CLAS 2008 - Life in the Golden Age of Rome

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2016

In this course we will examine the history of key features of Roman cultural and social life during the 'golden age' of imperial Rome in the second century AD. We begin with a review of imperial expansion in the later first century AD, using the historian Tacitus both as a source for Roman views on their own imperialism and as an example of an historical genre that emphasised empirical data rather than overt political glorification of empire. We will then explore select intellectual and literary contributions of the late first and second centuries AD through the filter of 'fact and fiction'. This is the century of a developed interest in the application of empiricism to medicine and industry; an intense interest in the surrounding (conquered) natural world. It is also the century of the first 'science fiction' novel and more broadly of fiction-writing as a fully-developed and highly-prized literary genre. The contributions of Roman provincials to this impressive and popular cultural flowering will be discussed by detailed studies of works in the tutorial programme. Lastly, we will look at the social fabric of mainstream Roman society during this period: the nature of the Roman household, including marriage, romance and divorce. Using both legal texts and a selection of the literary texts already studied, we will also consider the position and role of slaves in the domestic life of Romans.

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Course Details

Course Code	CLAS 2008
Course	Life in the Golden Age of Rome
Coordinating Unit	Classics, Archaeology and Ancient History
Term	Semester 1
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 3 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	Y
Prerequisites	At least 12 units of level 1 undergraduate study including at least 3 units of level 1 Classics courses
Incompatible	CLAS 2036
Assessment	Tutorial summary (500 words) 10%, Tutorial paper (1200 words) 20%, Research essay (2250 words) 30%, Exam 40%

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr Margaret O'Hea

Lecturers and tutors:
Dr Margaret O'Hea
Dr Jacqueline Clarke
Professor Han Baltussen
Contact details and consultation times will be made available online in MyUni for this course.

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

Two lectures per week for 12 weeks and one tutorial per week for 10 weeks, starting in Week 2.

Course Learning Outcomes

1	demonstrate a familiarity with primary sources for understanding the history of social and cultural institutions within Rome from the Flavian to Severan periods
2	demonstrate a scholarly approach to and methodology for historical interpretation of texts and material evidence
3	demonstrate a familiarity with problems and issues in the study of Roman life, culture and literature from the Flavian to the Severan periods
4	engage productively and respectfully with their peers via problem solving and the sharing of information
5	use learning technologies relevant to the University’s learning environment

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Deep discipline knowledge informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1 accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)	1, 3
Critical thinking and problem solving steeped in research methods and rigor based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment	2, 4
Teamwork and communication skills developed from, with, and via the SGDE honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning	4
Intercultural and ethical competency adept at operating in other cultures comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges	1-4
Self-awareness and emotional intelligence a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate	4

Learning Resources

Required Resources

Textbook is:
Garnsey, P. et al. (1998 or later edn) The Roman Empire. Economy, Society and Culture. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Other primary works will be available via MyUni.
Readings for tutorials will be available either from the BSL or online in MyUni.

Recommended Resources

Reading lists, web-links, library resources, essay and study guide along with referencing guides will be on MyUni for this course.

Online Learning

Reading lists, web-links, library resources, essay and study guide along with referencing guides will be on MyUni for this course. Most will be available at the start of semester. Audio lecture recordings will be rolled out over the semester.

Learning & Teaching Modes

Two lectures per week, with weekly tutorials starting in the second week. Most tutorials will deepen and extend students' understanding of topics from the lectures and textbooks; some tutorials will broaden students' perspectives, dealing with areas which lectures cannot cover.

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

WORKLOAD	TOTAL HOURS
12 weeks x 3 structured learning hours (2 lectures + 1 hr tutorial)	36 hours per semester
4 hours' reading per week	48 hours per semester
2 hours' research per week	24 hours per semester
4 hours' assignment preparation per week	48 hours per semester

Learning Activities Summary

Lecture topics will vary slightly from year to year; a precise guide will be available at the start of semester on MyUni. They will, however, cover the following in lectures and tutorial programme:

Module 1 (weeks 1-3)      Tacitus and the concept of imperialism from the late 1st c AD
                                        The “Five Good Emperors”

Module 2 (weeks 4-8)     Rome’s Golden Age: The Second Sophistic Period
                                       Fact and Fiction in Roman Thought / The Roman novel
                                     Lucian, Aulus Gellius and Apuleius
                                   Second Sophistic Influence on Knowledge / The Roman Encyclopedia

Module 3 (weeks 9-12)   Roman society in the Golden Age: Slavery
                                   Slaves and the Roman Family
                                     Marriage, divorce and succession
                                     Emperors and Empresses as exemplars

Small Group Discovery Experience

Our tutorial programme is embedded with Small Group Discovery work throughout the semester. This includes - but is not
restricted to - analysing, discussing and presenting primary material in small groups.

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Assessment Task	Task Type	Due	Weighting	Learning Outcome
1 x 500 word tutorial summary	Formative and Summative	Within a week of relevant tutorial.	10%	1-3, 4-5
1 x 1200 word tutorial paper (including presentation)	Formative and Summative	At the start of the relevant tutorial.	20%	1-3
1 x 2250 word research essay	Summative	Date to be provided at the start of semester on MyUni and in class.	30%	1-3
Exam	Summative	During university exam period.	40%	1-3

Assessment Related Requirements

Regular attendance is required for both lectures and tutorials.

Assessment Detail

2250 word essay: students will be required to write a 2250-word essay on a topic provided at the start of semester on MyUni (reading list provided). The essay will be submitted towards the end of semester on MyUni = 30% weighting

Tutorial paper: students present and write up a tutorial paper ca 1200 words from questions provided in the tutorial programme (on MyUni with reading list provided). The paper is handed in at the tutorial in hard copy. = 20% weighting

Tutorial summary: students present a 500-word summary of a chosen topic from the tutorial programme online via MyUni. It shall be
selected from a different half of the course than the written tutorial paper. = 10 % weighting

Exam: a 2-hour exam in the form of essay-type answers to be held at the end of semester - 40% weighting

Submission

All details of submission will be available on MyUni at the start of semester.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
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