Module CLAS3381: FLAVIANS AND ANTONINES, AD 68-192

Department: CLASSICS AND ANCIENT HISTORY

CLAS3381: FLAVIANS AND ANTONINES, AD 68-192

Type	Open	Level	3	Credits	20	Availability	Available in 2006/07 and alternate years thereafter	Module Cap	None.	Location	Durham

Prerequisites

• CLAS2141 From Augustus to Nero: the Julio-Claudian dynasty.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To contribute to a core of Roman imperial history for the third year of the Ancient History programme, and provide a more specialised study appropriate to Level 3.

Content

• The history of the Roman empire from the end of the Julio-Claudian period to the death of Commodus.
• The module is built around the chronological succession of emperors, interspersed with treatment of broader themes,e.g. continued centralization of imperial autocracy and responses to (or against) it.
• the changing character of the empire's ruling elite.
• political, cultural and social advancement of the privinces.
• the increasing external threat to the borders of the empire.
• the historical validity of traditional views which see this period as representing the pinnacle of Roman 'civilization'.
• Students read selected extracts from a variety of source material: historical texts, imperial biography and inscriptions.

Learning Outcomes

• Principal historical developments in the Roman empire in the period in question.
• Significance of these developments in their contemporary setting and in relation to other periods.
• A range of contemporary and later evidence (chiefly literary, but including epigraphic and visual material) 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 literary, but including epigraphic and visual material).
• 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.
• Good use of written English.

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.
• classes on source material provide engagement with wide range of historical evidance.
• writing essays enables the independent assembling and evaluation of material and formulation of effective argument, as well as skills in written English.
• tutorials contribute to the critical handling of evidence and facility of discussion.
• final examination tests ability to focus relevantly on historical issues and organise knowledge and argument appropriate to questions raised.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total/Hours
Lectures	22	1 per week	1 hour	22
Tutorials	2	1 per term (Mich/Epiph)	1 hour	2
Other (texts classes)	6	1 per 3 weeks	1 hour	6
Preparation and Reading				170
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Written Examination 70% (one two-hour examination paper 100%), Essay 30% (one summative essay, 2000 words 100%).

Formative Assessment:

Two written assignments,max. 1500 words each. No collections.

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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