Rome: Culture and Empire (212-0-1)

Instructors

Taco Terpstra
Kresge 4353

Meeting Info

Kresge Centennial Hall 2-415: Tues, Thurs 11:00AM - 12:20PM

Overview of class

The course is a general history survey, starting with Rome's humble beginnings and ending with the collapse of the Roman Empire. It will trace the story of how Rome as a small city state in central Italy, on the periphery of the older civilizations of the Near East and Greece, established military and political control over Italy; how it built a Mediterranean empire and administered it for centuries; how a long period of decline led to to the partition of its empire into an eastern and western half; and finally how the western half collapsed. In addition to this chronological narrative, the course will treat several key themes and concepts in Roman culture. The Roman military will receive attention, as will gender relations and public spectacles. Roman religion and the role of slavery will also be discussed.

Class Materials (Required)

Potter, David. Ancient Rome: A New History (third edition). New York: Thames & Hudson. 2018. ISBN-13: 978-0-50029-412-3

Francese, Christopher, and R. Scott Smith. Ancient Rome: An Anthology of Sources. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing. 2014. ISBN-13: 978-1-62466-000-9 (pbk.)

Class Attributes

Historical Studies Foundational Discipline
Historical Studies Distro Area
Interdisciplinary Distro-rules apply
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area
Ethics & Values Distro Area

Associated Classes

DIS - University Library 3370: Fri 10:00AM - 10:50AM

DIS - University Library 3370: Fri 11:00AM - 11:50AM

DIS - Parkes Hall 213: Fri 12:00PM - 12:50PM

DIS - Parkes Hall 213: Fri 1:00PM - 1:50PM