By exploring the social, political, economic, and military aspects of Roman civilization, this course seeks to explain:
1) how Rome rose from a small central-Italian city-state to the ruler of the Mediterranean world;
2) how it administered and ruled its diverse populations; and
3) the circumstances surrounding the end of the Roman Empire.
Goals, Topics, and Objectives
To provide students with an understanding of Roman civilization, its rise, maturity, and decline.
- The Founding of the City
- Early Rome and Early Roman Society
- Unification of Italy
- Conquest of the Mediterranean
- The Roman Revolution
- The Early Empire and Imperial Society
- The Later Empire
- The End of the Roman Empire
Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:
1. Outline time and chronology in Roman History.
2. Identify, summarize, and analyze major elements of Roman History.
3. Analyze cause and effect in Roman History.
4. Trace elements of change and continuity in Roman History.
5. Emphasize parallelism by describing the impact of major events, personalities, and places upon Roman History.
Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:
1. Discuss early Rome under the kings.
2. Discuss the Conflict of Orders.
3. Explain the Republican system of government.
4. Outline the major stages of Roman expansion in Italy.
5. Discuss the Punic Wars.
6. Outline the stages of the creation of the Roman Empire outside of Italy.
7. Explain the Roman Revolution.
8. Explain the Augustan Settlement.
9. Explain the basics of Roman society: patria potestas, slavery, patronage, women’s roles, etc.
10. Explain the relationship of early Christianity to other ancient religions.
11. Describe both the persecution of early Christians and the growth of Christianity in the Empire.
12. Analyze the most important modern theories concerning the end of the Roman Empire and examine whether these theories serve as adequate explanations of the Empire’s demise.
Assessment and Requirements
Assessment of academic achievement will be identified and implemented by the class instructor. Methods will include, but will not be limited to, individual projects, vocabulary, class participation (discussion and critiques), and tests.
These texts are suggested. Individual instructors may choose other texts:
- Nagle, D. Brendan.The Roman World: Sources and Interpretation. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Prentice Hall, 2005.
- One of the following:
- Potter, D.S. Ancient Rome: A New History. London; New York: Thames & Hudson.
- Ward, Allen M., Fritz M. Heichelheim, and Cedric Yeo. A History of the Roman People. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River N.J: Prentice Hall, 1999.
Outcomes
- Social Sciences
- Humanities and Fine Arts
- Civil Society and Culture - U.S. and Global
- Category 4: Social Sciences
- Category 5: Humanities and Fine Arts