DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY 414/514: ANC. ROME REPUBLIC
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON NICOLS

COURSE DESCRIPTION for students Bend: 

This course examines Roman history from the foundation of the city until the death of Julius Caesar in 44BC.  In particular, we will be looking at the development of Roman national myth, the ideals and reality of the much admired system of republican government, the art and archaeology of ancient Italy, Roman expansion first through Italy and then to include the whole Mediterranean world.  We will devote considerable attention to the various forms of evidence, not only to the literary, but also to material culture. 
Each meeting will consist of about 50 minutes of lecture followed by an additional 25 minutes reserved for the discussion of the sources.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION:

MULTI-CULTURAL REQUIREMENT: This course meets the Multi-Cultural requirement in the group "Identity-Pluralism-Tolerance". The underlying idea here is that Roman identity and Roman expansion were predicated on the readiness to absorb and to be influenced by a variety of different cultures.

TEXTS:

GRADING: Grading based on midterm (25%); participation (15%) and final (50%).

Graduate students enrolled in HIST 514: We will meet every other week to discuss additional reading in the sources. The reading list will be set at our first session.

LECTURES (at this link) AND ASSIGNMENTS:  (unless otherwise noted, the numbers refer to chapters or sections, not to pages)

First Week

TU 9 Jan Introduction to the course.  Course requirements including exams and books.  On the use of  source materials, the major themes of the course.  The geography of Italy and of the Mediterranean

HRP I
TH 11 Jan The leading ideas in the study of Roman history; geography of Italy; legends and myths of early Rome; Etruscans and Greeks

HRP II; RC pp. 1-49; §§ 1-7

Second Week

TU 16 Jan The Foundation of Rome, the "Regal Period" --society and institutions; Projects Discussed in class
   

HRP III; RC 8-12; 46-50; 54-6
TH 18 Jan The Social Organization of Rome; The Conflict of the Orders; Constitution and Law in Early Rome
   

HRP IV and V; RC 23-45

Third Week

TU 23 Jan The Unification of Italy

HRP VI, 3; RC 13-17; 19-22; 51
TH 25 Jan Culture in the Hellenistic World (323-200 B.C.); Carthage and Pyrrhus; Rome's Entry into Mediterranean Politics

RC 13; 18; 53

Fourth Week

TU 30 Jan Early Latin Literature; The 1st Punic War and the Unsettled Peace

HRP VII; RC 57-8
TH 1 Feb The 2nd Punic War and its Implications: Prospectus for Project due

HRP VIII and IX; RC 59-67; 92

Fifth Week

TU 6 Feb Rome and the Conquest of the Mediterranean (264-146)
   
HRP X; RC 68-80; 91; 126-30; 168
TH 8 Feb Imperialism and the Organization of the Provinces
   
HRP XI; RC 88-90; 94-5; 119-129; 133-4; 136-47; 163-4; 169; 174; 184.

Sixth Week

TU 13 Feb Roman Politics in Theory and in Practice

HRP XII and XIII; RC 148-9; 155-6; 173
TH 15 Feb Discusion and Review

 

Seventh Week

TU 20 Feb Midterm Examination
   

 
TH 22 Feb The Reforms of the Gracchi
   

HRP XIV; RC 96-100; 102

Eighth Week

TU 27 Feb Political Concepts: the "optimates" and the "populares", the tributante and the army.

HRP 15; RC 81-83; 104; 106; 101; 154-59; 173
TH 1 Mar Muncipalities and Citizenship; the 1st triumvirate

HRP 16; RC 84-7; 103; 105-107; 150-3; 162

Nineth Week

TU 6 Mar Latin Literature and Hellenistic Culture
   

RC 53; 185-7; Presentations of Projects

TH 8 Mar New Formulae and New Imperialism
   

HRP 17 and 18; RC 109; 130; 136-47; 169; Presentations

Tenth Week

TU 13 Mar Caesar and the Civil War 50-42 B.C.

HRP 19; RC 108; 110-15; 160-1; Presentations
TH 15 Mar Society and Culture in the Late Republic; Review

HRP 20; RC 165-72; 175-83; 188-93 Presentations

FINAL EXAMINATION: Monday, 19 March at 08:00