ROMAN HISTORY 37 A

Course syllabus - FALL Quarter 2017

Instructor: Dr. Andromache KARANIKA
University of California, Irvine- Department of Classics
Office: 400A Murray Krieger Hall, Irvine CA 92697-2000
E-mail: karanika@uci.edu
Days and Times: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 1:00 pm 1:50 pm
Office Hours: Wednesdays and Fridays 9:30-11:00am
Classroom Location: PCB 1100
PART I.
Course Description:

This course is a survey of some of the highlights of Roman civilization from its 8th century BCE
beginnings to the civil wars of the first century BCE. We will look not only at political history, but also at
social history, literature, art and architecture, and religion. The course will consider a number of
questions, including the various factors underwriting Rome's rise to global presence. We will also
consider how the Romans were able to develop stable principles of government, and how these principles
were eventually transformed by the actions of figures like the bloodthirsty dictator Sulla. Although Rome
was, like America, a relatively inclusive mix of different ethnic groups and peoples, it maintained a
fundamental cultural continuity throughout much of its history. The Roman achievement is undeniably
impressive, but it was not without a great cost in human suffering. We will examine the Roman system of
slavery (which was non-racial in character), will look into gender issues of Roman society, and the plight
of the poor and underprivileged. In brief, besides providing the students with a solid factual basis for
Roman history, the course will also identify some of the issues that have made Roman civilization an
abiding fascination, a source of both admiration and loathing for almost all subsequent ages, including our
own.
Classics 37A is the first part of the Roman Civilization series (37ABC), which satisfies the
Humanistic Inquiry Breadth requirement. Same as History 37A

REQUIRED TEXTS:

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1) The Romans From Village To Empire: A History of Rome from Earliest Times to the End of the Second
Empire by Mary T. Boatwright, Daniel J. Gargola, Noel Lenski and Richard J.A. Talbert, second edition.
(Oxford 2017), Oxford University Press. ISBN: 978-0-19-973057-5.

2) As the Romans Did: A Sourcebook in Roman Social History by Jo-Ann Shelton, Second edition,
(Oxford 1998), Oxford University Press. ISBN: 978-0-19-508974-5.

3) Livy: The Rise of Rome. Books 1-5. A new translation by T.J. Luce. Series: Oxford Worlds Classics.
Oxford University Press. First published 1998, reissued 2008. ISBN: 978-0-19-954004-4.

Faculty Shelf

http://www.facultybookshelf.org/books.php?isbn=0199730571R%7C019508974XR%7C0199540047R&
course=Classics%2FHistory+37A%3A+The+Formation+of+Ancient+Roman+Society%3A+Origins+to+
Roman+Republic&instructor=Dr.+Andromache+Karanika&univ=uci

READINGS: All the required readings are available at the University Bookstore. Please make sure you
use these particular editions below, to facilitate class discussion. Do the assigned reading before the
lecture. If anyone uses a different edition be aware that there might be differences in page numbers. It is
your responsibility entirely to make sure all readings are followed properly (that is to say, do not e-mail
the instructors for page numbers and other such questions).

Note on Readings: The first book (The Romans from Village to Empire) will be our main textbook, the
readings of which we will be following throughout the quarter. Please refer to schedule of readings. The
other two books (As the Roman did and Livy books 1-5) present some of the most important sources for
the study of our period. We will start with Livy as a comprehensive and representative example of
ancient historiography on the period we are examining and then add other ancient sources at the second
half of the quarter.

ATTENDANCE AND PATTERN OF THE COURSE

The class meets three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Dr. Karanika will
give the lectures. Visual materials will be used during lectures. All the power-point
presentations will be posted on the web at the class website. Visual materials will be tightly
coordinated with the assigned readings for a more comprehensive presentation of the issues
discussed at lectures.

Attendance (in both lectures and discussion sections) is optional but highly recommended.
Please read the assigned material before coming to class and be ready to participate in class, and
to ask questions at any time.

There will be review sessions with the teaching assistants (see schedule below). Discussion will
focus on review, your questions and on exam preparation. For exact location of the location of
the discussion sections please refer yourselves to the course website.

COMPUTER USE during LECTURE.

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Computers and use of electronics will only be allowed for taking notes at lecture. Prof. Karanika will
explain at lecture the reasons for this new policy. If a student uses electronic devices in a manner
incompatible with the learning goals (such as web browsing, twitting, facebook, e-mailing, games etc)
he/she will be asked to immediately leave the classroom.

Note: If any student displays disruptive behavior, such as chatting with others, using electronic devices
other than taking notes, he or she will be asked to leave the classroom immediately.

