Learning objectives
LEARNING OUTCOMES OF THE COURSE UNIT
PREMISE
The aim of the Roman History course (cod. 13095, 6 CFU) is to provide students with the critical tools for a basic approach to the study of the history of Rome, with a special focus on the Republican period.
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING SKILLS
The Roman History course (cod. 13095, 6 CFU) will provide students with general knowledge and understanding of the political, social and institutional history of the Roman world.
ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
The Roman History course (cod. 13095, 6 CFU) will provide students with the basic critical and methodological tools required to read and understand the different types of source for the study of the Roman history, and thus the ability to apply knowledge and understanding to issues in addition to those covered in the lessons.
INDEPENDENCE OF JUDGEMENT
Lessons focus on the different types of source for the study of the history of Rome and their interaction with different aspects of historical reality. Students thus develop, at a basic level, their autonomy of judgement in reading ancient texts and interpreting historical facts.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
At the end of the Roman History course (cod. 13095, 6 CFU), students will have acquired the ability to present non-specialist content related to the main events and issues in the field clearly, verbally and/or in writing.
LEARNING SKILLS
Theoretical and disciplinary content experience of the Roman History course (cod. 13095, 6 CFU) should provide students with the methodological tools and learning abilities required for the continuation of studies and/or for non-specialist professional activities.
Prerequisites
None. High school level knowledge of classic languages is a plus.
Course unit content
The Roman History course (cod. 13095, 6 CFU) consists of a total of 30 hours and deals with the history of Rome from its foundation to the ‘fall’ of the pars Occidentis, with a special focus on the Republican period. Lectures focusing on events in political and military history from the foundation of the Urbs to the ‘fall’ of the pars Occidentis (754/3 BC - 476 AD) will alternate with lectures focusing on themes such as historical geography, economics, religion, law, epigraphy and historiography. An anthology of literary and epigraphic texts and illustrations will be used to study: a) major political, social and economic issues of the Roman world; b) the sources, tools and methodologies used to construct the history of Republican and Imperial Rome, and to outline the development of Roman historiography.
The course will specifically focus on some fundamental political models in the history of Rome: democratia, res publica, libertas, res novae.The lessons will tackle the great political issues of the ancient world - with a particular focus on the history of Rome between the Republican period and the Augustan age - declined according to the essential notions that are still the center of the institutional and politic debate in Europe. The course will not only intend to introduce students to the study of Roman institutions, but also to
propose a reflection on the legitimation of political power, starting from those ancient models that are the basis of the political categories of the western world.
Full programme
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Bibliography
A) Students ATTENDING lessons:
1) G. GERACI - A. MARCONE, Storia romana, con la collaborazione di A. Cristofori e C. Salvaterra, IV edizione, Milano, Le Monnier Università - Mondadori Education, 2016, pp. 360;
2) Further readings and anthology of ancient texts provided during classes (available also on the Elly platform).
N.B. Highly recommended is the use of a historical atlas of the ancient world.
b) Students NOT ATTENDING lessons:
1) G. GERACI - A. MARCONE, Storia romana, con la collaborazione di A. Cristofori e C. Salvaterra, IV edizione, Milano, Le Monnier Università - Mondadori Education, 2016, pp. 360;
2) A. GIARDINA, L’uomo romano, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1989 (or any other edition), pp. 440.
N.B. Highly recommended is the use of a historical atlas of the ancient world.
Students with a low level of Italian and Erasmus students are kindly requested to discuss a bibliography for the examination with the Professor.
Teaching methods
Frontal lesson (also online on TEAMS)
Assessment methods and criteria
Assessment will take place during the final exam (also online on TEAMS), which will consist of an interview on the different parts of the program. The aims of the exam are: 1) to assess knowledge of the main developments in Roman history from the origins to Late Antiquity (on the basis of the textbook), as well as the themes studied monographically (for students attending lessons, the more detailed knowledge will be assessed on the basis of documents studied in class, and for non-attending students, on the basis of the supplementary bibliography); 2) to evaluate the clarity of exposition, the mastery of required language, and appropriacy of candidate answers.
A fail mark is awarded for lack of an understanding of the minimum content of the course, the inability to express oneself adequately, by a lack of autonomous preparation, the inability to solve problems related to information retrieval and the decoding of complex texts, and/or an inability to make independent judgments. A pass mark (18-23/30) is awarded to students demonstrating knowledge of the minimum, fundamental contents of the course, an adequate level of autonomous preparation and ability to solve problems related to information retrieval and the decoding of complex texts, as well as an acceptable level of ability in making independent judgments. Middle-range scores (24-27/30) are assigned to the student who produces evidence of a more than sufficient level (24-25/30) or good level (26-27/30) in the evaluation indicators listed above. Higher scores (from 28/30 to 30/30 cum laude) are awarded on the basis of the student’s demonstration of a very good or excellent level in the evaluation indicators listed above.
Other information
Classes are held in the second part of the first didactic period (autumn 2020).
