HIST 145

Description:

This course will cover Roman civilization and history from its emergence until the fifth century C.E. In addition to political, military, and social and economic developments, Roman literature and art will also be highlighted. Rome's significance for later western civilization will be noted. 3 hrs. lecture/wk.

Prerequisites:

None

Course Fees:

None

Textbooks:

http://bookstore.jccc.edu

Supplies:

Refer to the instructor's course syllabus for details about any supplies that may be required.

Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

  1. Discuss the early history of Rome from its legendary foundation through the monarchy and the early republic.
  2. Describe Rome's conquests of other Italian city-states, its victories over Carthage in the western-and Hellenistic monarchs in the eastern Mediterranean.
  3. Show how the rise of military strongmen led to civil wars and the disintegration of republican governance.
  4. Explain the success of Caesar Augustus in establishing the rule of one man and note the successes of the Roman Empire through the early third-century C.E.
  5. Describe and evaluate the state of Roman art and literature, during the late Republican and imperial periods, the empire's revival under Diocletian and Constantine, and its later disintegration in the West.
  6. Review the religious practices of early Rome, the triumph of Christianity in the 300's, and the subsequent success of the renewed Roman Empire in the East.  

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. The Legendary Foundation of Rome
   A. Describe and evaluate the limited sources available for the early
history of Rome, and compare and contrast it with the archaeological
evidence.
   B. Relate the legends of Rome's foundation by Romulus and Remus and
other stories from the Roman historian Livy and explain how they exemplify
the values of the later Roman aristocratic class.

II. The Social System and Political Constitution of the Roman Republic
   A. Explain Rome's mission to Athens to discover a model of civic
government.
   B. Describe in detail the social orders of republican Rome, their
struggles, the system of public offices and elections that evolved, and
the role of religion in it.

III. Roman Expansion up to the First Punic War
   A. Compare the city of Rome with its Latin and Etruscan neighbors.
   B. Explain Rome's system of exploiting its conquered neighbors for
soldiers and rewarding them with Roman citizenship.

IV. The Punic Wars and Rome's Triumph
   A. Describe Carthaginian civilization and Carthage's rise to dominance
in the western Mediterranean.
   B. Explain how Roman exploits in Sicily led to conflict with Carthage
and the First Punic War.
   C. Summarize and assess the military career of Hannibal of Carthage and
the threat that he represented to Rome during the Second Punic War.
   D. Summarize the defeat of Carthage in the Third Punic War and its
consequences for Roman power.

V. Rome's Involvement in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Consequences 
   A. Analyze and evaluate Polybius' portrait of Rome and its rise to
power.
   B. Explain how Rome's ferocious military reputation and its skilled
diplomacy with eastern Mediterranean kingdoms gradually allowed it to take
over the region by 67 B.C.E.

VI. Roman Art, Literature, and Thought Before and After Hellenistic
Influences
   A. Examine the artistic culture of Rome from the earliest phase through
the 300's B.C.E. and evaluate the consequences of Greek influence on Roman
architecture and art during subsequent centuries.
   B. Assess the effects of Hellenization on Roman writing thought and
rhetoric during the second and first centuries B.C.E.
   C. Describe the Roman legal system and the influence of Greek rhetoric
on it and Roman politics.

VII. Challenges to the Roman Republican Constitution
   A. Discuss the growing economic disparities among Rome's social orders
that led to the rise and demise of the Gracchus brothers.
   B. Describe and analyze the "Social War" and the consequences of the
struggle between Marius and Sulla.
   C. Analyze the causes of the Spartacus Rebellion and the nature of its
repression.
   D. Trace the career of Cnaius Pompeius and his victories, and analyze
the Roman political situation upon his return from the East.
   E. Trace the career of Marcus Tullius Cicero as a "new man," lawyer,
popularizer of Greek ideas, and Roman politician.