VIDEOTAPING and RECORDING of lectures.

No videotaping or recording of lectures and or discussion sections will be allowed without Prof.
Karanikas written approval.

EXAMS AND GRADING

Grading will depend on the courses three exams (see exact schedule below). Exam 1 will count towards
30% of the overall course grade, and exams 2 and 3 will each count towards 35% of the overall course
grade. Exams will not be cumulative, they will cover the material taught in the respective period
including the lecture/material immediately prior to the exam. There are no extra credit assignments or
make up exams. If you have to miss an exam this will be marked as zero and will cost you the
percentage noted above of your overall grade. There will be review discussion sections with the TAs, but
NO study guides. The material will not be reduced further than the notes on power-point presentations or
what your textbooks provide. This is a research university and exams can always be an opportunity for
further and deeper study. You can always ask me what MORE you can read, exploring books and articles
on the topic, and we hope that you will explore further bibliography (as noted in your textbooks).

No need to bring bluebooks etc. You will be provided the exam. During exam time, only bring a pen.

Please note again that there will NO exam during finals week. The third and last exam of the course will
take place during our last class (again see schedule below)

The grading scale that will be used is the following (no rounding up is done):

A A- B+ B B-

93.00 -100 90.00-92.99 87.00-89.99 83.00-86.99 80.00-82.99

C+ C C- D+ D F

77.00-79.99 73.00-76.99 70.00-72.99 65.00-69.99 60.00-64.99 59.99 -0

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There will be NO make-ups for missed exams. NO EXCEPTIONS.

In the event of a medical situation, proper documentation will be required, and permission should be
sought prior to the absence. Only students with a valid excuse and signed medical documentation may be
allowed to take one comprehensive essay exam (covering material from the beginning to the end of the
course) at the end of the quarter to substitute a missed exam.

Personal, social, athletic and other academic commitments and obligations do not constitute valid excuses
for failing to take the course exams as scheduled. Students who miss an exam without prior valid medical
documentation will simply lose the points.

No-one, under ANY circumstances, can ever take any of the exams before their scheduled time.

QUESTIONS and COMMUNICATIONS with the instructors:

Due to the size of the class, please refrain from e-mailing Prof. Karanika. You may address questions
before and after lecture and during office hours. For questions regarding grades and exams any questions
should be directed to the TAs ONLY.

Should there be a question on grading you may direct them to the TAs only and only during the five
business days following the posting of the results on the EEE gradebook. No questions regarding your
exam will be answered after that period. Questions about individual grades can only be answered in
person during office hours and NOT by e-mail or phone. Under federal guidelines, we are not permitted
to release grades over the telephone or e-mail.

Regarding e-mailing:

USE your UCI address ONLY. Emails from other accounts will simply NOT be answered. When e-
mailing, please address and always sign with your name and ID number, and use proper language,
etiquette and politeness towards your instructors. This is very important!

Teaching Assistants (in alphabetical order): To be announced

Offices in Murray Krieger Hall 4th floor- Classics Department -Office hours on website

Disability: Students with disabilities who believe they may need accommodations in this class are
encouraged to contact the Disability Services Center at (949) 824-7494 as soon as possible to better
ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.

Academic Honesty: Academic dishonesty is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Cheating, forgery,
dishonest conduct, plagiarism, and collusion in dishonest activities erode the University's educational,
research, and social roles. Anyone caught cheating or in any other way in violation of the university
policy on academic honesty will receive an F in the class. There are no exceptions to this rule.

Add/Drop Policy: According to the UCI School of Humanities Rules, you may drop this course up to the
end of the second week of classes. NO requests to drop after the second week will be granted.

Classics at UCI: This course could launch you as a major and minor in Classics. Did you know that by
the end of the first year of Ancient Greek you can start reading sources on Greek and Roman history in

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the original language, in original sources, in Greek? See me for details. For Classics at UCI refer to:
http://www.hnet.uci.edu/classics/

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: To be announced

PART II. SCHEDULE OF READINGS-TOPICS OF LECTURES

NOTE: Syllabus of readings is subject to ongoing refinement and change.

Week 0 FOCUS ON INTRODUCTION and BEGINNINGS OF ARCHAIC ITALY.

TERMINOLOGY- EVIDENCE- Discussion on SOURCES with a focus on Archaeology and Literary
Sources.

Friday, September 29, 2017: Introduction to the Course. Presentation of textbooks, expectations etc.

