Studying the Roman World
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| CLAR1011 | Classics and Archaeology | 1 | 10 | Spring UK |
- Code
- CLAR1011
- School
- Classics and Archaeology
- Level
- 1
- Credits
- 10
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
This module provides a wide-ranging interdisciplinary introduction to the history, literature and art of the Roman world from the beginnings of the city of Rome to the fall of the Roman Empire in the West. As well as examining all the major chapters of Rome's history such as the Roman Republic, the rise of the empire, the establishment of the Principate, and the fall of Rome, it also explores synchronous developments in Roman literary and artistic culture, and considers aspects of the reception of ancient Rome in modern western culture. This module will also examine the relationship of the Roman world to the Greek world, and will complement the Autumn semester module Studying the Greek World by continuing training in a number of basic study skills. No prior knowledge of the Roman world is assumed. The module will be assessed by an annotated bibliography exercise at the end of the semester.
Target Students
Available to all Undergraduate level 1 students in the Department of Classics and Archaeology, including Liberal Arts, exchange and subsidiary students.
Classes
- One 2-hour lecture each week for 10 weeks
Assessment
- 80% Coursework 1: Reverse gobbet exercise
- 20% Coursework 2: Online Quiz
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
1. To provide students with a thorough and wide-ranging foundation in Roman history, literature and art, in order to develop the necessary knowledge and understanding to undertake more focused modules in the 2nd and 3rd year, and to take an informed approach to their final-year dissertations.2. To introduce basic themes, arguments and debates about the Roman world by examining the synchronous development and relationship between Roman history, literature and art.3. To provide the background for the more detailed study of history, literature and art in other first-year modules offered by the Department of Classics.4. To continue the development of study skills commenced in the Autumn semester module CLAR1009Studying the Greek World.Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding;
have acquired an understanding of the ancient Roman world and their relationship to it; have a detailed knowledge of specific topics which make up the study of the ancient Roman world (e.g. art, politics, gender, slavery, religion);
be familiar with an appropriate and diverse range of evidence for classical antiquity (e.g. literary, art-historical, epigraphic);
command a range of techniques and methodologies, such as skills in reading (whether secondary or primary literature), and in textual and/or visual analysis.
Intellectual Skills:
to engage in detailed analysis of a wide range of ancient evidence;
to think independently while giving due weight to the arguments of others;
to understand complex ideas and relate them to specific problems or questions;
to acquire substantial quantities of information systematically and process it effectively;
to construct a coherent argument substantiated by relevant evidence and present it orally or on paper.
Professional Practical Skills;
to select, sift and synthesise information from a range of primary and secondary sources;
to identify and compare central arguments in relation to these materials;
to use library resources effectively.
Transferable (key) skills;
to work productively with others;
to communicate effectively in writing; to develop intellectual autonomy;
to organise and manage working time, including scheduling tasks and meeting deadlines;
to take responsibility for their own learning, reflect upon and assess their own progress, strengths and weaknesses.
Conveners
- Matt Myers