Learning objectives
PREMISE
The aim of the Roman History course is to provide students with the critical tools for a basic approach to the study of the history of Rome from its origins up to the "noiseless fall" of the pars Occidentis. The course or Roman History is divided into two modules (A and B) of 30 hours each (= 6 + 6 CFU). Module A is open to all students and is focused on the history of Rome in the archaic and republican times; Module B is reserved for students who have completed Module A and its focus is the history of Rome in the imperial and late antique times.
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING SKILLS
The Roman History course will provide students with general knowledge and understanding of the political, social and institutional history of the Roman world, from the foundation of the Urbs to the 'fall' of the pars Occidentis of the empire.
ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
The Roman History course 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 history of Rome, 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, 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 should provide students with the methodological tools and learning abilities required for the continuation of studies and / or for non-specialist professional activities.
Prerequisites
Module A: none. Module B is reserved for students who have completed Module A.
High school level knowledge of classic languages is a plus.
Course unit content
ROMAN HISTORY (MODULE A)
Module A (6 CFU = 30 hours of lectures and seminars) is aimed at students following the 6 CFU course and the 12 CFU course. 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.
ROMAN HISTORY (MODULE B)
Module B (30 hours = 6 CFU, including lectures, workshops and seminars), is only for students following the 12 CFU course. This monographic focus - mainly delivered through seminars and workshops - will be dedicated to a thorough reading and commentary of the Res Gestae Divi Augusti.
Full programme
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Bibliography
A) ROMAN HISTORY - MODULE A (6 CFU):
1. G. GERACI - A. MARCONE, Storia romana, con la collaborazione di A. Cristofori e C. Salvaterra, IV edizione, Milano, Le Monnier Università, 2016;
2. Further bibliography and anthology of ancient texts provided during classes (available also on the Elly platform).
→ ONLY students who cannot attend lessons will also add the following volume:
3. G. POMA, Le istituzioni politiche del mondo romano, seconda edizione, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2010.
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B) ROMAN HISTORY [COD. 01009] - PART B (6 CFU):
1. P. ARENA (a c. di), Augusto. Res gestae / I miei atti, Bari, Edipuglia, 2014;
2. P. ARENA - A. MARCONE, Augusto e la creazione del Principato. La questione dinastica, Milano, Le Monnier Università, 2018;
3. Further bibliography and anthology of ancient texts provided during classes (available also on the Elly platform).
→ ONLY students who cannot attend lessons will also add the following volume:
4. P. ZANKER, Augusto e il potere delle immagini, Torino, Einaudi, 1989 (or other edition)
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C) ROMAN HISTORY [COD. 01009] - PARTS A + B (12 CFU) [alternative bibliography for 12 CFU exam in a single sitting]:
1. G. GERACI - A. MARCONE, Storia romana, EDITIO MAJOR, con la collaborazione di A. Cristofori, Milano, Le Monnier Università, 2017;
2. P. ARENA - A. MARCONE, Augusto e la creazione del Principato. La questione dinastica, Milano, Le Monnier Università, 2018;
3. Further bibliography and anthology of ancient texts provided during classes (available also on the Elly platform).
→ Students who cannot attend lessons will also add the following two volumes:
4. G. POMA, Le istituzioni politiche del mondo romano, seconda edizione, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2010;
5. P. ZANKER, Augusto e il potere delle immagini, Torino, Einaudi, 1989 (or other edition).
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N.B. Highly recommended for ALL students is the use of a historical atlas of the ancient world, such as:
• M. BARATTA-P. FRACCARO et al., Atlante storico, Novara, Istituto geografico De Agostini, 1979;
• H. BENGTSON-V. MILOJCIC, Großer historischer Weltatlas, I. Teil (Vorgeschichte und Altertum), München, Bayerischer Schulbuch-Verlag, 1978;
• R. J. A. TALBERT, Atlas of Classical History, London, Routledge, 1985
STUDENTS WITH A LOW LEVEL OF ITALIAN ARE KINDLY REQUESTED TO DISCUSS A BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR THE EXAMINATION WITH THE PROFESSOR.
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Teaching methods
Classes, seminars, visit to libraries, papers and presentations.
Assessment methods and criteria
Assessment will take place during the final exam, 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.
Students attending lessons have the option of taking a written test based on the textbook (G. Geraci - A. Marcone, Storia romana, con la collaborazione di A. Cristofori e C. Salvaterra, IV edizione, Milano, Le Monnier Università, 2016) at the end of the first module of 30 hours of lessons. This 60 minute test will consist of 60 questions (20 True / False, 20 completion questions, 20 Multiple Choice Questions). Answers will be assessed as follows: a) correct answer = 0.5 points; b) wrong answer or null = 0 points. The pass mark is obtained by answering correctly 36 questions. At the discretion of the student, the test can count for 50% of overall assessment of the exam, to be completed at the oral. If the mark for the written test is unsatisfactory, the student can opt to be tested on this part of the course during the oral exam.
Other information
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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
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