21H.132 | Spring 2017 | Undergraduate

The Ancient World: Rome

Readings

[B] = Boatwright, Mary, Daniel Gargola,‎ Noel Lenski, et al. The Romans, From Village to Empire: A History of Rome from Earliest Times to the End of the Western Empire. 2nd edition. Oxford University Press, 2011. ISBN: 9780199730575. 

[L] = Livy. The Rise of Rome: Books 1–5. Translated with an Introduction and Notes by T.J. Luce. Oxford University Press, 2009. ISBN: 9780199540044. 

[LE] = Lewis, Naphtali, and Meyer Reinhold, eds. Roman Civilization: Selected Readings, Vol. 1: The Republic and the Augustan Age. 3rd edition. Columbia University Press, 1990. ISBN: 9780231071314. [Preview with Google Books]

[LEW] = Lewis, Naphtali, and Meyer Reinhold, eds. Roman Civilization: Selected Readings, Vol. 2: The Empire. 3rd edition. Columbia University Press, 1990. ISBN: 9780231071338. [Preview with Google Books]

[P] = Plutarch. Roman Lives. Translated by Robin Waterfield, with Introductions and Notes by Philip A. Stadter. Oxford University Press, 2009. ISBN: 9780199537389. [Preview with Google Books]

[PO] = Polybius. The Rise of the Roman Empire. Translated by ‎Ian Scott-Kilvert. Penguin Classics, 1980. ISBN: 9780140443622.

[S] = Suetonius. Lives of the Caesars. Translated with an Introduction and Notes by Catharine Edwards. Oxford University Press, 2009. ISBN: 0199537569. [Preview with Google Books]

[T] = Tacitus. The Annals. Translated, with Introduction and Notes, by A.J. Woodman. Hackett Publishing Company, Inc., 2004. ISBN: 9780872205581. [Preview with Google Books]

Note: In the table below, S = Class Session; R = Recitation

S/R# TOPICS READINGS
S1 Introduction No readings assigned
R1 Myth, Legend, History

[B] Chapter 1: Archaic Italy and the Origins of Rome, pp. 1–27.

[L] “Preface.”

[L] 1.1–16, pp. 5–22.

PART I: Early Rome
S2 Foundation Myths

[B] Chapter 1: Archaic Italy and the Origins of Rome, pp. 27–42.

[L] 1.46–2.21, pp. 54–92.

S3 Monarchy to Republic [L] 5.1–28, pp. 282-314.
R2 Livy’s Early Rome

[L] 5.29–55, pp. 314–41.

Review

[L] 1.1–60, pp. 5–70.

S4 Social Conflict in the Early Republic [B] Chapter 2: Republican Rome and the Conquest of Italy, pp. 43–53.
PART II: The Growth of Rome
S5 The Conquest of Italy [B] Chapter 2: Republican Rome and the Conquest of Italy, pp. 69–86.
R3 Cause(s) of the Punic Wars

[PO] Book 1: Chapters 1–15, and 62–64. 

[PO] Book 3: Chapters 6–15, and 20–33. 

Recommended

[B] Chapter 3: The Beginnings of a Mediterranean Empire, pp. 87–109.

S6 The Second Punic War: Hannibal in Italy

Livy. Book 22 excerpts. In The War with Hannibal: The History of Rome from Its Foundation, Books XXI-XXX. Translated by Aubrey De Selincourt. Penguin Classics, 1965, pp. 122–29, 136–40, and 144–52. ISBN: 9780140441451.

Plutarch. “Life of Fabius Maximus [c. 275–203 BC].” In The Rise of Rome: Twelve Lives by Plutarch. Translated by Ian Scott-Kilvert, Jeffrey Tatum, and Christopher Pelling.‎ Penguin Classics, 2013. ISBN: 9780140449754.

S7 The Second Punic War: Scipio Africanus

Livy. “Book 28: 40–45.” In Hannibal’s War: Books Twenty-One to Thirty. Translated by J.C. Yardley. Oxford University Press, 2009. ISBN: 9780199555970.

[PO] Book 10: Chapters 2–3, 6–16, and 34–40.

[PO] Book 15: Chapters 1–19.

