CLST 103: Introduction to Roman Civilization (Winter 2016)

Course Description:
This is a first-year survey course intended to introduce students to major themes in the development of
Roman civilization using the evidence of literature, history, and archaeology. Some attention will be given
to those aspects of ancient cultural and intellectual growth that are of significance in the western tradition.
Class Time: Tuesday 12:30-1:20; Thursday 11:30-12:20; Friday 1:30-2:20 Location: DUN AUD
Instructor: Dr. M. Barbara Reeves (reevesb@queensu.ca); Office: Watson Hall 512
TAs (Please address questions to the TA assigned to your surname)
Surnames beginning A-E: Brandon Francis (bmf2@queensu.ca)
Surnames beginning F-K: Alexandra Gerris (ajg4@queensu.ca)
Surnames beginning L-Q: Alexander Harmantas (ah187@queensu.ca)
Surnames beginning R-Z: Johnny Timoschuk (jat5@queensu.ca)
Evaluation
In Class Exam 1 (Tuesday, Feb. 2; format: multiple choice and fill in)
In Class Exam 2 (Tuesday, March 8; format: multiple choice and fill in)
Final Examination (in April exam period; format: multiple choice)

30%
30%
40%

Examination Policy:
Examinations should be taken at the scheduled time and date. In certain exceptional circumstances, the
instructor might grant the student the opportunity to write an exam outside of the regularly scheduled
time. All such arrangements must be agreed upon by the instructor before the time of the regularly
scheduled exam and will require the appropriate documentation. The format of any such special exams
will be determined by the instructor and may differ considerably from that of the exam written by the rest
of the class. (Note in particular that, in accordance with Academic Regulation 8.2, no deferrals will be
given to students who are out of town during the April exam, so do not book travel until you know your
exam times.)
Required Textbooks (available from the Queens Bookstore:
http://www.campusbookstore.com/Textbooks/Course/16127-CLST103-WINTER16
The World of Rome: An Introduction to Roman Culture. (Authors: Peter V. Jones and Keith C.
Sidwell.) Cambridge University Press.
Classics in Translation. Volume II: Latin Literature. University of Wisconsin Press.
N.B. Reading assignments refer to page numbers rather than passage numbers unless otherwise noted.
Week 1: Jan 4-8
1. Introduction to Roman Civilization & Course Objectives; Literary work synopses
2. The Origins of Rome: Gods and Kings (753-509 BC)
World of Rome 1-8
Classics in Translation 280-288 (Livy)
3. The Citizens Take Over: Republican Rome; Basics of Republican Government; Struggle of the Orders
World of Rome 8-13, 83-109, 112-121
Classics in Translation 289-295 (Livy)
Week 2: Jan 11-15
1. Roman Expansion in the Mediterranean: New Lands and New Ideas
World of Rome 13-25 (including #44)
2. Roman Family and Society
World of Rome 208-234

3. Roman Religion
World of Rome 144-145, 172-180, 235-237
Classics in Translation 277-279 (Ovid, Fasti)
Week 3: Jan 18-22
1. Introduction to Roman Literature
World of Rome 262-286
2. Roman Drama
Classics in Translation 295-296 (Livy, From Book VII)
Classics in Translation 13-37 (Plautus, The Haunted House)
3. Roman Philosophy
World of Rome 248-254
Classics in Translation 60-84 (Lucretius)
Classics in Translation 176-187 & 193-201 (Cicero)
Week 4: Jan 25-29
1. Roman Poetry
Classics in Translation 204-212 (Catullus)
Classics in Translation 264-272 (Horace)
2. Art and Architecture of Republican Rome I
World of Rome 287-300
3. Art and Architecture of Republican Rome II
Week 5: Feb 1-5
1. In Class 1 (Tuesday, Feb. 2)
2. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum I
3. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum II
Week 6: Feb 8-12
1. Rhetoric, Politics, and the Struggle for the Republic I: Gracchi, Marius
World of Rome 25-44
2. Rhetoric, Politics, and the Struggle for the Republic II: Social War, Sulla, First Triumvirate
3. Rhetoric, Politics, and the Struggle for the Republic III: Julius Caesar, Cicero, primary sources
Classics in Translation 85-99 (Sallust)
Classics in Translation 100-106; 120-126; 134-140; (Cicero)
Classics in Translation 426-436 (Suetonius, Divus Iulius)
Reading Week: Feb 15-19 (No classes)
Week 7: Feb 2226
1. Octavian to Augustus
World of Rome 45-47; 49-60, 109-111, 126-139, 301-305
Classics in Translation 302-308 (Augustus, Res Gestae)
2. Augustus, Augustan Rome, and the Reality of Empire

3. Introduction to the Golden Age of Literature; Vergils Aeneid I

Passages of Aeneid in Classics in Translation & on Moodle Handout (Books 1-4, 6-8, and 12).
Note citations are to book and line numbers in Aeneid. Read in this order:
-

Classics in Translation introduction;

Bk 1: Classics in Translation 1-1.222; Moodle Handout 1.223-300;
Bk 2: Classics in Translation book 2 summary; Moodle Handout 2.735-804;
Bk 3: Classics in Translation book 3 summary;
Bk 4: Classics in Translation book 4 all;
Bk 6: Classics in Translation 6.1 6.751; Moodle Handout 6.752-867; Classics in Translation
6.868-901;
Bk 12: Classics in Translation Book 12 intro 12.790; Moodle Handout 12.791-842, Classics
in Translation Book 12 end

