HIST3760: Roman Civilization Fall 2010
MWF 12:00-12:50, WH 322
Instructor: Prof. Christopher Fuhrmann ()
Office: 264 Wooten Hall Office hours: Wednesday 1-1:50; Friday 10:30-11:25, and by appointment
The best way to contact me is via email. If I do not reply to your email within 24 hours of your sending it, I did not receive it and you should re-send it to me or talk to me in class.
Teaching Assistant: Ms. Melissa Hendrick ( )
Office: 261 Wooten Hall Office hours: MT 1:00-2:00
Course description:
This class will introduce you to the civilization of ancient Rome, from the 6th century BC to the 6th century AD. It will especially focus on a narrative of political-military history from circa 133BC to 14AD, along with various social history and religion topics.
Course objectives: There are two course objectives: 1.) To learn an enormous amount of information about the Romans--to meditate upon these people’s stories as a way to appreciate their virtues and understand their vices and failures. 2.) To engage in experiential learning by re-creating one of the best aspects of the Roman world: the complete lack of cell phones. We hates them. If you can’t bear not fondling your toy for 50 whole minutes, drop; it’s very unlikely you would do well here anyway.
Note on learning styles. I teach different types of classes; most of them are centered around discussion of ancient literature and documents. We will be doing some of that here in HIST 3760, but overall, this is a lecture course. Close attention and rapid note-taking are essential skills in this kind of class. If that does not suit your individual learning style, you might consider taking another class.
Required textbooks (2):
1. Mary T. Boatwright, Daniel J. Gargola, and Richard J. A. Talbert, The Romans: From Village to Empire, Oxford U. Pr., 2004. ISBN 0-19-511876-6. This will be our main textbook, henceforth referred to as BGT. Note the timeline, glossary, and index at the end. The book’s carefully crafted maps are available at www.unc.edu/awmc .
2. Sallust, Catiline’s War; The Jugurthine War; Histories. Trans. AJ Woodman. Penguin Classics, 2007. ISBN 978-0-140-44948-8.
In addition, several primary sources and information packets will be distributed via our Blackboard Vista space at ecampus.unt.edu (log on using your EUID). I will use this tool extensively to post announcements and materials. Be sure to check it at least twice a week.
If you wish to read more in-depth on any particular topic, your instructor can recommend additional readings.
Course requirements:
QUIZZES: 20% of your final grade. Expect quizzes on all primary source readings (i.e. writings of ancient authors.) There will also be major review quizzes before each exam, which count for two quizzes. I will not give unannounced quizzes on BGT readings, but I may quiz on lectures. There will be no make-up quizzes under any circumstance, but I will drop your lowest grade.
EXAMS: 60%. There will be three essay exams (20% each), for which you will have two hours to write detailed, long responses to a selection of historical essay questions. You will have some choice in selecting which essays to answer (for instance, you might have to answer 4 out of 7). We will discuss sample essays, but there will not be a full study guide. I will also include excerpts from primary sources (including some quoted within BGT) for you to identify and comment on. Some essays on the final exam may recall pre-midterm themes, but on the whole, the final exam will NOT be cumulative. The final exam will have a multiple-choice section on it.
Two short PAPERS, 10% each, 20% total, of your final grade. Papers will be 1-2 pages typed, single-space on one sheet of paper (printed front and back if necessary), addressing assigned primary sources on five different days throughout the semester. Everyone must do one of the first two papers (or you will have an irreparable 9-point hole in your grade):
1. Livy’s history of early Rome (excerpt), Sept. 6
Next, you will do a minimum of two further short papers from among the following four possibilities:
2. Sallust’s Jugurthine War, Oct. 6
3. Sallust’s Conspiracy of Catiline (excerpts), Oct. 27
4. Achievements of Augustus (Nov. 19; all dates subject to change)
If you are unsatisfied with your grade on one of these papers, you may opt to do a total of 3 papers total from the above topics: I will count your top two grades, dropping the lowest one. Papers must be turned in at the beginning of class the day they are due; late papers will be penalized 5 points (out of ten) per day, starting at 12:01 PM the day they are due. Unless I explicitly instruct you otherwise, I CANNOT accept papers over email. They must be turned in to me hard-copy, in person, or in my mailbox in the History Department main office during business hours. If you do put it in my departmental mailbox, have the secretary/receptionist record the time, sign, and date your paper.
