Textbook
Our main textbook for the course will be the following, abbreviated to The Romans on the schedule of readings below:
Boatwright, M. T., et al. The Romans: from village to empire. New York and Oxford, NY: Oxford University Press, 2003. ISBN: 9780195118759.
Recommended Texts
The following translations of Greek and Latin masterpieces will be consulted frequently. If you choose not to purchase your own copy of each, please remember that you will be expected to have some version of the text with you when you come to lectures and recitations.
Apuleius. The Golden Ass. Translated with introduction and notes by P. G. Walsh. Oxford and New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1999. ISBN: 9780192838889.
Livy. The Rise of Rome: Books 1-5. Translated with introduction and notes by T. J. Luce. Oxford and New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1999. ISBN: 9780192822963.
Plutarch. Roman Lives. Translated by Robin Waterfield with introduction and notes by Philip A. Stadter. Oxford and New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1999. ISBN: 9780192825025.
Suetonius. Lives of the Caesars. Translated with introduction and notes by Catharine Edwards. Oxford and New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2001. ISBN: 9780192832719.
Tacitus. The Annals of Imperial Rome. Translated with introduction by Michael Grant. New York, NY: Penguin Books, 1956. ISBN: 9780140440607.
Additional Readings
Further reading material was made available to students in the class. Citations appear below.
Lewis, Naphtali, and Meyer Reinhold, eds. "The 12 Tables." In Roman Civilization. 3rd ed. Vol. 1. New York, NY: Columbia University Press, 1990. pp. 107-116. ISBN: 9780231071307.
Polybius. Histories, Book 6. Translated by W. R. Paton. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1922.
"Imperialism" source selections = Shelton, Jo-Ann, ed., As the Romans Did: A Sourcebook in Roman Social History. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1998. ASIN: B000X6HAN6.
Cicero. "Speech Against Verres (excerpts)." In As the Romans Did: A Sourcebook in Roman Social History. Edited by Jo-Ann Shelton. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1998, pp. 268-284. ASIN: B000X6HAN6.
Cicero. Letters (selections). Translated by Evelyn Shuckburgh. New York: P. F. Collier and Son, 1909.
"Augustus" source selections = Augustus. Res Gestae Divi Augusti: The Achievements of the Divine Augustus. With introduction and commentary by P. A. Brunt, and J. M. Moore. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1969. ISBN: 9780198317722. (Read a version of this text online.)
"Nero" source selections = Eden, P. T., ed.: Seneca. Apocolocyntosis. Cambridge and New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 1984. ISBN: 9780521246170.
"Army" source selections = Lewis, Naphtali, and Reinhold, Meyer, eds. In Roman Civilization. 3rd ed. Vol. II. New York, NY: Columbia University Press, 1990. ISBN: 9780231071321.
"Daily Life" source selections = Lewis, Naphtali, and Reinhold, Meyer, eds. In Roman Civilization. 3rd ed. Vol. II. New York, NY: Columbia University Press, 1990. ISBN: 9780231071321.
Hopkins, Keith. "Taxes and Trade in the Roman Empire (200 BC - AD 400)." Journal of Roman Studies 70 (1980): 101-125.
"Slavery." source selections = Lewis, Naphtali, and Reinhold, Meyer, eds. In Roman Civilization. 3rd ed. Vol. II. New York, NY: Columbia University Press, 1990. ISBN: 9780231071321.
"Crisis" source selections = Lewis, Naphtali, and Reinhold, Meyer, eds. In Roman Civilization. 3rd ed. Vol. II. New York, NY: Columbia University Press, 1990. ISBN: 9780231071321.
Pliny, the Younger. Letters of the Younger Pliny. Betty Radice (Translator). New York, NY: Penguin Classics; Reissue edition, 1963. ISBN: 9780140441277.
[Download Letters of the Younger Pliny by Pliny, the Younger, edited by Heinrich Keil, translated by John Benjamin Firth, a version of this text from Project Gutenberg.]
