Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

In this module we study the historical developments that led to the collapse of the Roman Republic and the advent of the monarchic rule of Octavian, later known as Augustus. It was a long and complex process, which spanned over more than a century and coexisted with the expansion and the development of Roman hegemony throughout the Mediterranean.

One of the central contentions of this course will be that the fall of the Roman Republic cannot be read simply as a process of decline. On the contrary, it was a dramatic and violent period of creative change, which was part of a wider process of reaggregation and reorganisation of the Roman State and of the Empire as a whole.

This module intends to offer an opportunity to:

- Gain a sound general knowledge of the period, both of the narrative of the last two centuries BC and of the main historical issues of the period;
- Read widely and critically in the primary and secondary literature about the period;
- Develop further the capacity for independent study.

Outline Of Syllabus

Our discussion will start in 168 BCE, when the Roman victory at Pydna against a coalition of Greek forces made clear to everybody that there was no alternative to Roman hegemony in the Mediterranean. We will then embark on an analysis of the economic and social situation in Rome and Italy in the second century BCE, and we will look at the changes that intervened in Roman politics as a consequence of that. We will then move on to a discussion of the role of the Italian Allies in this period and to the Social War, and to the consequences that this process had on the competition within the Roman elite. We will cover the main developments from the age of Sulla and Marius to the clash between Caesar and Pompey, and to the final clash between Octavian and Mark Antony. At the same time, we will show that these events must be explained against the background of complex economic and social processes, by looking at a wide range of evidence – literary, epigraphical, numismatic, and archaeological. The study of the political and military developments will be intertwined with the discussion of the key historical themes of the period. The seminars will be devoted to the close scrutiny of important pieces of evidence.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

On completion of the module, students will have acquired the ability:
•       to identify and describe the nature of the Roman Republic and of the process that led to its end
•       to identify, describe, and assess the relevant primary sources
•       to identify and describe the problems in dealing with these primary sources
•       to demonstrate an up-to-date knowledge of the secondary literature on the subject
•       to provide a critical assessment of the secondary literature

Intended Skill Outcomes

On completion of the module, students should have enhanced (to a level higher than they are expected at Stage 2):
• their skills in analysing and interpreting ancient sources (in translation, if written), with regards to details of the source and overall issues of interpretation
• their skills in evaluating modern scholarship and in testing its views against the ancient evidence
• their adaptability in applying these skills to issues other than those discussed in class, both ancient and modern
• their skills in offering a clear presentation of their views and analyses in written form
• their capacity for independent study

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures will provide the students with a structured outline of core knowledge and methodologies that are essential for approaching the key historical topics of the module. They also offer the students the necessary instruments to analyse and discuss the primary evidence and secondary literature independently.
Seminars are specifically designed to provide the students with in-depth discussion and further analysis of a selected number of topics, issues, and pieces of primary evidence that have been presented in the lectures.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The two 1800-word essays assess the students' ability to conduct independent research on a chosen topic. They test their analytical skills and ability to discuss complex material (primary evidence and secondary literature) critically and succinctly.

The formative assessment is intended to support students in becoming acquainted with a wide range of topics and problems, and with a rich and diverse set of primary evidence and secondary material, and to provide them with prompt and tangible feedback on the progress they are making.

Study-abroad, non-Erasmus exchange and Loyola students spending semester 1 only are required to finish their assessment while in Newcastle. Where an exam is present, an alternative form of assessment will be set and where coursework is present, an alternative deadline will be set. Details of the alternative assessment will be provided by the module leader

General Notes

N/A