THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ROME
S Y L L A B U S ARC101 Roman Archaeology On-Site Term: Summer I 2011 (May 26 to June 23, 2011)
3 Credits / Pre-Requisites: none / Monday to Thursday: 8.50 am – 11.10am Time:17 sessions of 2h20m each / Classroom AUR B305 (May 26 and June 23) Office hours: 15m before class at meeting place or after class on site.
Instructor Dr. Alvaro Higueras
Mission Statement
“The program in Classical Studies is a vigorous and important component of the Department of Arts and Humanities that aspires to excellence. Combining both traditional and innovative courses the program in Classical Studies introduces students to a wide variety of aspects of the ancient worlds of the Mediterranean with a special emphasis on Roman civilization and culture and its survival down to the present. Taking advantage of AUR’s location in the heart of Rome, courses are offered on archaeology, art history, social and political history, literature and language, and philosophy. A great deal of the teaching is conducted on-site. The emphasis given by the program to the cultural interchange of the ancient world prepares students to recognize similar mechanisms in the modern world and the need for intercultural understanding and mutual respect.”
Course description
This is an introductory on-site course exploring the archeological sites and ancient monuments of Rome. The course will begin with the study of the evidence for the earliest settlement in Rome and continue through the development of the Republic, the empire and the transition to early Christian Rome. The course will focus on placing the archeological and architectural evidence in its topographical context. This course fulfills the requirements for Roma Caput Mundi and the oral presentation embedded skills of the general education program for AUR degree-seeking students.
Attendance
Attendance is essential in our walks through town. To be more precise, this is an extract from the Summer policy: “During Summer sessions where courses are taught more intensively over a shorter period, the following applies: Students will not be penalized for two absences from class”.
Textbook
F. Coarelli, 2008, Rome and Environs: An Archaeological Guide. University of California Press, Berkeley.
Entry Fees: Students will cover their own entrance fees. I anticipate the cost will be approximately €75. These prices in Rome can fluctuate without warning and AUR can accept no responsibility for this.
Adequate dress code: AUR strongly suggests wearing comfortable and good walking gear for the visit of archaeological sites. For instance, wearing a flip-flop type shoes are unsafe to walk on uneven and rocky ground.
Course Learning Objectives
1. Identify and describe the most important archeological monuments in Rome;
2. Relate the archeological evidence to the topography of ancient Rome;
3. Critically analyze the social, political and economic background that informs the archeological and architectural evidence for Rome from its earliest beginnings to the early Christian transition.
Course Learning Activities
· Class participation including the completion of in-class handouts (CLO 1,2,3)
· Oral presentation on specific monuments (CLO1,2,3)
· Written project (see below for details) (CLO 3)
Assessment
Oral Presentation / 20%Midterm Exam / 25%
Written project / 20%
Final Exam / 35%
Oral Presentation (CLO 1,2,3) 20%: Students will explain to the rest of the class the significance of an ancient monument, archeological site or aspect of Roman society. As the oral presentation will be done in the field, it is difficult to produce the appropriate visual aids. However, being at the site (with practical examples) will enable the class to understand better the monument or site. Visual examples should then refer to the surrounding features.
Midterm Exam (CLO 1,2,3) 25%: This will consist of two sections:
Section A (CLO1 & 2) will be 10 short answer questions concerning the archaeological methods and theories you have covered in class and on-site visits. It will include identifications that you have seen on-site.
Section B (CLO3) will be an essay question (one out of a choice of two). It will require you to critically analyze the use of archaeological evidence in making inferences about social and economic patterns and culture change in past societies.
Written Project 20% total (CLO 3):
Taking the topic studied for their oral presentation students will be expected to produce a written paper outlining how this monument has been discovered/preserved in the past, analyzing its condition today and how it is presented to the public. They will then go on to actively explore different ways its significance might be conveyed to the public. The paper will be completed in two phases:
Phase 1 will be an outline of the final paper complete with bibliography, to be handed in immediately after the midterm. The bibliography should comprise a minimum of 8 academic sources.
Phase 2 will be the completed paper with all appropriate visual aids. The paper should contain a minimum of 1500 words (excluding visual material).
Final Exam 35% (CLO 1,2,3): This will consist of three sections.
Section A (CLO1 & 2) will be 10 short answer questions concerning the archaeological methods and theories you have covered in class and on-site visits since the mid-term. It will include identifications that you have seen on-site.
Section B (CLO3) will be an essay question (one out of a choice of two) and will be cumulative.
