This table provides information about both the lecture (L) and recitation (R) sessions.
| SES # | TOPICS | KEY DATES |
|---|---|---|
| L1 | Course Introduction | |
| R1 | Introduction | |
| PART I: The Roman Empire in the Age of Augustus | ||
| L2 | Hard Power—From Octavian to Augustus | |
| L3 | Soft Power—Persuasion and the Principate | |
| R2 | Reading the Res Gestae | |
| L4 | Running the Empire | |
| L5 | Empire and the Gods | |
| L6 | Virgil’s Imperial Epic | |
| L7 | Imperial Destiny: Aeneas and Dido | |
| R3 | Reading Virgil | |
| L8 | The City of Rome and the Forum of Augustus | Paper 1 due |
| L9 | Assessing Augustus: Suetonius and Tacitus | |
| R4 | Ruthless Tyrant or Benevolent Monarch? | |
| PART II: Emperors of Europe—Charlemagne and Louis the Pious | ||
| L10 | Overview: The Reigns of Charlemagne and Louis the Pious | |
| R4 | Revising Papers, Topics for Paper 2 | |
| L11 | Narrating Carolingian Triumphs: The Annales Regni Francorum | |
| L12 | Assessing Charlemagne: Einhard’s Life of Charlemagne | Revision due |
| R6 | Chronicle vs. Biography | |
| L13 | Assessing Louis the Pious, I: Thegan’s Deeds of Emperor Louis | |
| L14 | Assessing Louis the Pious, II: The Astronomer’s Life of Emperor Louis | |
| R7 | Can We Uncover the Real Louis the Pious? | |
| L15 | Imperial Epics: Karolus Magnus et Leo Papa and Ermold the Black | |
| L16 | Apocryphal Stories: Notker’s Deeds of Charlemagne | |
| R8 | Poetry and Anecdote as Historical Evidence | |
| L17 | Carolingian Images of Power | Paper 2 due |
| PART III: The English Empire in the Age of Edward III | ||
| L18 | Origins: Legendary Antecedents for English Empire | |
| R9 | “Early” vs. “High” Middle Ages; the Idea of Arthur | |
| L19 | Beginning the War: The Order of the Garter and the Battle of Crécy | |
| L20 | Continuing the War: English Success, French Resurgence | |
| R10 | Froissart, War, and Chivalry | |
| L21 | Manuscript Images: Close-Reading of the Page | |
| L22 | Ricardian Poetry, Edwardian Themes: Arthur’s Court Reappears | |
| L23 | Chivalry and Empire in a Post-Edwardian World | |
| R11 | Discussion of SGGK | |
| L24 | Combat, Tournament, and the End of a Reign | |
| L25 | The War Continues: Henry V, Agincourt, and Joan of Arc | |
| R12 | Work on SGGK Papers; Final Discussions | |
| L26 | Conclusion: Empire in the Ancient and Medieval World | Paper 3 due |
