11 May 2024

This week is the final exam for the course. The final exam will be held in-person on Thursday, May 16 from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. in our normal meeting room.

Please arrive on time. You will only have the two-hour exam period to take the exam.

Review materials are posted on the Exams page. Good luck! Email me with any questions. I’ll have my regular office hours on Tuesday.

If you miss the final exam: Make-ups will be arranged only in cases of documented personal or medical emergency. Otherwise, per CUNY policy a student who does not complete the course by taking the final exam will automatically receive a grade of WU (unofficial withdrawal), which counts as an F toward your GPA, unless an incomplete has been mutually agreed by student and instructor prior to the ultimate submission deadline for the course (Sunday, May 26).

Link to Exams page

5 May 2024

This week, after we finish talking about the Third Century Crisis, we're going to be talking about the recovery from the Third Century Crisis, which takes the form of a number of new normals including the division of the empire, a new conception of the emperorship known as the Dominate, and the interweaving of Christianity with the Roman political state. How much of the credit for the empire's recovery do you think should go to Diocletian and Constantine? What other factors made it possible for the empire to endure another century and a half in the west and a full millennium in the east after the near-fatal triple calamity of the Third Century? How inevitable was the empire's mutual intrusion with the church?

Finally comes the last stage of the Roman empire in the west, while the eastern empire goes on without it. Given that the empire stabilizes itself in the fourth century, what do you think are the most telling factors in why the western half falls apart so rapidly in the fifth century? Could the Romans have done anything about it?

Now's a good time to think about the Roman idea. What perseveres about the idea of "Romanness" between Romulus and Romulus Augustus? There's something still palpably Roman that runs through this entire 1300-year story. What does Romanness, Romanitas, consist of? What remains consistent and how does it evolve over the long centuries of Roman transformation?

Looking forward to discussing all of this with you. See you Thursday!

Link to Schedule page

27 April 2024

This week we're talking about one of the most dramatic periods of the Roman story: The Third Century Crisis, in which everything goes wrong all at once. What do you think are the most prominent causes of the catastrophe? How related are the economic problems to the military setbacks and the political anarchy? How far back does this go? Are policies, people, or the nature of the principate the culprit?

Looking forward to discussing all of this with you. See you Thursday!

Link to Schedule page

21 April 2024

Enjoy your break. Email me with any questions about the Position Paper, which is due on May 13. Our next class meeting is on May 2. See you then!

Link to Schedule page

14 April 2024

This week we're talking about the period of the Nerva-Antonines—the so-called “five good emperors”. It's striking that there's such a term as devised by modern historians. It signifies both something in common in these five men, and a contrast with those who are not part of this series.

What do you think in terms of both points? What kinds of things do they have in common, apart from the praise of later centuries? Are they worthy of that praise? How distinct are they from the Julio-Claudians and the Flavians? How do you see Rome changing critically in this period? You may be aware that true, relentless disaster is coming (the Third Century Crisis)—can we see the groundwork being laid? How has the Roman idea remained constant after eight centuries of constant transformation?

Looking forward to discussing all of this with you. See you Thursday!

Link to Schedule page

7 April 2024

This week, after exploring the nature of Augustus’s reign, we're talking about the Roman world adjusting to the loss of the first princeps. What strikes you as interesting or surprising about the dramatic events of the Julio-Claudians? Why do you think we go from Augustus to Caligula and Nero so quickly? How much of Augustus's plan really survives his death?

Though each princeps defines an era, emphasis on the ruler in Rome does tend to eclipse other things. What's going on in the Roman world during this period that you think should really be drawing our attention?

Looking forward to discussing all of this with you. See you Thursday!

Link to Schedule page