Participation = +/- 10%, that is, “plus or minus ten points.” “Participation” consists of attendance, making appropriate comments in class discussion, and maintaining proper classroom etiquette. Having more than three absences will lower your grade. In general, you should be engaged, occasionally ask or answer questions, and follow the golden rule: treat me and your classmates as you would want to be treated. Students who adhere to these basic guidelines (as most will) will receive full participation credit, and their final grade will not be affected. Students who do exceptionally well in participation (great attendance and attentiveness, active [but not domineering] in discussions of primary sources, etc.) can receive extra points on their final grade. Students who miss several classes, don’t pay attention, never actively contribute to classroom discussion, or engage in disruptive behavior may lose up to 10 points from their final grade. Attendance is most important; for example, I will use attendance and participation to decide borderline grades. In a class of this size, most peoples’ final grade will not be affected one way or another by participation.
* * * * * * * * * * *
How to get a good grade in this class: ATTEND CLASS AND TAKE DETAILED LECTURE NOTES.
Important points:
1. If you ever feel the need to appeal a grade you have received on a piece of work, please wait 24 hours, then state your case in writing, and resubmit the graded item with your statement. Keep permanent electronic copies of all papers and take-home essays; keep all graded quizzes, papers, and exams until your final grade is posted. Do the same with all email messages you send me or receive from me.
2. More on classroom etiquette: Turn your cell phones off and PUT THEM AWAY. I DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM. No text messaging in class. Don’t read the newspaper, do the crossword puzzle, play solitaire on your laptop, etc., in class. Do not start putting away your things during the last few minutes of class. Above all, do not talk in class. This sort of behavior could lead to a reduction of your final grade (see “Participation” above).
3. Lateness. I know the difficulties of college life; tardiness does not offend me, but unfortunately, it is distracting when people drift in late (which counts as a half absence). It will also cause you to miss a chance to hear important announcements, sign the class roll, and take quizzes. However, I would rather have you come in late than not at all.
4. Each day, an attendance roll will be passed around. Make sure you sign it. I drop and/or fail students for non-attendance.
5. If you cheat or commit any other act of academic dishonesty, you fail the course, or worse. This includes falsification of attendance records and looking off someone else’s quiz or exam. Papers, take-home quizzes and take-home essays must be individual endeavors (though I encourage you to use the Writing Center). I am particularly determined to prevent WEB PLAGIARISM. If you cut and paste from the web on one of your papers or take-home quizzes, I will do everything in my power to have you expelled from the university. The use of unauthorized web-pages (i.e., ones not pre-approved by me) is not permitted. For more information, see http://www.unt.edu/csrr/student_conduct/misconduct.html .
6. I fully intend to comply with the American Disabilities Act in making reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. However, students with special needs must do two things: first, they must successfully apply for services with UNT’s Office of Disability Accommodations (http://www.unt.edu/oda/ ); second, they must take initiative in communicating with me so that I can help provide the necessary accommodations.
7. The instructor reserves the right to alter this syllabus (and in all likelihood will).
8. Your grade is your own responsibility. That said, we will do what we reasonably can to help you learn and succeed. The most important things you can do to succeed are to attend regularly and take detailed, careful lecture notes. Also do your best to keep up with the primary sources. We are here to help you learn; let us know if you need help, or if you have any questions!
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
Week 1: Friday, Aug. 27th: Introductions, significance of Roman history, ancient Italy and its people.
Rome’s geographical setting and early history (mythical foundations and archaeology, kings, establishment of the Republic.) Skim BGT 1-6, 26-40, 48-53, 58f (i.e., pages 58 and 59).
Week 2: Aug 30--Sept. 3. Rome’s growth to circa 260BC. See BGT 77-94 (OK to skim).
Organization and nature of Rome’s public affairs. Assigned reading: BGT 40-51, 53-7, 59-71, 98-104, 136-140; Handouts: Magistrates.doc and VotingAssemblies. doc (WebCT--Blackboard Vista)
Week 3: Sept. 6. Labor day; no class.
Sept. 8. Paper #1: Livy discussion. Read Livy, Book 5 excerpts w/ memo (Blackboard). Expect a quiz. Be sure to read and print the Livy memo, which describes the short paper #1 assignment (if you don’t do this paper, you have to do the next one on Sallust’s Jugurthine War.
Sept. 10. The Roman Army to ca. 100BC. BGT 75-7, 94f, 100-2, 110f, 150, 171
Sept. 10 is the last day to drop without a W.
Week 4: Sept. 13-15. The Punic Wars, with ramifications in Spain. Read BGT 104-19, 123-27.
