Ancient Rome: The Empire THE ROMAN EMPIRE AND THE PRINCIPATE (from the death of Caesar in 44 BC to the reign of Constantine AD 337) Spring Term, 2007

This course focuses on the transformation of the Mediterranean in the Ancient World.  In particular we will be looking at the structure of Roman government and law, the urbanization and Romanization of the western provinces, the development of a common culture, the spread of Christianity and eventually at the fall of Rome.

This course satisfies the Multi-Cultural requirement in Category B in that it focuses on problems of cultural conflict and integration, on identity and diversity in a multi-ethnic society.

Credits and Contact hours: we will meet for three hours per week; to satisfy university expectations about awarding four credits, students will have to complete four short papers and map exercises.

Technicalities:

• CLASS TIME and PLACE: Tu and Th, 12 to 14:00 in 41 Library
• OFFICE HOURS: Wednesdays, 12:00 to 14:30, also by appointment.
• OFFICE: 385 McKenzie Hall
• TEL: 541.346.4817
• E-MAIL: nic@uoregon.edu
• CRN for 414: 35453 / for 514: 35521
• Course Lecture Schedule
• FINAL EXAMINATION: Wednesday, 13 June at 08:00
• TEXTS:
  • TR = Mary T. BOATWRIGHT, Daniel J. GARGOLA, Richard J. A. Talbert: THE ROMANS, Oxford UP, 2004
  • RC = N. Lewis & M. Reinhold, ROMAN CIVILIZATION: (Columbia UP, 3rd edition, 1990), Volumes I and II.

Note the following:

• The reading assignments are by section or chapter unless otherwise specified.
• Because the same sources may be relevant to two different problems there is some duplication in the assignments in RC.
• Lectures will be posted on the internet at the address above one day before the lecture is delivered. Please check the 'page' regularly as I will also post a number of other items including the syllabus, maps, corrections and modifications of the lectures, etc.
• Additional work for graduate students:  Review two books selected in consultation with instructor.
• Examinations: there will be a midterm examination and a final. 
• Grading Policy: Your final grade is based on the best of two calculations.
  • I will construct a final grade based on all three essays (one midterm; two final essays) and IDs
  • I will construct a final grade based on the best two of three essays (n.b.: three essays are rquired).
  • Your final grade will be the highest one of these two options;

Tu 3. Apr.  Introduction; Roman Institutions / Imperial Affairs

• TR Chp 8, 251-265
• RC-I 96, 166(pp. 470-4), 162(pp. 445-53; 461-3), 168-9

Th 5. Apr. Roman Institutions (continuues)/ Caesar and Octavian. The plans of the former, the conspiracy and immediate aftermath. Rome and her Empire. How to explain the failure of the Republican constitution. Given the problems of the republican system of government, what held the Empire together during this crisis ?

• Review: TR 59-72 (institutions); 119-123 (empire); 136-153 (consequences of empire); 171 (army); 197 (citizens)
• RC-I 110-113, 147, 193

SECOND WEEK:  In this week the discussion centers on the construction of a new constitutional order called the Principate.

• TR Chp 9, 277-288
• RC-I 114-8, 183, 191-2

Th 12 Apr. The Settlement(s) of Augustus. The evolution of a disguised military monarchy. The National Program. Expectations about the reform of the constitution (more cynically this lecture takes us from oligopoly to monopoly).  Social change in the late Roman Republic. The Settlement(s) of Augustus.

• TR Chp 9, 288-301
• RC-I 96, 153, 170(pp. 489-91), 173, 175, 178, 194-6, 201, 204, 206 (pp. 610-7), 207 (pp. 623-5).

THIRD WEEK: In this week we will be examining the archaeological evidence (monuments, inscriptions, urban development) and then turning to the evolution of the Augustan system during the first century, AD.