PART III: The Late Republic
R4 The Roman Constitution I

[B] Chapter 2: Republican Rome and the Conquest of Italy, pp. 53–69.

[PO] Book 6: Chapters 1–18, and 43–58. 

S8 Consequences of Empire I: The Élites

[B] Chapter 3: The Beginnings of a Mediterranean Empire, pp. 109–23.

[B] Chapter 4: Italy and Empire, pp. 125–41.

S9 Consequences of Empire II: Arming and Farming [B] Chapter 4: Italy and Empire, pp. 141–53.
R5 Plutarch on the Gracchi [P] “Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus.” [Preview with Google Books]
S10 Civil War: Marius and Sulla [B] Chapter 5: Italy Threatened, Enfranchised, Divided.
S11 Pompey and the Special Command [B] Chapter 6: The Domination of Sulla and Its Legacy.
R6 Plutarch’s Sulla [P] “Sulla.” [Preview with Google Books]
S12 From ‘Triumvirate’ to the Rubicon [B] Chapter 7: End of the Republic: Caesar’s Dictatorship, pp. 217–38.
S13 Caesar Dictator

[B] Chapter 7: End of the Republic: Caesar’s Dictatorship, pp. 241–56.

[P] “Julius Caesar,” Chapters 28–56, pp. 325–47.

R7 DEBATE: The Assassination of Caesar

[P] “Julius Caesar,” Chapters 57–69, pp. 347–59.

Plutarch. “Brutus,” Chapters 1–20. In Plutrach’s Lives. Translated by Bernadotte Perrin, 1918. Loeb Classical Library.

PART IV: The Augustan Principate
S14 The Roman Constitution II: Augustus and the Principate [B] Chapter 8: Augustus and the Transformation of the Roman World, pp. 257–81. 
S15 Soft Power: Hearts & Minds of Augustan Rome [B] Chapter 8: Augustus and the Transformation of the Roman World, pp. 281–308.
R8 Augustus

[T] 1.1–1.11, pp. 1–9. [Preview with Google Books]

Cooley, M.G.L., ed. “Res Gestae Divi Augusti (The Achievements of the Deified Augustus).” In The Age of Augustus. Translated by B.W.J.G. Wilson. London Association of Classical Teachers Occasional Research Series, 2003. ISBN: 9780903625302.

S16 The Emperor and the Élites

[B] Chapter 9: The Early Principate (AD 14–69): The Julio-Claudians, the Civil War of 68–69, and Life in the Early Empire, pp. 309–29. 

[T] 12.64–13.58, pp. 242–74. [Preview with Google Books]

S17 The Emperor and the Plebs

[B] Chapter 10: Institutionalization of the Principate: Military Expansion and Its Limits, the Empire and the Provinces (69–138), pp. 374–88.

[T] 14.1–14.65, pp. 275–306. [Preview with Google Books]

R9 Tacitus’ Rome

[T] 15.18–15.25, pp. 314–18. 

[T] 15.32–16.35, pp. 320–55. 

Review

[T] 1.1–1.11, pp. 1–9. [Preview with Google Books]

[T] 12.64–13.58, pp. 242–74. [Preview with Google Books]

[T] 14.1–14.65, pp. 275–306. [Preview with Google Books]

S18 High Politics: The Julio-Claudians to the Flavians [S] The Deified Augustus. [Preview with Google Books]
R10 Suetonius’ Imperial Portraits

[S] Nero 

Review

[S] The Deified Augustus. [Preview with Google Books]

S19 Flavian Rome

[S] The Deified Vespasian. [Preview with Google Books]

[S] The Deified Titus.  [Preview with Google Books]

[S] Domitian. 

S20 Restoring Historical Artifacts

Anderson, Sam. “David’s Ankles: How Imperfections Could Bring Down the World’s Most Perfect Statue,” New York Times Magazine, August 17, 2016.

Burnett, D. Graham. “Facing the Unknown.” Cabinet 40, Winter 2010–2011.

R11 Roman Religion & the Imperial Cult

[B] Chapter 9: The Early Principate (AD 14–69): The Julio-Claudians, the Civil War of 68–69, and Life in the Early Empire, pp. 339–45.

