Module CLAS3051: ROMAN IMPERIAL HISTORY TOPIC

Department: CLASSICS AND ANCIENT HISTORY

CLAS3051: ROMAN IMPERIAL HISTORY TOPIC

Type	Open	Level	3	Credits	20	Availability	Available in 2005/06 and alternate years thereafter	Module Cap	None.	Location	Durham

Prerequisites

• Autocracy and Empire from Tiberius to Domitian (CLAS2161), OR From Augustus to Nero: the Julio-Claudian Dynasty (CLAS2141).

Corequisites

• For students in the Classics Department, please refer to the Regulations for your degree programme. For students from other Departments, there are no corequisites.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• This module, Ammianus Marcellinus and the Fourth Century AD, is for students who already have some knowledge of Roman imperial history, to provide a more specialist and concentrated study at a level appropriate to final year work, with special emphasis on handling a major literary source (currently the fourth century historian Ammianus Marcellinus).

Content

• The module studies the history of the fourth century AD through the eyes of its principal (and contemporary) historian, Ammianus Marcellinus.
• It is concerned not only with the historical 'content' of the later Roman empire - and the transformation of the Roman world in late antiquity - but also with the historical perspective of Ammianus' own writing.
• There is a broad chronological progression from the Diocletianic reconstruction of the Roman empire, through the Christian revolution (?) of Constantine and his successors, the political and religious reaction of the short-lived reign of Julian, to the Gothic crisis of the 370s and its 'solution' by Theodosius, alongside his final establishment of the Christian Roman empire.

Learning Outcomes

• The history of the Roman empire in the fourth century A.D. and its principal historian.
• Significance of these in their contemporary setting and in relation to other periods.
• A range of contemporary and later evidence (chiefly historiographical, but including other literary and visual material, both religious and secular) relevant to the period in question.
• Most important issues in modern scholarly debate on the period in question.

• Ability to handle appropriate methodologies necessary to understand diverse range of evidence for the ancient world (chiefly historiographical, but including other literary and visual material, both religious and secular).
• Ability to synthesise different forms of evidence in reconstructing a coherent and plausible picture of the history of a specific period of ancient history.
• Ability to evaluate principal modern scholarly discussions relating to a specific period of ancient history.

• Analysis, evaluation and synthesis of a wide range of evidence.
• Selection and application of appropriate methodologies for different kinds of evidence.
• Analysis and evaluation of modern scholarly literature.
• Clear, coherent and effective written argument.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Lectures are appropriate to the imparting of information and methods of interpretation, of both ancient evidence and modern scholarship.
• Seminars enable students to present and discuss their own work in an interactive environment, and receive feedback on their progress.
• Formative essays enable independent assembling and evaluation of material, and formulation of effective argument, as well as skills in written English.
• Final examination assesses familiarity with ancient evidence and modern scholarship, and ability to organise knowledge and argument appropriate to issues raised.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total/Hours
Lectures	30	2 Per Week for Michaelmas and Epiphany Term (first half)	1 Hour	30
Seminars	12	2 Per Week for Epiphany (second half) and Easter Terms	1 Hour	12
Preparation and Reading				158
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Examination 100% (three-hour written examination 100%).

Formative Assessment:

One essay (approx. 2000 words) to be submitted during Michaelmas term, and one seminar paper in the second part of the module.

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■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University