Download Roman Republic

Roman Republic — Graduate Syllabus
TTh 12:00–1:20
175 Lillis Hall
Instructor: Stephanie L. Budin ([email protected]) (Office: 309 McKenzie)
Required Texts:
The Romans: From Village to Empire, 2nd Edition. By M.T. Boatwright, D.J. Gargola, N. Lenski,
and R.J.A. Talbert. Oxford University Press. 2012.
Roman Civilization, Volume I: The Republic and the Augustan Age, Selected Readings, 3rd
edition. Edited by N. Lewis and M. Reinhold. Columbia University Press.
Livy. The History of Rome, Books 1–5. Translated by Valerie M. Warrior. Hackett Publishing
Inc.
Polybius. The Histories. A new translation by Robin Waterfield. OUP
Plutarch. Roman Lives. A New translation by Robin Waterfield. OUP (ISBN-13: 9780199537389, it goes from Cato the Elder to Marc Antony)
Extra Readings on Canvas (Please print out and bring to class with you)
Aims of the Class:
The ideal here is to learn about the rise of Rome from its semi-mythic origins as just
another city in central Italy to the center of an Empire stretching from Scotland in the West to
Iraq in the East. How did the Romans manage this? What did they do right, and what did they
do wrong? And furthermore, how do we know any of this? Along with our study of Roman
history we shall examine how we know anything about the ancient world, considering our
sources and how we wring information out of them.
Requirements and Grading:
For this class, attendance is mandatory. You have to be here and talk and listen just like
everyone else. There will be a mid-term, a research paper, and a final exam during finals week.
You will be graded 20% on Attendance and Participation, 20% on the Midterm, 30% on the
Research Paper, and 30% on the Final Exam. If you miss any of these (e.g. fail to turn in the
paper or take a test), you fail the class. The class, not the assignment.
You MUST schedule an appointment with me in the first three weeks of class to
determine your research topic. You are more than welcomed to come see me about the paper as
often as you need to, to go over ideas, get help with bibliography, work on writing, etc.
DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Plagiarism is using someone else’s ideas or writing and
presenting it as your own. For example, cutting and pasting text from the Internet, or copying
someone else’s text from a book, without proper citation, is plagiarism. If you plagiarize, you
fail the class. Period.
DO NOT BRING ELECTRONIC ANYTHING TO CLASS UNLESS IT IS WIRED
INTO YOUR ENDOCRINE SYSTEM OR THE POLICE STRAPPED IT TO YOUR ANKLE
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(you know who you are). No laptops, no cell ‘phones. Your teacher is 800 years old AND a
former World of Warcraft widow, and she hates these things.
Please note that the graduate students have additional reading and meeting times. Ideally,
I’d like to meet for one or two additional hours per week, preferably a bit after class. We’ll be
reading the primary sources listed above (Livy, etc.), and, if you want, we can also work on some
Greek. We’ll figure this out the first day of class. You also have a major research assignment
due the end of term, and will be presenting said research to the class. Enjoy!
Class Schedule:
(Assignments are due the day they are listed)
WEEK ONE
Tuesday, Sept. 29: Introduction to the class: texts, aims, expectations.
Thursday, Oct. 1: Getting at our sources
Roman Civilization: Introduction (pp. 1–49) (Don’t panic; you don’t have to memorize it)
WEEK TWO
Tuesday, Oct. 6: Rome and Her Kings
The Romans: Chapter 1
Roman Civilization: §§1–12
Thursday, Oct. 8: The Republic Begins
The Romans: Chapter 2, pp. 43–69 (up to “Rome and Central Italy”)
Roman Civilization: §§13–15, §§ 23–38, § 42
Canvas: “Patricians Versus Plebeians, 509–287” by P.A. Brunt
WEEK THREE
Tuesday, Oct. 13: The Republic Fights with its Neighbors (A Pyrrhic Victory at Best)
The Romans: Chapter 2, pp. 69–86
Roman Civilization: §§ 16–22.
Thursday, Oct. 15: Household and Religion
The Romans: Chapter 3, pp. 87–94
Canvas: “Under Roman Roofs: Family, House, and Household” by K.J. Hölkeskamp.
Canvas: “Rome” by Celia Schultz
Roman Civilization: §§ 46–56
Canvas: “The Sexual Status of the Vestal Virgins” by Mary Beard
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WEEK FOUR
Tuesday, Oct. 20: The Punic Wars and their Aftermath
The Romans: Chapter 3, pp. 94–124
Roman Civilization: §§ 57–63, § 80
Canvas: “The Roman Army and Navy” by David Potter
Thursday, Oct. 22: Consequences
The Romans: Chapter 4, pp. 125–141
Canvas: “Slavery in the Roman Republic” by Keith Bradley
WEEK FIVE
Tuesday, Oct. 27: MIDTERM
Panic! Panic!!!!!
Thursday, Oct. 29: Rome Had Women????? (Yes. Yes it did) (And education!!!)
Canvas: “Women in the Roman Republic” by Phyllis Culham
Canvas: Matrona Docta, Chapters 1 and 2, by Emily Hemelrijk.
WEEK SIX
Tuesday, Nov. 3: All Hades Starts to Break Loose
The Romans: Chapter 4, pp. 141–153; Chapter 5, pp. 154–163 (up to “Marius’ Career”)
Roman Civilization: §§ 97–98, §§ 101–102
Thursday, Nov. 5: Marius and the Social War
The Romans, Chapter 5, pp. 163–177
Roman Civilization: § 103
WEEK SEVEN
Tuesday, Nov. 10: The Rise of Sulla
The Romans: Chapter 5, pp 177–183; Chapter 6, pp. 185–199
Roman Civilization: § 104
Thursday, Nov. 12: “I’m Spartacus!”
The Romans: Chapter 6, pg. 199
Roman Civilization: §§ 94–95
Canvas: Selections from Spartacus and the Slave Revolt, by Brent Shaw
WEEK EIGHT
Tuesday, Nov. 17: Pompey, Crassus, and Cicero
The Romans: Chapter 6, pp. 200–215
Roman Civilization: §§ 107–109
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Thursday, Nov. 19: A Triumphant Triumvirate
The Romans, Chapter 7, pp. 217–243
WEEK NINE
Tuesday, Nov. 24: Julius Caesar (“kai su, teknon?”)
The Romans: Chapter 7, pp. 244–256
Roman Civilization: §§ 110–113
Thursday, Nov. 26: THANKSGIVING!!! (no class)
WEEK TEN
Tuesday, Dec. 1: Aftermath: The Rise of Augustus
The Romans: Chapter 8, pp. 257–281
Roman Civilization: §§ 114–115 and §§ 117–118
First set of Graduate Presentations
Thursday, Dec. 3: Finishing Up and Review
PAPERS DUE!!!!!
Second set of Graduate Presentations
WEEK ELEVEN: FINALS!
Panic! Panic!!!
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