion for a further 30 minutes (25%);

• 1 3 hour examination passages of set text for comment, and essay questions. (50%).

Reading and References

• C. B. Champion, Roman Imperialism: Readings and Sources, Oxford. 2004.

• J. Elsner, Imperial Rome & Christian Triumph, Oxford. 1998

• R. Hingley, Roman Officers and English Gentlemen: The Imperial origins of Roman Archaeology, London. 2000.

• J. Huskinson ed. Experiencing Rome. Culture, Identity and Power in the Roman Empire, London. 2000

• C. Nicolet, Space, Geography and Politics in the Early Roman Empire, Michigan. 1991.

• J. Webster & N. Cooper, Roman Imperialism: Post Colonial Perspectives, Leicester. 1996.