Sept. 17. Ramifications of the 2nd Punic War, cont.: Developments in Rome, Italy and beyond, ca. 200-134BC. BGT 127-34; Skim BGT 140-52, read 153-6, with handout, “Background to Tiberius Gracchus.”
Week 5: Sept. 20-22. The Gracchi. Read BGT 156-65; note handout on Gaius Gracchus.
Sept. 24. The character and purpose of Roman religion. BGT 71-5, 116, 191; re-skim, and bring, Livy.
Week 6: Sept 27: Equites. BGT 68, 70, 110, 122f, 163, 177f.; review for exam.
Big review quiz. Provincial government. BGT 120-3 (skim 124-34), 176-9, 248-51
Oct 1: Essay exam 1. I provide the bluebooks you must use.
Week 7: Oct 4: Introducing Marius, Sulla, and Sallust: From the death of G. Gracchus, to Marius’ first consulships. BGT 166-73.
Oct 6: Paper #2 (mandatory if you didn’t do Paper #1). Discussion of Sallust’s Jugurthine War; read and bring, along with Blackboard memo. Expect a quiz.
Oct 8: Marius’ sixth consulship and the second tribunate (and death) of Saturninus. BGT 173-75.
Week 8: Oct. 11-13. Tribunate of Livius Drusus (91BC), Social Wars, Sulpicius Rufus (Tribune in 88) and Sulla’s first march on Rome. BGT 175-86.
Oct. 15. Cinna, Marius’ final consulship (86); Sulla’s return, revenge, and dictatorship. BGT 187-204.
Week 9: Oct. 18-22: From Sulla’s dictatorship to the consulship of Crassus & Pompey; BGT 204-8.
Pompey’s career to the death of Mithridates: BGT 189f, 204-8, 211-9; Sallust, Histories (excerpts TBA).
Developments from 69-60BC (Catiline, Cicero consul, start of the First Triumvirate) BGT 212f, 218-34
Week 10: Oct. 25: Discussion of Sallust’s Catiline Conspiracy (Blackboard- read/print/heed memo “SallustGuidance”). Short paper #3 due. Expect a quiz.
Oct. 27-29: Events from 59 to 55BC (including Crassus and Pompey’s 2nd consulship) BGT 233-239
From 54 to 44BC, and the Civil War. BGT 239-248
Week 11: Nov 1. Caesar’s dictatorships, BGT 254-65
Nov 3. Catch-up, review for test, and big review quiz.
Nov 5. Exam 2. Do not bring bluebooks, which I will provide. (If we run ahead of schedule, test will cover the following lecture, too.)
*Over the weekend, watch video lecture on Blackboard: Antony, Octavian, the Second Triumvirate, and their civil war. = BGT 267-73, 276-88, w/ “44-30BC-Handout”. Expect a quiz on this material in our next class meeting.
Week 12: Nov. 8-10: Octavian Augustus as princeps; army reforms BGT 288-93, 301-4.
Nov 12: Roman women: BGT 74f, 209-11, 274f.; “CatullusANDLaudatioTuriae.doc” (Blackboard)
Week 13: Nov 15-17: Rome under Augustus; culture & society BGT 262-63, 293-95, 299-301, 309-16
Nov 19: Succession, and the Achievements (Res gestae) of Augustus = Short paper 4. BGT 295-98, 313-16; “AugustusResGestae.pdf”; other ResGestae or RGDA pdf files are optional, but the excellent introduction (by Brunt and Moore) are highly recommended, esp. if writing a short paper on this topic.
Week 14: Nov 22: Augustus, final assessment (readings TBA)
Nov 24: TBA
Nov 26: Thanksgiving break, NO CLASS
Week 15: Nov. 29-Dec 1: Pax Romana: The Roman Empire under Augustus’ successors; BGT 335-47, 354-7, 364-65, 379-81, skim 388-91, and read literature excerpts on Blackboard, “RomanEmpireReadings.doc”.
Dec 3: The later Roman Empire. BGT – skim Chapters 12 and 13.
Week 16: Dec 6: Slaves and freedmen in Roman society; BGT 149-51, 207, 342-4, 420f., and “RunawaySlaves” packet.
Dec. 8: Judaism and Christianity in the Roman Empire. BGT 347-351, 391-392, 425-430, 446, plus, most importantly, the Blackboard reading packet “RomeANDChristianity.doc”. Review for exam.
Dec 10: Optional review (?)
Final exam: Monday, Dec 15, 10:30-12:30, in our regular class room.