Classics 24
Classics 54
Roman History and Civilization
Fall 1998
INSTRUCTOR: Robert W. Cape, Jr., Associate Professor of Classics
OFFICE: AD 310 PHONE: x2241 MAIL: 61653 EMAIL: rcape@austincollege.edu
OFFICE HOURS: 1:30-2:30 MWF, & by appointment or just dropping by.
REQUIRED TEXTS:
  • Scarre, Chris. Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Rome. London: Penguin, 1995.
  • Shelton, Jo-Ann. As the Romans Did: A Sourcebook in Roman Social History, 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.
  • Plautus. The Pot of Gold and Other Plays. Translated by E. F. Watling. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1965 [often reprinted].
  • Cicero. Selected Political Speeches. Translated by Michael Grant. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1969 [revised 1973, often reprinted].
  • Lucretius. On the Nature of the Universe. Translated by Ronald Latham. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1958 [rept.].
  • Catullus. The Poems of Catullus. Translated by Peter Whigham. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1966 [oft. rept.].
  • Caesar. The Gallic War. Translated by Carolyn Hammond. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996.
  • Livy. The Early History of Rome. Translated by Aubrey de Sélincourt. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1960 [often reprinted].
  • Vergil. The Aeneid of Virgil. A verse translation by Allen Mandelbaum. New York: Bantam Books, 1981 (1971).
  • Petronius. The Satyricon. Translated by William Arrowsmith. New York: New American Library, 1959.

    RECOMMENDED TEXT
  • Henry C. Boren. Roman Society. 2nd ed. Lexington, Mass.: D. C. Heath, 1992.

    TEXTS ON RESERVE IN ABELL LIBRARY:
  • Crawford, Michael. The Roman Republic. Hassocks: Harvester Press, 1978.
  • Finley, Moses. Aspects of Antiquity: Discoveries and Controversies. 2nd ed. Middlesex: Pelican Books, 1977.
  • COURSE SCOPE & GOALS:

    This course examines Roman civilization from its prehistoric beginnings to the first two centuries of its Empire. Our readings will come primarily from Roman poets, historians, biographers, and the everyday Roman craftsmen and artisans who left inscriptions and artwork that we can still view. We will supplement these texts with archaeological material and some modern scholarship. Our primary goal is to understand better the Romans as a foreign and historic people. A secondary goal is to trace the influence of Rome upon the literary, artistic, legal, religious, political, and social aspects of our culture.

    COURSE REQUIREMENTS & GRADING:

    The class will meet twice a week and the format will be a mixture of lecture and discussion. The reading assignments should be completed before the class in which they are to be discussed. Participation is an important part of the overall grade and is based on comments to and about the readings done prior to class. Both the readings and the lectures will be full of crucial names, dates, places and terms which you must remember. All such terms introduced in lecture will be written out for your convenience. Yet, despite the wealth of factual material, the focus of the course will be on making sense of this material through synthesis, analysis, and interpretation. Therefore, interpretative and communicative essays will form a major part of the grade in addition to more objective examinations.

    There will be two examinations: a midterm on Tuesday, October 13, and a final on Tuesday, December 8, from 12:00-2:00. Make-up examinations are not given except under the most extreme conditions, about which I must be notified in advance if possible. There are also two papers, the first due October 6, and the second due at the final exam. These papers, 4-5 pages in length, are designed to help develop skills in analyzing sources and communicating information to others. There will be one movie shown outside the regular class time (exact time and place to be announced; alternative times/places will be offered). In addition, due to my travel schedule this semester, I may have to reschedule a class or two for another time and day, but arrangements will be made in advance.

    Attendance at class meetings is mandatory. Each unexcused absence in excess of three (3) will lower your attendance/participation score by one-half letter grade (e.g. from A- to B on fourth absence, from B to C+ on the fifth). I shall drop the student from the class after the seventh unexcused absence. The College's Standards of Academic Integrity are assumed to apply to your work for this course.

    The grading structure is as follows:

    Class attendance, preparation, participation 20%
    Midterm 20%
    Papers (two papers @ 10% each; approx. 4-5 pp.) 20%
    Internet Projects (#1, 4, 5 @ 5% each) 15%
    Coin Project 5%
    Final examination 20%
    As you can see, participation is a significant percentage of your grade, more significant than you may have expected. One participates in several ways in such a course, and the participation indicated here is active participation, not merely attending class. This participation is a natural product of solid preparation, commitment to the class, and an eagerness to learn about the material. Participation is expressed by taking part in discussions, asking pertinent questions, being attentive in class, and showing initiative in following up discussion topics.

    For students who are taking this course as CLAS 54, you will be required to do a term paper and one group project. The topic of the term paper will be determined later in the semester, but it will address issues above and beyond those covered in class. It will also require further readings and a moderate knowledge of appropriate bibliographic resources, for which I shall provide assistance. The group project will take the form of a debate (topic and procedure to be discussed later) to be held and judged in class on December 3.

    Roman Civilization Main Page Schedule of Readings and Presentations Internet Projects


    [Bob Cape's Homepage] [Classics Program Homepage]

    Robert W. Cape, Jr., Associate Professor of Classics
    Classical & Modern Languages
    900 N. Grand Avenue, Suite 61653
    Sherman, TX 75090-4040
    phone: (903) 813-2241  fax: (903) 813-2011
    

    For more information about this course, contact Professor Cape at rcape@austincollege.edu