Courses

Ancient Roman History

Credit hours: 3--Contact hours: 45

Course #49-2303 SR

Dept: Liberal Education

The Roman Empire was one of the few great world states--one that unified a large area around the MediterraneanSea, from the borders of the Sahara desert in the south to Scotland in the north, from the Atlantic coast of Morocco in the west to Mesopotamia in the east.The Romans, triumphed in warfare, conquest, administration and law making. As a consequence, their greatest achievements were in the pragmatic spheres of ruling and controlling numerous disparate subject peoples and integrating them under a vast imperial state. After a brief survey of Rome's origins as a central Italian city state, students will trace the course of Roman conquests, from their inception in fourth-century BC Italy, to the formation of Rome's Mediterranean empire over the last three centuries BC.The social, economic and political consequences of this great achievement, especially the great political transition from the Republic (rule by the Senate) to the Principate (rule by emperors) will be studied. The period going back to the beginning of the fifth century AD, limitations to Roman power and various types of challenges (military, cultural, religious) to the hegemony of the Roman state will be examined as well as the development of a distinctive Roman culture, from the creation of new forms of literature (like satire) to the gladiatorial arena.