VIII. Julius Caesar and the Breakdown of the Roman Republic
   A. Trace the career of Gaius Julius Caesar through his alliance with
Pompeius, his first consulship, and his governorship of Gaul.
   B. Evaluate Caesar's literary and propaganda skills and describe his
relationship with Cicero.
   C. Explain the reasons for war between Caesar and Pompeius and the
consequences for the republic of Caesar's victory and subsequent murder.

IX. The Civil Wars and Octavian's Constitutional Arrangements
   A. Describe the triumvirate set up among Octavian, Antony, and Lepidus
and the proscriptions which followed.
   B. Explain how the relationship between Octavian and Antony gradually
eroded, leading to the Battle of Actium in 31 B.C.E.
   C. Show how, by 27 B.C.E. Octavian had consolidated all power under his
control in the name of "restoring" the Roman Republic.
   D. Describe the major events of the remainder of his reign.

X. Roman Imperial Administration, Politics, Society and Economy in the
First and Second centuries C.E.
   A. Analyze the political tensions among emperors, the senatorial class,
and the Roman military during this time.
   B. Analyze the military situation around the borders of the Roman
empire.
   C. Describe the condition of slaves, the working poor, the Roman "mob,"
and the wealthy classes and analyze the consequences of these during this
period.
   D. Survey and contrast the major geographic areas of the empire and
summarize the reasons for Roman economic prosperity during this period.

XI. Roman Literature, Art, and Religions During the First and Second
Centuries C.E.
   A. Discuss the works of the major Roman writers in poetry and history
during the late republic.
   B. Summarize the artistic and literary trends of the early empire.
   C. Analyze and evalute changes in Mediterranean religions during the
late-B.C.E. and early C.E. centuries.

XII. Third-Century Threats to the Roman Empire and Their Consequences
   A. Evaluate weaknesses in the process of Roman imperial succession, the
explosion of multiple emperors and civil wars at this time, and their
effects on the Roman economy and military threats from outside the
empire.
   B. Describe the rise of the Sassanid Empire, its ambitions on Rome's
eastern frontier, and its military challenge to Rome.
   C. Analyze the emergence of Eurasian migrations during the
third-century C.E., and their effects on Rome's northeastern frontiers and
the above struggles.

XIII. Stabilization and Renewed Challenges During the Fourth and Fifth
Centuries
   A. Describe the success of Diocletian in stabilizing the Roman Empire
his system of administration and imperial succession, and his economic
policies.
   B. Examine the career of Constantine, his struggle for imperial
succession, and his religious policies.
   C. Analyze the successes and failures of Constantine's successors
during the rest of the fourth century C.E.

XIV. The Gradual Collapse of the Roman Empire in the West and Concepts of
"Fall" versus "Evolution"
   A. Outline the movements of barbarian groups during the late fourth-
and fifth centuries C.E.
   B. Account for the continuing strengths of the eastern empire.
   C. Explain the breakdown of imperial rule in the western empire and
show how the latter gradually was replaced by "barbarian" kingdoms.
   D. Trace the role of the Christian church in both parts of the empire
during this period.

Method of Evaluation and Competencies:

Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be accomplished using the following methods:

At least three examinations emphasizing written answers and additional
written papers or other work, at the instructor's discretion.
Examinations and written work ordinarily comprising at least two-thirds of
class credit.
Grades corresponding under most circumstances to the traditional academic
formula of
90% - 100% = A
80% -  89% = B
70% -  79% = C
60% -  69% = D
59% and less = F

Caveats:

None

Student Responsibilities:

Disabilities:

If you are a student with a disability, and if you will be requesting accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact Access Services. Access Services will recommend any appropriate accommodations to your professor and his/her director. The professor and director will identify for you which accommodations will be arranged.

JCCC provides a range of services to allow persons with disabilities to participate in educational programs and activities. If you desire support services, contact the office of Access Services for Students With Disabilities (913) 469-8500, ext. 3521 or TDD (913) 469-3885. The Access Services office is located in the Success Center on the second floor of the Student Center.