Lecture on Archaic Italy and the Origins of Rome. Italy in the Mediterranean World, major developments
of the ancient Mediterranean world. Greeks in the Mediterranean and the Greek culture and political
developments. Early Greek settlements in the Italian peninsula. Readings: The Romans p.1-9

NOTE: THERE ARE NO DISCUSSION SECTIONS THIS WEEK.

Week 1 FOCUS ON ARCHAIC ITALY and early monarchy

Monday, October 2, 2017: The Rise of cities in the Italian peninsula. Etruscans. Evidence of a
civilization. Focus on archaeological Sources. Readings: The Romans p. 9-20. Sources: Read Livy,
Book One, chapters 1-24 (our edition p. 5-30).

Wednesday, October 4, 2017: The Etruscans, social and Economic Organization. Relations with the
Greeks. Greek cities of Southern Italy and Sicily. Focus on Evidence from archaeology. Readings: The
Romans, p. 20-27. Sources: Read Livy, Book One chapters 26-37 (our edition, p. 30-46)

Friday, October 6, 2017: The Emergence of Rome. Evidence of Early Rome, Romes Kings, Myths
and Legends on early Rome, its kings and its formation and the nature of our literary sources. Early
Roman Kings and Society under the Kings. Readings: The Romans p. 27-39. Sources: Read Livy, Book
One, chapters 38-50 (our edition, p. 37-59).

NOTE: THERE ARE NO DISCUSSION SECTIONS THIS WEEK.

Week 2 THE MAKING OF REPUBLICAN ROME AND THE CONQUEST OF ITALY. Focus on
political structures, power hierarchies and struggles (continued into the following week)

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Monday, October 9, 2017: A view into the relations between Rome and the Latins. The making of the
early Republic. Rome and its neighbors. Readings: The Romans, p. 39-49. Sources: Read Livy, Book
One, chapters 51-55 (our edition, p. 59-64).

Wednesday, October 11, 2017: Claiming of Rome. Struggle of Order. Understanding conflict and its
influence in the making of Rome. Interpreting the early sources and the role of women. Gender and
history. Readings: The Romans, p. 49-58. Sources: Read Livy, Book One, chapters 56 (our edition, p.
64-70)

Friday, October 13, 2017: Political Organization, civic bodies. Focus on the early Roman Senate,
Assemblies of Citizens. Religion and rituals and their importance in the civic calendar. Readings: The
Romans, p. 58-69. Sources: Livy Book Two, chapters 1-9 (our edition, p. 71-80)

Reminder: this is the LAST DAY TO drop a course without deans' approval (5:00 p.m.)

Week 3 Roman Expansion

Monday October 16, 2017: Roman Expansion, Wars and Firm Control over Italy. Readings: The
Romans. p. 69-80. Sources, Livy, Book Two, chapters 21-28 (pages 91-99)

Wednesday, October 18, 2017: Just before becoming empire. Acquiring firm control of the Italian
peninsula. Conquest of the South and its aftermath. Readings: The Romans p. 80-86. Sources, Livy,
Book Two, chapters 29-38 (p. 99-110).

Friday, October 20, 2017: EXAM 1

Note for a review of the material covered at lecture, read chapters 1 and 2 of the Romans textbook.

NOTE: DISCUSSION SECTIONS MEET THIS WEEK. Please come for further analysis of the sources,
discussion and review of the materials presented at lecture.

Week 4 THE BEGINNINGS OF A MEDITERRANEAN EMPIRE.

Monday, October 23, 2017: Discussion of Sources. The nobility of Rome. Wars with Carthage.
Expanding in the Mediterranean. Women and Roman expansion. Readings: The Romans p. 87-95.
Sources, Livy book Two, chapter 40-65 (p. 111-139).

Wednesday, October 25, 2017: Punic Wars and their importance. Readings: The Romans p. 95-109.

Friday, October 27, 2017: Further Expansion into the Iberian peninsula, Greece and Asia Minor, North
Africa. A colonial world? Readings The Romans, p. 109-124.

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 Week 5 ITALY AND EMPIRE. Focus on Important Figures in the 2nd c. BC. Focus on Class
and Gender

Monday, October 30, 2017: Revisiting power hierarchies, civic bodies. The new imperial reality,
consequences on Italy, and changing Relations between Rome and its Allies. Readings: The Romans p.
125-133. Focus on class structure and read the sources. Read As the Romans did, excerpts from Cicero
and the Digest of Laws, p. 8-11.