Week 8: Feb 29 March 4

1. Vergils Aeneid II
2. Ovid I
Classics in Translation 273-277 (Ovid, Metamorphoses)
Ovid, Metamorphoses at
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/collection?collection=Perseus:collection:Greco-Roman
scroll down to P. Ovidius Naso, Metamorphoses, ed. Brookes More. (English)
read Book 1: lines 1-4 (The Invocation)
then use the right arrow to scroll through rest of book 1 in order to become familiar with
the layout of work, and the transitions between stories
lastly, read Book 15: lines 745 to the end (one screen)
Ovids Fasti: Moodle Handout
3. Ovid II
Week 9: March 7-11
1. In Class 2 (Tuesday, March 8)
2. Augustus Descendents: The Julio-Claudian Dynasty
World of Rome 60-71, 305-308
Classics in Translation 369-76; 378-80; 386-88; 390-92; 396-98; 401 (Tacitus, Annals)
3. Julio-Claudian Literature I
Classics in Translation 309-323 (Seneca, Medea)
Week 10: March 14-18
1. Julio-Claudian Literature II
Classics in Translation 324-334 (Petronius, Satyricon)
2. Roman Satire
Classics in Translation 415-425 (Juvenal 6)
3. Roman Baths
Week 11: March 21-25
1. Being Roman in Imperial Rome
World of Rome 140-172
2. Being Roman in the Roman Empire
World of Rome 241-248
Classics in Translation 366-367 (Pliny, Letters)

3. No Class (Good Friday)

Week 12: Mar. 28 - Apr. 1
1. Imperial Elite Education
World of Rome 238-240
Classics in Translation 335-348 (Quintilian)
2. Production and Consumption
World of Rome 181-207
3. The Legacy of Rome and Greco-Roman Civilization
World of Rome 317-327

Electronic Devices in the Classroom

The Department of Classics believes that maintaining an atmosphere of respect and consideration in the
classroom is an important part of the pursuit of free intellectual enquiry. The use of electronic devices in
the classroom can be disruptive to both the instructor and to other students, and thus we are introducing
guidelines on their use. These guidelines will follow the procedure explained in Section 14 of the Student
Code of Conduct and are in force starting January 2011:
Non-course related use of electronic devices (e.g. playing games, watching movies, social networking
and texting), including smartphones, tablets and laptops, is regarded by the Department of Classics as
disruptive pursuant to Section 14 of the Student Code of Conduct. The use of these devices may be
restricted at the discretion of the instructor;
In some courses in CLST, LATN or GREK laptops may not be permitted. You will be told in class by your
instructor if this is the case. If the use of laptops is permitted, please understand that their use is restricted
to note-taking;
The use of recording devices for lectures is not allowed unless you have requested and been given the
express permission of the instructor of the course.
Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity is constituted by the five core fundamental values of honesty, trust, fairness, respect
and responsibility (see www.academicintegrity.org). These values are central to the building, nurturing
and sustaining of an academic community in which all members of the community will thrive. Adherence
to the values expressed through academic integrity forms a foundation for the "freedom of inquiry and
exchange of ideas" essential to the intellectual life of the University (see the Senate Report on Principles
and Priorities http://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/policies/senate/report-principles-and-priorities).
Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the regulations concerning academic integrity
and for ensuring that their assignments conform to the principles of academic integrity. Information on
academic integrity is available in the Arts and Science Calendar (see Academic Regulation 1
http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/academic-calendars/regulations/academic-regulations/regulation-1), on the
Arts and Science website (see http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/academics/undergraduate/academicintegrity), and from the instructor of this course. Departures from academic integrity include plagiarism,
use of unauthorized materials, facilitation, forgery and falsification, and are antithetical to the development
of an academic community at Queen's. Given the seriousness of these matters, actions which contravene
the regulation on academic integrity carry sanctions that can range from a warning or the loss of grades
on an assignment to the failure of a course to a requirement to withdraw from the university.

Accommodations
Queen's University is committed to achieving full accessibility for persons with disabilities. Part of this
commitment includes arranging academic accommodations for students with disabilities to ensure they
have an equitable opportunity to participate in all of their academic activities. If you are a student with a
disability and think you may need accommodations, you are strongly encouraged to contact Student
Wellness Services (SWS) and register as early as possible. For more information, including important
deadlines, please visit the Student Wellness website at:
http://www.queensu.ca/studentwellness/accessibility-services/
Copyright
The material in this syllabus is copyrighted and is for the sole use of students registered in CLST 103.
The material may be downloaded for a registered students personal use, but shall not be distributed or
disseminated to anyone other than students registered in CLST 103. Failure to abide by these conditions
is a breach of copyright, and may also constitute a breach of academic integrity under the University
Senates Academic Integrity Policy Statement.
Grading Methodology
All components of this course will receive numerical percentage marks. The final grade you receive for
the course will be derived by converting your numerical course average to a letter grade according to
Queens Official Grade Conversion Scale:
Queens Official Grade Conversion Scale
Grade

Numerical Course
Average (Range)

A+

90-100

85-89

A-

80-84

B+

77-79

73-76

B-

70-72

C+

67-69

63-66

C-

60-62

D+

57-59

53-56

D-

50-52

49 and below