CL2RO: Roman History: From Republic to Empire

Module code: CL2RO

Module provider: Classics; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Tim Penn, email: tim.penn@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 9 July 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to provide students with knowledge of the main historical events and political, social, and economic developments of the Roman world in the Imperial Era. It introduces students to the principles, methods, and applications of ancient history, equipping them to evaluate and use the different kinds of primary source material available. The students will investigate those sources, and enquire about aspects of imperialism, multiculturalism and diversity, the impact of the Roman Empire to the modern world, etc. This Roman History module covers the period from the Second Triumvirate in the last years of the Republic to the reigns of the Emperors (1st century BCE – 3rd century CE). The lives, personalities, and the impact of emperors like Caligula, Nero, Domitian, and Hadrian, will be examined alongside the lives of common people and the provincials, spanning from Roman Britain to Roman Syria. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. demonstrate good knowledge of the history and culture of the period; 
2. search and evaluate information and ideas, making use of library databases and online sources; 
3. compare, critically appraise, and contextualize a variety of selected ancient material; 
4. organise materials and present effectively written arguments. 

Module content

This module treats key historical phases of Roman history spanning from the late 1st century BCE (the years of the second triumvirate) to the 3rd century CE. Topics examined will include political, social, cultural, and economic history, such as the social structure, the political relationship between Emperor and Senate, the propaganda methods used by emperors in the capital and across the empire, the role of the army in the Romanization process, the lives of peoples in the provinces, etc. Throughout, the emphasis will be on the historiography of the period and close reading of key primary sources, so that students are encouraged to acquire the skills central to the study of antiquity. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be taught by lectures, discussion groups, and online lectures, with at least two contact hours per week. 

Study hours

At least 20 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs