Historia
vero testis temporum, lux veritatis, vita memoriae, magistra
vitae, nuntia vetustatis
"For history is the witness
of the past, the light of truth, the survival of memory, the
teacher of life, the message of antiquity" (M. Tullius
Cicero, de oratore ("On Oratory") 2.36.
Students in this course will explore the social, political,
economic and artistic contributions of the Romans to western
civilization. Using literary, historical and archaeological
methodologies, students will examine the thousand years of Rome's
history - from its foundation by the mythical Romulus, to its
domination over the Mediterranean world and central Europe,
to its slow and gradual decline. Through readings, discussions,
essays and exams, students will demonstrate proficiency in the
details that comprise Roman history, and an understanding of
such broad topics as the elegance of Etruscan civilization,
Roman relations with foreign nations, social and political institutions,
imperialism, the golden age of Latin literature, and the spread
of Christianity. Special emphasis is given to daily life in
ancient Italy and the provinces.
Students in HI202 will demonstrate the ability to
- read
and analyze historical documents within their social contexts
and evaluate the role of the individual in ancient cultures;
- develop
multi- and cross-cultural perspectives and apply them to
gender, ethnic and social issues;
- read
critically and analyze closely literary texts and modern
scholarship;
- present
orally - in class discussions - and in written form - on
essays and exams - an argument supported by primary and
secondary sources;
- conduct
research by traditional and digital methods and produce
a 3000-word research paper at the end of the semester.
