Roman Civilization

Classics 208-01

Spring 2012

study guide for final exam

Petronius Study Questions

Nero Study Questions

 

Professor: Professor Irby
Office: Morton 329
Office phone: 221-2162
Office Hours: MW noon - 1:00 pm
e-mail: glirby@wm.edu
web pages:

Grading scale:
100-93% = A; 92-90% = A-; 89-87% = B+; 86-83% = B; 80-82% = B-; 79-77% = C+; 76-73% = C; 72-73% = C-; 69-67% = D+; 66-63% = D; 92-60% = D-; 59%-0% = F

Exams and Course Grade:
Exam I (23 February) 100 points
Exam II (29 March) 100 points
Weekly Quizzes & Class Participation 100 points
Final Exam (9 May: 2:00-5:00 p.m.)  100 points
Final Project (due 26 April) 100 points
Total 500 points

 

This Course satisfies two General Education Requirements:

 

GER 4A  History and Culture in the European Tradition

The World Cultures and History GER introduces students to major ideas, institutions, and historical events that have shaped human societies. GER 4 courses have the following features:

1. They are courses covering more than one period, or covering critical periods, or movements which are designed primarily to explore topics, issues, or themes (as opposed to teaching the methods/theories of a discipline);

2. They are informed by an historical perspective (in the sense of addressing the changes in institutions, movements, or cultural practices);

3. They emphasize critical events, institutions, ideas, or literary/artistic achievements; and

4. Using disciplinary or interdisciplinary theoretical frameworks, they focus on a European or a non-European tradition, or explore topics comparatively across traditions.

GER 5 Literature and History of the Arts

A liberally educated person should possess knowledge of important and influential forms of literary or artistic achievements, and how those achievements should be understood in their cultural contexts. For that purpose, GER 5 courses introduce students to:

1. at least two major forms, genres, eras, cultures, or movements; or

2. at least two methods of analysis of art or literature.

All GER 5 courses provide students with the vocabulary of the discipline and teach them to apply the appropriate methodologies for critical analysis.

 

Course Objectives: Roman Civilization provides a survey introduction to many facets of Roman history, literature, culture and daily life. The goal of the course is to gain an understanding of the Romans and their contributions to our own society. This course is merely an introduction and may be used as a springboard for further study in the Classics and Ancient Civilization.

Schedule of Readings: The assigned readings are to be read before coming to class. It is your responsibility to keep up with any changes to the reading assignments as announced in class and on the web page.

Make-up Policy: No make-up work will be allowed for any reason. One quiz will be dropped. No exams will be dropped from your final average.

Class Room Policies: Regular attendance is strongly encouraged. Despite the large enrollment of Roman Civ, proper classroom decorum is expected at all times: behavior deemed inappropriate will result in dismissal from class or a failing grade.

Quizzes: Quizzes will take several forms:

  1. brief written in-class question-and-response (as reading, comprehension, reading, attention, and attendance checks)

  2. in-class responses to occasional movie clips

  3. one-page (typed, double-spaced, 12 point, times new Roman) essays as announced in class (and posted on-line throughout the semester)

  4. Two special lectures sponsored by the Department of Classical Studies (http://www.wm.edu/classicalstudies/AIA.php) may count towards your quizzes. To receive credit, submit a one-page (typed, double-spaced, 12 point font, times new roman) response to the lecture within a week of its delivery.

  5. One quiz grade will be dropped.

Exams: Exam questions will be precise, and your answers are expected to be detailed and analytic. Sweeping vagueries will not suffice. Detailed study guides will be published before each exam, and I am available during office hours for questions and discussion.

 

EXAMS ARE DETAIL INTENSIVE

 

General Directions for all in-class work (quizzes and exams): Print your name clearly (DO NOT SIGN IT). Write legibly throughout. Use standard pencil or blue or black ink. Be accurate and concise throughout. Do not try to pad answers with false information or unsupported guesses. Be sure to include DATES, EXAMPLES, and always explain the SIGNIFICANCE of events and people. On sections where you have a choice, answer only the specified quantity. All negative points will be subtracted from the final score.

For all typed work, double space and number pages.

 

Final Project: worth 20% of your final grade, you have three choices

  1. an essay (7-10 pages) on some approved aspect of Roman Civilization. Essays are expected to rely strongly on ancient (Roman) sources. Do not use internet sources (unless pre-approved).  Stay tuned for more suggested topics

  2. in-class production of a Plautus play to be performed on 28 April. Participation will be limited to 15 students, and participants will include a director, actors, set designer, costume and/or props manager, etc, and a dvd editor. Grades will be based on preparations (pre-production meetings and rehearsals are expected, and the director must keep a log), the in-class performance, and an interpretative essay (2-3 pages) about the play/interpretation/production from each member of the players' guild

  3. a creative, artistic project. e.g.,

  4. All essays and projects must be approved no later than 24 February

  5. Essays and projects are due no later than class meeting on 28 April.

  6. Be creative and have fun!

  7. Please note the Writing Guidelines


 

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No work will be accepted late
No make-ups will be permitted
Arrive prepared and on time
Minor adjustments to the syllabus may be announced in class
It is your responsibility to keep informed about changes to the syllabus and exam schedule
Turn off cell phones, etc before coming to class

You may use your laptops ONLY  to take notes for Roman Civ

Regular attendance is strongly encouraged

 

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Texts:

 

required

recommended

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Schedule of Assignments

 

Check back here from time to time. Class announcements and assignments will be posted on the syllabus

 

Assigned readings: to be completed before class

Readings are listed in order of importance

 

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19 January: Introduction: What have the Romans ever done for us?

24 January: From Tiny Fishing Village to Mighty Empire --  Beginnings & Expansion

26 January: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Empire: Results of Roman Expansion

31 January: Politics as Usual: Political Structure & Party Politics and Civil Wars

2 February: Augustus, and the Pax Romana

7 February: Augustus' Rome: City of Brick, City of Marble

9 February: Daily Life: Working for a Living

14 February: The Roman Army: Uncle Marius Wants You

15 February:

 

16 February: Province & Frontier: To boldly go...

21 February: Medicine at Rome: Veni, Vidi, Aegrii

23 February: Exam I

 

28 February: Roman Religion and the Sacred Chickens

1 March: The Roman Ideal: Augustus' Family Values

 

3-11 March: Spring Break

 

13 March: Horace, poet laureate of the Golden Age and Aeneid, introduction 

15 March: Aeneid

20 March: Aeneid

22 March: Aeneid

27 March: Women and Family Life, children and education

29 March: Exam II

 

3 April: Petronius and the Satyricon

5 April: Petronius and Nero

10 April: Slave and Freed

12 April: Entertainment in the Roman World: Bread and Circuses

17 April: Chariot Racing

19 April: Pompeii: The Death of A City; Survival of A Culture

24 April: The Survival of Rome: Later Roman Empire and Retrospect

26 April: Student Play and Roman Civilization "Poster Sessions"

9 May: Final Exam

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