Section C (CLO3) will be two essay questions (helped by graphics out of a choice of three) and will also be cumulative. The essay questions will require you to critically analyze the use of archaeological evidence in making inferences about social and economic patterns and culture change in past societies. It is your opportunity to draw together everything you have learnt in the course about how archaeologists recover archaeological data and interpret them.
PLEASE NOTE THAT A CLEAN DESK POLICY IS IN OPERATION DURING THE MIDTERM AND FINAL EXAMS. NOTHING SHOULD BE ON YOUR DESK EXCEPT THE PEN YOU ARE WRITING WITH. YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO LEAVE THE ROOM DURING THE MIDTERM AND FINAL EXAM, IF YOU DO SO YOUR PAPER WILL BE COLLECTED AND YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ADD ANYTHING TO IT.
AUR grading standards 94 – 100 points = A “Excellent”
90 – 93.99 pts = A-
87 – 89.99 = B+
83 – 86.99 = B “Good”
80 – 82.99 = B-
77 – 79.99 = C+
70 – 76.99 = C “Satisfactory”
60 – 69.99 = D “Poor”
59.99 – 0 = F “Failing”
Outline of sessionsWeek 1
Thursday 26 May Session 1 8.50-11.10
Friday 27 May Session 2 8.50-11.10
W2
Monday 30 May Session 3 8.50-11.10
Tuesday 31 May Session 4 8.50-11.10
Wednesday 1 June Session 5 8.50-11.10
Thursday 2 June HOLIDAY
W3
Monday 6 June Session 6 8.50-11.10
Tuesday 7 June Session 7 8.50-11.10
Wednesday 8 June Session 8 8.50-11.10
Thursday 9 June Session 9 8.50-11.10
W4
Monday 13 June Session 10 8.50-11.10
Tuesday 14 June Session 11 8.50-11.10
Wednesday 15 June Session 12 8.50-11.10
Thursday 16 June Session 13 8.50-11.10
W5
Monday 20 June Session 14 8.50-11.10
Tuesday 21 June Session 15 8.50-11.10
Wednesday 22 June Session 16 8.50-11.10
Thursday 23 June Final Exam 8.50-11.10
17 sessions – 36 hours
Detailed schedule
Date / Location / MeetingPlace / Costs / Topic / Reading
Week 1
S1
Thu
May 26
8.50-11.10am / Classroom
Topographic view from AUR’s terrace / AUR campus
B305
Collect
€ 7.50 for Palazzo Valentini / None / Studying Roman History: the lines of evidence. Early settlement of Rome and foundation. / Coarelli pp. 1-9.
Timeline.
Collect €7.50 each for visit on Thurs June 16 to Palazzo Valentini with reservation
S2
Fri
May 27
8.50-11.10am / Forum Boarium, Sant’Omobono, San Nicola in Carcere & Tiber Island. / At terminus of bus line 44. / €3 / Topography associated with foundation myths.
Evolution in urban landscape. / Coarelli pp. 306-321.
Handout 1
Week 2
S3
Mon
May 30
8.50-11.10am / Roman Forum.
The center of power.
The Basilica &
The Temple. Palatine hill,
Note: House of Augustus @ 11.am / Arch of Constantine, a few meters from the bus stop of 75 line on Via San Gregorio / €12 / Civic and religious center of Rome & Imperial Palaces / Coarelli pp. 42-101 &
130-158.
Handout 2
Students 1 & 2
S4
Tues
May 31
8.50-11.10am / Colosseum & Exhibit on Nero. View of Forum. / Arch of Constantine, a few meters from the bus stop of 75 line on Via San Gregorio / Same ticket as S3 / Flavian building program. / Coarelli pp. 158-176.
Handout 3
Students 3 & 4
S5
Wed
June 1
8.50-11.10am / Capitoline Museums. The hill and the foundation of the Kingdom. Etruscan roots. / At terminus of bus line 44. / €6.50
Free entrance to Centrale Montemartini / Topography associated with foundation myths. / Coarelli pp. 29-41.
Handout 4
Students 5 & 6
Week 3
S6
Mon
June 6
8.50-11.10am / Oppian and Celio Hills. The Villas. / Arch of Constantine, a few meters from the bus stop of 75 line on Via San Gregorio / €4 / Nero’s Golden House (Domus Aurea), Roman houses of the Celio. / Coarelli pp.176-190 &
212-228.
Handout 5
Students 7 & 8
Week 3…cont
S7
Tue
June 7
8.50-11.10am / Museo delle Terme di Diocleziano / Entrance Museo delle Terme di Diocleziano.
