This module will provide a detailed and research-led study of the century of political instability now known commonly to historians as the 'crisis' of the Roman Republic. It begins at the end of the 2nd century BCE amidst a period of rising populism, demagoguery, and socio-economic strain and fragmentation among the traditional elite. Proceeding through the civil wars of the 1st century BCE, from Sulla and Marius, Pompey and Caesar, and finally Antony and Octavian, the study ends with the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE and the accession of Octavian/Augustus as monarch over the Roman Empire.
The lectures will give detailed discussion of the varying scholarly interpretations of this much-discussed and famous period of Roman history, introducing students to the sources of evidence (historiography, biography, political philosophy, art, coinage, architecture, inscriptions) and providing models of their effective combination. In addition to the chronological survey of the period discussed, lectures will also develop major themes essential to the students' understanding of the century of political crisis that precipitated the transition from Republic to monarchy. Topics covered may include tradition and innovation; art and the political; consensus models; crisis theory; women and the sub-elite as political actors; rhetoric and its abuse; warfare and imperialism.
The seminars will provide hands-on training in the interpretation of the evidence for these periods and themes, both material and literary, arising out of the content of the immediately preceding lecture. Some seminars will also be reserved for discussion in order to clarify best practice for the assessments.
Private Study: 130
Contact Hours: 20
Total: 150
Autumn or Spring
Main assessment methods
• Collaborative Wiki Entry (1,500 words) – 30%
• Thematic Portfolio Project (2,500 words) – 70%
Level distinguished by challenge and questions set
Reassessment methods
• Reassessment Instrument: 100% Coursework
The University is committed to ensuring that core reading materials are in accessible electronic format in line with the Kent Inclusive Practices. The most up to date reading list for each module can be found on the university's reading list pages: https://kent.rl.talis.com/index.html
The intended subject specific learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module Level-6 students will be able to:
1 Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the main aspects of the political, cultural, and economic history of the Roman Republic from the late 2nd century BCE to the late 1st century BCE;
2 Critically interrogate the main theoretical and scholarly interpretations of the political and socio-economic instability of the 1st century BCE;
3 Regularly interpret material and archaeological evidence (including coinage, inscriptions, art, and architecture) in combination with historiographical evidence;
4 Perform detailed investigation of contemporary and later literary sources (letters, biographies, formal historiography, poetry, and political philosophy), giving attention to bias, ideological views, contemporaneity, and reliability;
5 Recognise the principal features of the institutions, laws, and constitution of the Roman Republic and assess their significance in the political process.
The intended generic learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module Level-6 students will be able to:
1 Show connoisseurship in the selection and use of reference and encyclopaedic materials;
2 Demonstrate mastery of bibliographical conventions in the citation of primary and secondary sources;
3 Show independence and initiative in the selection and design of research questions for assessment;
4 Use a range of bibliographical and research resources in preparation for contact-hours and in the preparation of summative work;
5 Work effectively with others, responding appropriately to other participants' ideas and engaging in group work and plenary discussion.
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