Wednesday, November 1, 2017: Roman and Italian Elites. Focus on the figure of Scipio Aemilianus.
Readings: The Romans p. 133-144. Focus on class structure, family and the idea and practice of
patronage Read sources from Cicero and Seneca (the younger) As the Romans Did, p. 11-13 and on the
Senate, As the Romans Did, read sources in p. 221-225.

Friday, November 3, 2017: Tiberius Gracchus. Discussion of Roman Law, reform and political
development. Readings: The Romans, p. 144-153. Law and Family. Read Sources on Patria Potestas, in
As the Romans Did, p. 16-20. Read variety of sources on family, fertility and birth control from As the
Romans Did p. 20-29.

NOTE: DISCUSSION SECTIONS MEET THIS WEEK. Please come for further analysis of the sources,
discussion and review of the materials presented at lecture.

Week 6 CHANGES IN ITALIAN SOCIETY: ITALY THREATENED, DIVIDED. Special

interest: Roman Religion

Monday, November 6, 2017: Roman society , changes. Roman Women. Roman Marriage. Readings:
The Romans, p. 154-157. Roman Religion. Gender and Religion, Officers of the state religion, emphasis
on Vestal Virgins. Read Sources As the Romans Did: p. 384-386.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017: More threats to Rome: War with Jugurtha and Germanic Tribes at the
end of the 2nd c. BC. Focus on Marius and his career in Roman politics. Readings: The Romans, p. 157-
165. Special discussion on Roman Religion, the Gods of the State Religion, deities and worship. Read As
the Romans Did, p. 359-367. Ritual in Republican Rome, As the Romans Did, p. 372-375.

Friday, November 10, 2017: NO CLASS- VETERANS DAY

NOTE 2: DISCUSSION SECTIONS MEET THIS WEEK. Please come for further analysis of the
sources, discussion and review of the materials presented at lecture.

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Week 7: A VIEW INTO VARIOUS TRIBUNATES AND THE SOCIAL WAR. Beginnings of 1st c.
BC.

Monday, November 13, 2017: EXAM 2

Wednesday, November 15, 2017: Marius after defeating the Cimbri and the Teutoni. Administration of
the Provinces and the tribunate of Livius Drusus. Readings The Romans. p. 165-171. Review of Roman
administration and political structures with focus on civic bodies. Read Sources: As the Romans Did, p.
203-207.

Friday, November 17, 2017: Social War (91-87). A view into various rules. Readings: The Romans, p.
171-184. Read Sources on the Magistrates, As the Romans Did, p. 207-212.

NOTE: There are NO discussion sections this week.

Week 8: DOMINATION OF SULLA- SOCIAL TENSIONS- THE ROAD TO EMPIRE. Focus

on Festivals, Peoples experience in the Roman calendar.

Monday, November 20, 2017: Sullas proscriptions, the making of a DICTATOR . Republican ideals in
danger. Spartacus Slave Revolt. Social Tensions. Readings: The Romans p. 184-202. Special Topic,
Festivals, Read Sources As the Romans Did, p. 378-384.

Wednesday, November 22, 2017: Threat from the NorthEast, King Mithridates VI of Pontus. Role of
Pompey. A view into Rome in the provinces and especially in the east, Asia Minor. Readings: The
Romans p. 202-208. Sources Read on Provincial Administration, As the Romans Did, p. 268-272.

Friday, November 24, 2017: NO class. THANKSGIVING Holiday.

Note: There are NO discussion sections this week.

Week 9: CICERO, POMPEY, CAESAR

Monday, November 27, 2017: CICERO: The role of Cicero, the importance of the Catilinarian
Conspiracy. Readings: The Romans, p. 208-216.

Wednesday, November 29, 2017: POMPEY. The general and the statesman. The first triumvirate
(Pompey, Crassus and Caesar). Readings, The Romans, p. 216-224.

Friday, December 1, 2017: Caesars beginnings. The making of the end of the Roman Republic.
Readings, The Romans p. 225-236.

Week 10: END OF ROMAN REPUBLIC. END OF AN ERA.

Monday, December 4, 2017: Caesars government, his wars with focus on the civil war campaigns.
Caesar and Cleopatra. Readings, The Romans. p. 236-248.

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Wednesday, December 6, 2017: Caesars impact in Rome, the end of the Republic and the making of a
new Emperor. Readings: The Romans, p. 248-256.

Friday, December 7, 2017: REVIEW of Material

FINAL EXAM on Wednesday Dec. 13 1:30-3:30

(again, exam will focus on material right after exam 2 up to this point).

NOTE: DISCUSSION SECTIONS MEET THIS WEEK. Please come for further analysis of the sources,
discussion and review of the materials presented at lecture.