Take 75 line and stop in front of Termini train station. / €9 / Finds from Early Rome / Coarelli pp. 10-28; 248-254.
Handout 6
Students 9 & 10
S8
Wed
June 8
8.50-11.10am / Museo Nazionale di Palazzo Massimo / Entrance Museo Palazzo Massimo. / Same ticket as S7 / Interior decoration of Empire;
Imperial portraiture / On Roman sculpture
and mosaics
Handout 7
Students 11 & 12
S9
Thurs
June 9
8.50-11.10am / Crypta Balbi & Midterm
Visit Palazzo Altemps with the same ticket / At terminus of bus line 44. / Same ticket as S7 / Urban Archaeology and Medieval Rome
Handout 8
Week 4
S10
Mon
June 13
8.50-11.10am / Campus Martius I
Area Sacra Largo Argentina – Piazza Navona – Pantheon / Largo Argentina at the Medieval Tower of Papito.
Take 75 and change once down the hill to Tram 8. Reach the terminus. / € 2 / Developments of late Republic and early Empire. / Coarelli pp. 260-286.
Handout 9+10
Students 13 & 14
S11
Tues
June 14
8.50-11.10am / Campus Martius II
San Lorenzo in Lucina - Vicus Caprarius -
Ara Pacis / Idem as S11 / € 7,50 / The Golden Age of Rome: From Domitian to Marcus Aurelius / Coarelli pp. 286-304.
Students 15 & 16
S12
Weds
June 15
8.50-11.10am / Palazzo Valentini
Museum of the Mercati di Traiano / At terminus of bus line 44. / € 7,50 with reservation
€ 8,50 / Roman villas and urban life / Coarelli pp. 121-125.
Handout 11
Turn in outline of the final paper with basic bibliography/ references
Students 17 & 18
Week 4… cont
S13
Thurs
June 16
8.50-11.10am / Imperial Fora, Trajan Forum. / At terminus of bus line 44. / The history of the for a from Julius Caesar to Trajan / Coarelli pp. 102-128.
Handout 12
Students 19 & 20
Week 5
S14
Mon
June 20
Meet earlier?
8.50-11.10am / Baths of Caracalla -
Circus Maximus
A walk along the Via Appia? Capo di Bove- C. Metella
(bus 118) / Meet at Circus Maximus Metro station.
Take line 75 and stop outside FAO building. / €6 / Imperial thermae / Coarelli pp.321-331
365-400.
Handout 13
Students 21 & 22
S15
Tues
June 21
8.50-11.10am / Arch of Septimus Severus, Basilica Constantine, Arch of Titus, Arch of Constantine / At terminus of bus line 44. / None / Late antique art and architecture / Coarelli pp. 60-63; 95-98 & 160-164.
Handout 14
Students 23 & 24
S16
Wed
June 22 / Sta Maria Maggiore and San Clemente / Obelisk of Piazza dell’Esquilino south from the bus stop of 75 on Via Cavour (You will see the square and church before the stop). / €3.50 with student ID / Transition from a Pagan to Christian World
Early Christian basilica. / Coarelli pp. 172-175.
Handout 15
Students 25 & 26
Turn in paper!
Thurs
June 23 / FINAL EXAM
8.50-11.10am / AUR campus B305
PLEASE NOTE THE TIME AND DATE OF THE FINAL EXAM. THIS WILL NOT BE CHANGED TO ACCOMMODATE TRAVEL PLANS. IF YOU CANNOT BE IN ROME TO TAKE THE EXAM ON 23rd JUNE YOU ARE ADVISED TO DROP THIS COURSE.
TOPICS FOR PRESENTATION AND WRITTEN PROJECT
Forum
Student 1: Ritual Markers in the Forum and Palatine.
Student 2: The Roman Basilicas.
Colosseum
Student 3: The Roman Monarchy & Republic.
Student 4: Entertainment and Sports in Rome.
Capitoline Museums
Student 5: The evolution from Etruscan/Latin art to Greco-Roman art.
Student 6: Roman religion & the Capitoline Triad.
Celio
Student 7: The Imperial Palace: General features.
Student 8: Urban living in Rome: The Insula.
Terme di Diocleziano
Student 9: The Patricians, the plebs and their power.
Student 10: Roman religious rituals.
Palazzo Massimo
Student 11: Incidents in the Roman Republic towards the empire.
Student 12: Mural painting in Rome (includes Pompei).