Readings by Class Session
lec # | TOPICS | readings |
---|---|---|
1 | Introduction | |
2 | Foundation Myths |
The Romans, pp. 1-31. Livy. Chapter 1.1-16. pp. 5-22. |
3 | Monarchy to Republic |
The Romans, pp. 32-48. Livy. Chapter 1.17-60. pp. 22-70. |
4 | Social Conflict in the Early Republic |
The Romans, pp. 48-57. Naphtali L. and Reinhold, M., "The 12 Tables." |
5 | Discussion 1: Livy's Early Rome |
Review Livy. Chapter 1.1-70. pp. 5-70. Livy. Chapters 2.1, 2.9-14, 2.23-40, 3.32-34, 5.32-55. pp. 71-72, 79-86, 93-113, 173-175, 316-341. Luce, T. J. "Introduction to Livy." The Rise of Rome. pp. ix-xxvii. |
6 | The Roman Constitution I |
The Romans, pp. 58-75. Polybius. Book 6. |
7 | Rome's Republican Empire (4th to 2nd c.) | The Romans, pp. 75-135. |
8 | Discussion 2: Roman Imperialism |
Plutarch. Cato. pp. 3-35. "Imperialism" source selections. |
9 | Consequences of Empire I: The Élites | The Romans, pp. 136-165. |
10 | Discussion 3: Administration and Exploitation of the Provinces | Cicero. Speech against Verres, excerpts. |
11 | Consequences of Empire II: Arming and Farming (Gracchi to Marius) | Plutarch. Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus. pp. 77-115. |
12 | The Constitution II: Popular Politics and Sulla's Response | The Romans, pp. 166-204. |
13 | Discussion 4: Sulla's Dictatorship | Plutarch. Sulla. pp. 169-215. |
14 | Pompey and the Special Command |
The Romans, pp. 204-224. Plutarch. Pompey. pp. 216-296. |
15 | Dictatorship: Julius Caesar |
The Romans, pp. 204-224. Plutarch. Juluis Caesar. pp. 297-359. |
16 | Discussion 5: The Emergence of Monarchy |
Review Plutarch. Pompey and Caesar. Cicero's Letters, selections. |
17 | The Constitution III: Augustus and the Principate | The Romans, pp. 267-293. |
18 | The Hearts and Minds of Augustan Rome | The Romans, pp. 293-316. |
19 | Discussion 6: Views of Augustus |
Suetonius. "Augustus." pp. 43-97. Tacitus. Annals. Chapter 1.1-10. pp. 31-39. "Augustus" source selections. |
20 | The Emperor and the Élites |
The Romans, pp. 317-337. Tacitus. Annals. Chapter 15.48-16.35. pp. 368-397. |
21 | The Emperor and the Plebs |
Suetonius. Nero. pp. 195-227. The Romans, pp. 379-392. |
22 | Discussion 7: Views of Nero |
Review Suetonius. Nero, and Tacitus. Annals. Chapter 15.48-16.35. Tacitus. Annals. Chapter 14.1-65. pp. 312-344. "Nero" source selections. |
23 | High Politics from the Julio-Claudians to the Flavians | The Romans, pp. 353-379; 393-404. |
24 | High Politics from Vespasian to Commodus | Apuleius. The Golden Ass. pp. 31-141. |
25 | Discussion 8: Apuleius | Apuleius. The Golden Ass. pp. 141-234. |
26 | The Roman Army |
The Romans, pp. 301-304; 338-339. "Army" source selections. |
27 | Daily Life in Imperial Rome | "Daily Life" source selections. |
28 | Discussion 9: Roman Religion and the Imperial Cult |
Apuleius. The Golden Ass. pp. 235-255. The Romans, pp. 71-75; 347-352; 391-392 |
29 | The Mediterranean Economy |
The Romans, pp. 337-340. Hopkins, K. "Taxes and Trade in the Roman Empire (200 BC - AD 400)." Journal of Roman Studies 70 (1980): 101-125. |
30 | Discussion 10: Roman Slavery | "Slavery" source selections. |
31 | Third Century Crisis |
The Romans, pp. 405-438. "Crisis" source selections. |
32 | Recovery: Diocletian and Constantine | The Romans, pp. 438-458. |
33 | Discussion 11: MFA Roman Gallery (Optional) | |
34 | Economic Distress and Recovery |
A. Cameron, The Later Roman Empire, pp. 113-132. |
35 | The Impact of Christianity |
The Romans, pp. 425-430. A. Cameron, The Later Roman Empire, pp. 66-84. |
36 | Discussion 12: Christian Persecution from Nero to Diocletian |
Tacitus. Annals. Chapter 15.32-47. pp. 360-367. Pliny, Letters 10.96-97. |
37 | Fall of Rome and Birth of Byzantium | A. Cameron, The Mediterranean World in Late Antiquity, pp. 12-32. |
38 | Ending Roman History |