Undergraduate Modules

Early Rome and Italy             

MODULE CODE: 2/3CLA4020    

OPTION: AH

TAUGHT:  Michelmas term                                

MODULE AUTHOR:  Dr James Richardson

LEVEL:  5 & 6    

CREDITS: 20                                     

TEACHING METHODS:                     

Lectures:  20 hours (10%)

Seminars:  4 hours (2%)

Field visits:  n/a

Directed Learning: 50 hours(25%)

JACS CODE:     V110

AIM(S)

To enable students to:

study the literary and archaeological evidence for archaic Rome

become aware of the problems associated with this evidence

consider the various social changes associated with the formation of the Roman state, and to consider the development of the legal and constitutional ideology associated with the state and its formation

become aware of the uses to which the myths and legends of Rome’s early history could be put, and the value that these may have had in the ancient world

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this module all students should be able to: 

A. Subject specific skills and knowledge:

• demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the main evidence for archaic Rome
• demonstrate a knowledge of the main types of evidence for archaic Latium and Etruria, and to display an understanding of the difficulties associated with this evidence
• demonstrate a familiarity with the more important trends in modern scholarship on the history of archaic Rome

In addition level 5 students should be able to:

• identify and describe the key difficulties associated with the evidence for archaic Rome
• demonstrate an awareness of the various issues associated with the development of the Roman state
• demonstrate an awareness of the value which the literary tradition of Rome’s past may have had for subsequent generations

In addition level 6 students should be able to:

• analyse and assess the evidence for archaic Rome and the development of the Roman state, and to draw reasoned inferences from that evidence
• assess the relative value of the literary and archaeological evidence
• to engage critically with the arguments of modern scholars

B. Transferable skills and knowledge:

• demonstrate appropriate written skills
• present written work in a manner appropriate for a relevant/professional audience
• access and employ the relevant e-resources for the course
• demonstrate their critical, analytical and problem-solving skills
• demonstrate independent learning skills through the use of the library and electronic resources

CONTENT

It is too easy to think of Rome primarily as an imperial power, as the state which conquered the greater part of the known world, but that is to approach the subject with the advantage of hindsight.  Begin at the beginning (the first permanent settlement on the site of Rome dates to about 1,000 BC) and Rome appears in a very different light.  The site on which the city was built appears at first to have been home to several different communities, communities which subsequently came together, constructed an organised public space and set up an increasing array of public structures.  This module will look at the earliest history of Rome and her immediate environs (Etruria, Latium, as well as the regions inhabited by Oscan and Greek speaking peoples), from the period of the first settlement down to the alleged sack of the city by the Gauls in 390 (traditional date).  The module will look, in the first few lectures, at the archaeological evidence for the period, before going on to focus on what the Romans themselves had to say about the origins and early history of their city, about the rule of their kings and the subsequent establishment of the free Republic.

ASSESSMENT

Level 5:

Examination: one two-hour exam (50%)

Coursework: one 1,000 word exercise (20%)

                        one 2,000 word essay (30%)

Level 6:

Examination: one two-hour exam (50%)

Coursework: one 3,000 word essay (50%)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Essential

• Cornell, T. J. (1995), The Beginnings of Rome, London: Routledge

Recommended

• Forsythe, G. (2005), A Critical History of Early Rome, Berkeley: University of California Press
• Holloway, R. R. (1994), The Archaeology of Early Rome and Latium, London: Routledge
• Raaflaub, K. A. (2005), Social Struggles in Archaic Rome.  New Perspectives on the Conflict of the Orders, expanded and updated edition, Malden: Blackwell
• Smith, C. J. (1996), Early Rome and Latium: Economy and Society c.1000 to 500 BC, Oxford: Oxford University Press
• Wiseman, T. P. (2004), The Myths of Rome, Exeter: Exeter University Press

Updated: 09/09/2009

If there is something you think should be added to or changed in these pages, please contact Errietta Bissa.

Undergraduate Studies

Undergraduate Home

Prospective UGs Home

Current UGs Home