DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
414/514: Ancient Rome, The Republic
John Nicols: Contact Information
Winter Term, 2009
Schedule of Lectures


Classroom Assistant: Andy Jenson
Office hours: Th 2 to 3:30pm in 340-V McKenzie Hall
Email: ajenson@uoregon.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION: 

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 literary and archaeological. 
Each class meeting will consist of about 50 minutes of lecture followed by an additional 30 to 40 minutes reserved for the discussion of the problems and 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 (30%); participation (20%) and final (50%).

Graduate students enrolled in HIST 514: We will meet every other week to discu

s 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 6 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

The Romans, 1
TH 8 Jan The leading ideas in the study of Roman history; geography of Italy; legends and myths of early Rome; Etruscans and Greeks

The Romans 2 ; RC pp. 1-49; §§ 1-7

Second Week

TU 13 Jan The Foundation of Rome, the Regal Period --society and institutions
   

The Romans 3; RC 8-12; 46-50; 54-6
TH 15 Jan The Social Organization of Rome; The Conflict of the Orders; Constitution and Law in Early Rome
   

RC 23-45

Third Week

TU 20 Jan The Unification of Italy

The Romans 4; RC 13-17; 19-22; 51
TH 22 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 27 Jan Early Latin Literature; The 1st Punic War and the Unsettled Peace

The Romans 5; RC 57-8
TH 29 Jan The 2nd Punic War and its Implications.

RC 59-67; 92

Fifth Week

TU 3 Feb Rome and the Conquest of the Mediterranean (264-146)
   

The Romans 6; RC 68-80; 91; 126-30; 168
    Imperialism and the Organization of the Provinces
TH 5 Feb

RC 88-90; 94-5; 119-129; 133-4; 136-47; 163-4; 169; 174; 184.

Sixth Week

TU 10 Feb Roman Politics in Theory and in Practice

The Romans 7; RC 148-9; 155-6; 173
TH 12 Feb Discusion and Review

Seventh Week

TU 17 Feb Midterm Examination
TH 19 Feb The Reforms of the Gracchi
   

RC 96-100; 102

Eighth Week

TU 24 Feb Political Concepts: the "optimates" and the "populares", the tributante and the army.

The Romans 8 to page 238; RC 81-83; 104; 106; 101; 154-59; 173
TH 26 Feb Muncipalities and Citizenship; the 1st triumvirate

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

Nineth Week

TU 3 Mar Latin Literature and Hellenistic Culture
   

RC 53; 185-7
TH 5 Mar New Formulae and New Imperialism
   

RC 109; 130; 136-47; 169;


Tenth Week

TU 10 Mar Caesar and the Civil War 50-42 B.C.

The Romans 8, 239 to end; RC 108; 110-15; 160-1
TH 12 Mar Society and Culture in the Late Republic; Review

RC 165-72; 175-83; 188-93

FINAL EXAMINATION: Wednesday, 18 March at 8:00 am