[B] Chapter 10: Institutionalization of the Principate: Military Expansion and Its Limits, the Empire and the Provinces (69–138), pp. 386–88.

Roman religion sources

Shelton, Jo-Ann, ed. “Religion and Philosophy.” Chapter 15 in As the Romans Did: A Sourcebook in Roman Social History. 2nd edition. Oxford University Press, 1998. ISBN: 9780195089745. 

S21 High Politics: From the Flavians to the Severans

[B] Chapter 10: Institutionalization of the Principate: Military Expansion and Its Limits, the Empire and the Provinces (69–138), pp. 347–74.

[B] Chapter 11: Italy and the Provinces: Civil and Military Affairs (138–235), pp. 389–411.

S22 The Roman Army

[B] Chapter 8: Augustus and the Transformation of the Roman World, pp. 291–94.

[B] Chapter 9: The Early Principate (AD 14–69): The Julio-Claudians, the Civil War of 68–69, and Life in the Early Empire, pp. 329–30.  

Pollard, Nigel. “The Roman Army.” Chapter 11 in A Companion to the Roman Empire. Edited by David S. Potter. Wiley-Blackwell, 2009. ISBN: 9781405199186. 

R12 Roman Slavery

Bradley, Keith. “The Slave Society of Rome.” Chapter 2 in Slavery and Society at Rome. Cambridge University Press, 1994. ISBN: 9780521378871. [Preview with Google Books]

Slavery sources

[LE] Chapter 94: The Changing Economy.  [Preview with Google Books]

[LE] Chapter 95: The Great Slave Uprisings. [Preview with Google Books]

[LE] Chapter 166: Management of a Landed Estate. [Preview with Google Books]

[LE] Chapter 205: Social Legislation: Restrictions on Manumission and Citizenship. 

[LEW] Chapter 24: Agriculture: The Large Estate; Rise of Tenancy. 

[LEW] Chapter 35: Slave Sales.

[LEW] Chapter 48: Freedmen. 

[LEW] Chapter 49: Manumission. 

[LEW] Chapter 50: The Condition of Slaves. 

S23 Domestic Life in Imperial Rome Storey, Glenn R. “Housing and Domestic Architecture.” Chapter 9 in The Cambridge Companion to Ancient Rome. Edited by Paul Erdkamp. Cambridge University Press, 2013. ISBN: 9780521720786. [Preview with Google Books]
PART V: The Late Empire
S24 Crisis and Recovery: Diocletian & the Tetrarchy [B] Chapter 12: The Third-Century Crisis and the Tetrarchic Restabilization.
R13 Christians and Christianity: From Nero to Diocletian

[T] 15.38–15.44, pp. 322–26.

Persecution sources

[LEW] Chapter 167: Imperial Policy Toward the Christians. 

[LEW] Chapter 168: Propaganda Against Chirstianity. 

[LEW] Chapter 169: Defense of the Christian Way of Life. 

[LEW] Chapter 170: Atrocities Against Christians. 

[LEW] Chapter 171: Interrogation of Christians.

[LEW] Chapter 172: Organized Persecution of Christianity. 

[LEW] Chapter 173: The End of the Persecutions. 

[LEW] Chapter 174: The Triumph of Christianity. 

[LEW] Chapter 175: The Council of Nicaea, A.D. 325. 

[LEW] Chapter 176: The Foundations of Constantinople. 

S25 Ending Roman History: From Constantine to Byzantium

[B] Chapter 13: The Rise of Christianity and the Growth of the Barbarian Threat (324–395).

[B] Chapter 14: The Final Years of the Western Empire and Rome’s Revival in the East.

The conversion of Constantine sources

The ‘official’ version:

Eusebius Pamphilus of Cesarea. Book 1, Chapters 27 and 28 in The Life of the Blessed Emperor Constantine. Translated by S. Bagster. Revised by Ernest Cushing Richardson. Fordham University.

The opposition version:

Zozimus. Book 2, Chapters 29 and Chapter 30, Sections 1 and 2, in New History. Livius.

S26 Conclusion: Exam Preparation No readings assigned

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