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Roman History in the Age of Augustus Brian Warren, Rhodes Tower 515A, X3763 History 205, From Republic to Empire: Roman History in the Age of Augustus Brian Warren, Rhodes Tower 515A, x3763 Course Description In an historical process scholars have called the “Roman Revolution,” the years between 133 and 31 BCE saw a series of violent military and political upheavals that transformed the Roman body politic from a republic into an autocracy. These civil wars provided the stage for the rise and fall of such figures as Pompey, Julius Caesar, Brutus, Cicero, and Marc Antony. The triumph of Octavian, later known as Augustus, brought an end to this period of civil wars and also brought Rome a new political order, the Principate. This course will examine this political transformation from republic to empire, including its republican background, its imperial political legacy, and its impact on Roman society and culture. Required Texts C. Scarre, The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Rome N. Lewis & M. Reinhold, eds. Roman Civilization: Selected Readings, Vol. 1, The Republic and the Augustan Age, Vol. 2, The Empire Grading 30% Attendance, Participation 20% Quizzes (Jan 30, Mar 6, Apr 17) 30% Midterm Exams (Feb 15, Mar 27) 20% Final Exam Syllabus Part I: Introduction, Overview, Sources. The section of the course examines reasons to study Roman history, discusses the parameters of the subject, and surveys the sources that ancient historians use. Jan 11: Introduction Jan16: Historical Overview of Roman History Reading: Scarre, “From City to Empire,” 12-19; selections from Virgil’s Aeneid. Jan 18: The Sources for Ancient History Reading: Lewis & Reinnhold, Introduction: The Sources, 1-50. Pare II: Augustan Memories. The section of the course examines early Roman history and the significance of its memories to later Romans: the legends of Romulus and Remus, the kings, the foundation of the Republic. 1 Jan 23: Foundation Legends Reading: Scarre, “The Origins of Rome,” 20-21; Livy, Book 1 selections. Jan 25: The End of the Monarchy Reading: Lewis & Reinhold, “From the Beginnings to 509 B.C.,” 51-74. Part III: The Republican Background. The section of the course outlines Republican Rome, its historical evolution, its domestic and foreign affairs, and its social life. It sets the scene for the Roman Revolution. Jan 30: Roman Expansion in Italy Reading: Scarre 22-27; Lewis & Reinhold, “The Conquest and Organization of Italy to 264 B.C,” 75-93. Feb 1: The Forms and Evolution of the Roman Republic Reading: Lewis & Reinhold, “Domestic Affairs to 264 B.C.,” 94-158. Feb 6: Social and Religious Life in the Roman Republic Reading: The Administration of the Imperial Republic: The Government at Rome,” 410- 471. Feb 8: Rome Overseas and the Showdown with Carthage Reading: Lewis & Reinhold, “Overseas Conquests, 264-27 B.C.” Feb 13: The Pressures of Empire Reading: Lewis & Reinhold, “The Administration of the Imperial Republic: Foreign Domination and the Provinces,” 330-409. Feb 15: MIDTERM EXAM I Part IV: The Roman Revolution. The section examines the way in which the Roman Republic gave way to monarchy, beginning with the outbreaks of violence connected with the Gracchi brothers, through the period of the civil wars involving Marius, Sulla, Pompey, Caesar, ending with Octavian’s defeat of Antony and the Augustan Settlement. Feb 20: Marius and Sulla Reading: Scarre 28-37; Lewis & Reinhold, “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Republic,” 237-329. Feb 22: Pompey and Caesar Reading: Lewis & Reinhold, “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Republic,” 237-329. Feb 27: Antony and Octavian Reading: Lewis & Reinhold, “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Republic,” 237-329. Mar 1: The Augustan Settlement I 2 Reading: Scarre, 38-49; Lewis & Reinhold, “The Augustan Age,” 555-640. Mar 6: The Augustan Settlement II Reading: Lewis & Reinhold, “The Augustan Age,” 555-640. Mar 20: Social and Cultural Developments I Reading: Lewis & Reinhold, “Society and Culture, 264-27 BC,” 472-554. Mar 22: Social and Cultural Developments II Reading: Lewis & Reinhold, “Society and Culture, 264-27 BC,” 472-554. Mar 27: MIDTERM EXAM II Part V: The Roman Empire. This part of the course surveys the fate of Augustus’ legacy to Roman history in both political and cultural terms. As succession problems plague the principate, the Julio-Claudian dynasty gives way to the Flavian and Severan dynasties. Problems in the third century lead to a transformation of the principate into the so-called dominate. The rise of Christianity brings further transformations before the empire divides and “falls,” although the nature and manner of its end is a matter of debate and interpretation. Mar 29: An Overview of the Principate Reading: Scarre, 50-86 Apr 3: The Pax Romana Reading: Lewis & Reinhold, “The Roman Peace (A.D. 14-192): Imperial Policy and Administration,” 1-75. Apr 5: Imperial Economies Reading: Lewis & Reinhold, “The Roman Peace (A.D. 14-192): Economic Life,” 76- 134. Apr 10: Imperial Society and Culture Reading: Lewis & Reinhold, “The Roman Peace (A.D. 14-192): Society and Culture,” 135-230, “Women in the Roman World,” 338-371. Apr 12: Center and Periphery Reading: Lewis & Reinhold, “The Roman Peace (A.D. 14-192): Life in the Municipalities and Provinces,” 231-338. Apr 17: Third Century Crisis: From Principate to Dominate Reading: Scarre, 88-113; Lewis & Reinhold, “The Crisis of the Third Century and the Emergence of the Byzantine State,” 193-337. 3 Apr 19: The Military and Legal Legacies of Rome Reading: Lewis & Reinhold, “The Roman Army,” 444-497, “Roman Law,” 498-513. Apr 24: Rome and Christianity Reading: Scarre 114-135; Lewis & Reinhold, “The Conflict of Religions and the Triumph of Christianity,” 514-582. Apr 26: The Fall of the Roman Empire according to Gibbon and others Reading: “The Last Stand of Paganism and the Consolidation of Christian Society,” 583- 630. FINAL EXAM, MAY 2, Wednesday, 1 pm This syllabus is subject to adjustment and change. 4.
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