History (HIST) 312
Ancient Rome (Revision 1)
Delivery Mode: Individualized study online with online components.
Credits: 3
Area of Study: Humanities
Prerequisite: None. Previous course in CLAS, HIST, or HUMN is recommended.
Precluded Courses: HIST 312 is a cross-listed course—a course listed under three different disciplines—with CLAS 312 and HUMN 312. (HIST 312 may not be taken for credit by students who have obtained credit for CLAS 312, HUMN 249, HUMN 312, HUMN 320, HUMN 321 or HUMN 350.)
Faculty: Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
HIST 312 has a Challenge for Credit option.
Overview
The influence of ancient Roman civilization is still strongly felt in Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia. The study of ancient history and culture is valued by students of history, politics, classics, philosophy and literature. Course Author, Ann Reynolds (M.A., Ancient History) has created a 12-unit survey of ancient Roman political history, society and culture. Through ancient readings and modern scholarly interpretations, students meet the ancient Romans: emperors, soldiers, commoners, builders, writers and philosophers. A research project lets students research a Roman topic in greater detail and develop their writing skills, with the help of online lessons and consultation with their personal tutor.
Outline
Unit 1: Introduction
- Section 1.1: Introduction to the Roman Empire
- Section 1.2: How You Will Study Ancient Rome
- Section 1.3: Assessment and Assistance
Skills Module 1: Library Research Skills (recommended after Unit 1)
Unit 2: Early Rome (c. 1000 - 509 BCE); Roman Religion
- Section 2.1: The Site of Rome
- Section 2.2: The Roman and Modern Views of the Foundation of Rome
- Section 2.3: The Regal Period (753 - 509 BCE)
- Section 2.4: Roman Religion
Unit 3: Roman Society and Its Organization
- Section 3.1: Roman Society
- Section 3.2: Roman Government
Skills Module 2: Reading a Scholarly Article (recommended after Unit 3)
Unit 4: The Republic (509 BCE - 31 BCE)
- Section 4.1: Conquest and Expansion
- Section 4.2: Roman Imperialism
- Section 4.3: Integration of Conquered and Allied Peoples
- Section 4.4: Civil Wars and the End of the Republic
Skills Module 3: Effective Essays (recommended after Unit 4)
Unit 5: Roman Architecture and Engineering
- Section 5.1: Infrastructure
- Section 5.2: Public Architecture
- Section 5.3: Domestic Architecture
Skills Module 4: Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism (recommended after Unit 5)
Unit 6: Latin Literature of the Republic; Roman Philosophy
- Section 6.1: Latin Literature of the Republic
- Section 6.2: Philosophy in Rome from the Republic to the Empire
Unit 7: Return to One-Man Rule: The Julio-Claudians (27 BCE - 68 CE)
- Section 7.1: The Aftermath of Caesar's Assassination (44 BCE)
- Section 7.2: Augustan Rule (31 BCE - 14 CE)
- Section 7.3: The Julio-Claudian Emperors
Unit 8: Golden and Silver Age Latin Literature
- Section 8.1: Poetic Forms
- Section 8.2: Golden Age Literature
- Section 8.3: Silver Age Literature
Unit 9: The Year of the Four Emperors, The Flavian Emperors, and the Roman Army
- Section 9.1: The Year of the Four Emperors (69 CE)
- Section 9.2: The Flavians (70 CE - 96 CE)
- Section 9.3: The Imperial Army
Unit 10: The Zenith of the Empire to the Severans (96 - 235 CE)
- Section 10.1: The Five Good Emperors
- Section 10.2: Commodus and The Severans
Unit 11: Empire in Crisis and Restored
- Section 11.1: The Barracks Emperors (235 - 285 CE)
- Section 11.2: Diocletian (285 - 305 CE)
- Section 11.3: Roman Life in the Third and Fourth Centuries CE
Unit 12: Constantine and the Late Empire
- Section 12.1: Constantine (312 - 337 CE) and His Heirs
- Section 12.2: Jovian (363 - 364 CE); The Valentinian Emperors (364 - 392 CE)
- Section 12.3: Rise of Warlords (Again)
- Section 12.4: Roman Influences on Modern Society
Learning Outcomes
- Summarize what is known about pre-Republican Rome.
- Describe the main features of Roman religion.
- Outline the main events and key figures of the Roman Republic.
- Identify the main architectural and engineering achievements of Rome.
- Summarize the major Roman writers and philosophers.
- Explain the political evolution of the Roman empire, from the Julio-Claudians to the fall of Romulus Augustulus.
- Identify and interpret excerpts from major primary sources assigned in the course.
- Follow scholarly arguments in academic writings.
- Research and write effective essays conforming to academic standards.
Evaluation
To receive credit for HIST 312, you must achieve a course composite grade of at least “D” (50 percent) and a grade of at least 50 percent or better on the final examination. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
| Online Multiple-Choice Quiz 1 | Online Multiple-Choice Quiz 2 | Online Multiple-Choice Quiz 3 | Essay (2000-2500 words) | Research essay (3000-4000 words) | Invigilated final exam (3 hours) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.25% | 2.5% | 1.25% | 25% | 35% | 35% | 100% |
The final examination for this course must be taken online with an AU-approved exam invigilator at an approved invigilation centre. It is your responsibility to ensure your chosen invigilation centre can accommodate online exams. For a list of invigilators who can accommodate online exams, visit the Exam Invigilation Network.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.
Course Materials
Textbooks
Atchity, Kenneth J., ed. The Classical Roman Reader: New Encounters with Ancient Rome. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997.
Kamm, Antony. The Romans: An Introduction. 2nd ed. New York: Routledge, 2008.
McGeough, Kevin M. The Romans: An Introduction. New York: Oxford, 2004.
Other Materials
Digital Reading Room: primary sources and scholarly readings online.
Study Guide: 12 units of commentary, learning activities and primary source excerpts.
Four Skills Modules: online lessons in research and writing
Challenge for Credit Course Overview
The Challenge for Credit process allows students to demonstrate that they have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university level course.
Full information for the Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
- Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Policy
- Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Procedures
Challenge Evaluation
To receive credit for the HIST 312 challenge registration, candidates must demonstrate to the Course Coordinator that they have previous knowledge about the ancient Romans comparable to the course and obtain permission to challenge the course. There are three parts to the challenge process:
1) Exam 1: 3 hour exam testing student's knowledge of course concepts, events, people and texts. This exam consists of briefly explaining 10 out of 15 major concepts from the first half of the course, and answering 2 out of 6 essay questions related to the first half of the course. 30% of challenge grade.
2) Exam 2: 3 hour exam testing student's knowledge of course concepts, events, people and texts. This exam consists of briefly explaining 10 out of 15 major concepts from the second half of the course, and answering 2 out of 6 essay questions related to the second half of the course. 30% of challenge grade.
3) Research Essay: In consultation with the Course Coordinator, the student will research and write a report on a primary source assigned in this course. The student may submit the essay before or after the exams, but before the course contract expires. 40% of challenge grade.
The student must obtain at least 50% on each challenge component and attain a composite grade of at least 50% to pass the challenge process.
Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.
Opened in Revision 1, February 21, 2013.