Tu 17. Apr. The Augustan Reform in Art and the Monuments

• RC-I 195, 208; RC-II 37

Th 19. Apr. The Julio-Claudian Period; the Problem of Succession

• TR Chp 10, 317-337
• RC-I 210 (634-5; 636-8); RC-II 1-4

FOURTH WEEK: The reading assignments for this week are relatively light, giving you the opportunity to review and prepare for the midterm.

Tu 24. Apr. Opposition to the Principate: senatorial and intellectual; the role of the Army

• TR 337-347; 390-1
• RC-I 199-200; RC-II 2, 6, 7(pp. 24-6), 12, 136, 138

Th 26. Apr. MIDTERM EXAMINATION. Students will be given two or hree essays to prepare but only one whill be submitted for a grade. There will also be two IDs. Note that I will provide questions a week ahead of the exam. On the day of the exam, there will be a drawing to determine which essay is to be submitted. Students must submit their essays electronically, but they must be saved in the .rtf format.

FIFTH WEEK: The midterm and then we turn to Roman literary culture.

Tu 1. May. Cities, houses, monuments of the Principate. Public and private life during the Principate. Note this lecture will be illustrated and one or more items will constitute identifications for the midtermexamination.

• RC-II 39-40, 44

Th 3. May. Tacitus, Pliny and the Culture of the Roman Empire (Do not try to take notes on the readings in Tacitus and Pliny. Many of the passages also occur in RC II. Links to the readings are on the coursewebpage Tacitus, Ann I 1-30; XI, XII 1-9; 64-9, XV 38-74; Hist. I 1-70:Pliny, I 14, 19; II 13; III 14, 16, IV 1, 13, 19; VII 22 16; X ).

SIXTH WEEK The lectures this week center on the tradition that made Rome, her system and achievements, such a fundamental component of the European experience. Again, we will be defining the qualities of Roman culture, high and popular.

Tu 8. May.  Imperial Administration and the Romanization of the West

• RC-II 7 (pp. 19-26), 15-16, 22, 64-6, 72-3, 75, 90, 106
• TR Chp 11 353-364

Th 10. May.    Romanization (continues)

• TR Chp 10, 341-7; Chp 11, 379-390; Chp 12 421-5

SEVENTH WEEK This week we turn administrative aspects of the Roman experience to examine the social and economic structure.. Again, the pattern set will have a continuing and profound effect on subsequent European history.

Tu 15. May.   "...when mankind was happiest..."

• TR Chp 11, 364-379; Chp 12, 393-405

Th 17. May.  Economic and Social Structure of the Principate

• TR Chp 10, 337-8; 339-340;
• RC-II 23-25 (pp. 100-1), 26-7, 48, 54, 69-7, 74, 91, 94, 96-7, 100

EIGHTH WEEK The Beginning of the End

Tu 22. May. The Imperial Crisis in the 3rd Century; economic and social change

• TR Chp 12, 405-416; Chp 13, 431-438
• RC-II 77, 85-7, 104-5, 107, 110-2, 115, 145-6

Th 24. May.  The Reforms of Constantine and Diocletian: A Costly Renewal. 
The visual arts in Late Antiquity including early Christian art (some items will be identifications for the final).

• TR Chp 13, 438-57
• RC-II 119-23;125-32, 175; 178-9, 187, 189.

NINTH WEEK Intellectual changes--science and religion

Tu 29. May. Science and Religion in the Roman Empire

• TR Chp 10, 347-51; Chp 11, 391-2
• RC-I 179, 211; RC-II, 55, 57, 61, 161, 162(pp. 527-8), 163-5

Th 31. May.  Christianity

• TR Chp 12, 425-30
• RC-II 167-8, 172-4

TENTH WEEK Given the strengths and resources of the Empire in CE 175, how can one account for the 'fall'? Is the 'decline' the right word to describe the vitality of late antique life?

Tu 5. June.   Roman Law

• TR Chp 12 416-421
• RC-II 153-60

Th 7.June.  The 'Fall' and Legacy of the Rome and her Empire