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Unit outline_

ANHS2614: The Emperor in the Roman World 14-117 AD

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

The first century AD is a fascinating and important period of tension and negotiation between the emperor, senate, and people of Rome. The empire expanded to its physical apogee, and new avenues of power and arenas of competition emerged to transform politics. This unit examines the period 14-117 AD, comprising the reigns of the Julio-Claudians (Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero), Flavians (Vespasian, Titus, Domitian), Nerva, and Trajan. It will treat politics, court culture, the imperial family, foreign policy, conspiracy and propaganda.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Classics and Ancient History
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Paul Roche, paul.roche@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Eleanor Cowan, eleanor.cowan@sydney.edu.au
Paul Roche, paul.roche@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Documentary analysis
n/a
10% - 500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Assignment Research essay
n/a
40% - 2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Final exam (Take-home extended release) Type E final exam Exam
n/a
40% Formal exam period 48 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Participation Tutorial participation
n/a
10% Weekly 500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Type E final exam = Type E final exam ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 1. An introduction to imperial history: Rome in the year 14 Lecture (1 hr)  
2. How we know what we know: Sources for the period 14-117 Lecture (1 hr)  
The Res Gestae Divi Augusti as an imperial template Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 02 3. The princeps, the patres and the prince: Tiberius’ first years; Lecture (1 hr)  
4. Sejanus and the emperor in absentia Lecture (1 hr)  
The succession of Tiberius Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 03 5. Maiestas trials and the aftermath of 31 Lecture (1 hr)  
6. The geopolitics of the Roman empire Lecture (1 hr)  
Murder at Rome: Inscriptions on the death of Germanicus Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 04 7. Little boots: Caligula Lecture (1 hr)  
8. The abuse of power: Caligula and Rome Lecture (1 hr)  
The madness of Caligula Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 05 9. Court life: Claudius and the fall of Messalina Lecture (1 hr)  
10. Agrippina ascendant / Curtains for Claudius Lecture (1 hr)  
The equestrian order in the early empire Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 06 11. 'Quinquennium Neronis': Nero 54-59AD Lecture (1 hr)  
12. Bright Shining Apollo: Nero the aesthete emperor Lecture (1 hr)  
'Best of mothers': Agrippina the Younger Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 07 13 'Living like a human being': life in Neropolis Lecture (1 hr)  
14. 'What an artist dies in me!' Nero's last years Lecture (1 hr)  
Romans and Christians at home and abroad Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 08 15. The long year: 69 AD Lecture (1 hr)  
16. Reinventing Rome: Vespasian's principate Lecture (1 hr)  
The Law on Vespasian's Power (the Lex de Imperio Vespasiani) Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 09 17. Vespasian: '. . . becoming a god' Lecture (1 hr)  
18. Titus: the darling of mankind Lecture (1 hr)  
Commemorating the great and good: the politics of memory in imperial Rome Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 10 19. ‘Declared Autocracy’ Domitian in 80s Lecture (1 hr)  
20. 'Dominus et deus': the emperor as master and god Lecture (1 hr)  
Week 11 21. The nervous 90s: Domitian's ‘reign of terror’ Lecture (1 hr)  
22. The emperor Nerva Lecture (1 hr)  
Re-thinking succession: the principle of adoption Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 12 23. Optimus Princeps: Trajan’s first years; Lecture (1 hr)  
24. Empire without end: Trajan's wars in Dacia and Parthia Lecture (1 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.

  • Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.

  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed on the Library eReserve link available on Canvas; any additional readings will be made available on Canvas.

  • Required textbook: Alston, R. Aspects of Roman History 31 BC – AD 117 (Routledge 2014)
  • Required textbook: Suetonius, Lives of the Caesars (tr. Edwards) (Oxford World’s Classics 2000)
  • Required textbook: Tacitus The Annals: The Reigns of Tiberius, Claudius, and Nero (tr. Yardley) (Oxford World’s Classics 2000)

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. acquire a familiarity with the key evidence for imperial politics and society, and the scholarly issues surrounding the interpretation of the early Roman Empire (14-117AD)
  • LO2. acquire a body of knowledge about the history, culture and institutions of the early Roman Empire and the major scholarly approaches to the acquisition and interpretation of that knowledge
  • LO3. evaluate scholarly interpretations of evidence for the early Roman Empire, ranging from traditional criticism to contemporary approaches
  • LO4. acquire and refine problem solving skills in the reading and interpretation of literary and documentary texts (in translation, and their related criticism) as evidence for the politics and society of the early Roman Empire
  • LO5. demonstrate skills in communication and argument through the writing of critical essays and class discussion
  • LO6. develop as an independent learner
  • LO7. experience the discourse, anxieties and concerns of a culture separated from your own by time and place.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Thanks to valuable feedback from the last cohort who took this course, have changed some tutorial topics, and added some lectures on wider issues affecting the Roman Empire in the first century AD.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.