This module examines in detail the history of the Roman Empire from the emergence of the Principate under Octavian/Augustus to the establishment of the Principate 2.0 under Trajan. It will also provide both a survey of a major period of Roman imperial history and an opportunity to study in greater depth the administrative, social, economic and religious developments of this period. Students will read widely from the ancient sources, historical, literary and documentary, and will be introduced to the inscriptional evidence for imperial history. This module will concentrate on the main administrative, social, economic and religious developments throughout the period rather than on the details of political and military history.
Students will read widely in the major ancient sources, including Tacitus, Pliny and Suetonius, and will be introduced to the inscriptional and documentary evidence for imperial history.
Private Study: 130
Contact Hours: 20
Total: 150
Autumn or Spring
Main assessment methods
Level 5:
• Analysis of primary evidence (800 words or equivalent) - 30%
• Magazine Project (2,000 words or equivalent) - 70%
Reassessment methods
• 100% Coursework (2,500 words)
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
See the library reading list for this module (Canterbury)
The intended subject specific learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module Level-5 students will be able to:
1 Articulate the main events, issues and themes in the history of the Roman Empire from the commencement of the Principate of Augustus to the establishment of Trajan's new Principate in the early second century;
2 Demonstrate a critical understanding of the complex processes relating to administrative, constitutional, social, economic and religious change in the Roman Empire during this period;
3 Examine special features of the period such as the evolution of the imperial bureaucracy and the working of the mechanism of patronage, both in the centre and the provinces;
4 Demonstrate an understanding of the relevant different kinds of evidence (literary, epigraphic, numismatic, papyrological, visual, archaeological) and be able to show familiarity with the key documents, and have an understanding of the uses of the different categories of evidence in the investigation of historical problems;
5 Construct effective historical arguments, orally and in writing, which demonstrate analytical ability, independence of thought and knowledge of the ancient sources, literary and otherwise;
6 Demonstrate familiarity with the ancient sources, historical, literary and documentary, and will be introduced to the inscriptional evidence for imperial history.
The intended generic learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module Level-5 students will be able to:
1 Use a range of established techniques to initiate and undertake critical analysis of information, and to propose solutions to problems arising from that analysis;
2 Effectively communicate information, arguments, and analysis, in a variety of forms, to specialist and non-specialist audiences, and deploy key techniques of the discipline effectively;
3 Identify and make use of opportunities for further training, developing existing skills, and acquiring new competences that will enable them to assume positions of significant responsibility.
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