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Week 12: Third Century Crisis
Thursday, May 7
(1) Video lectures on Youtube
12a - The Waning of Stability 12b - The Third Century Crisis 12c - Religion in the Roman Empire Quiz 7 Recap(2) Do the readings
READ ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:
| XXVII. Conflicts and Crises under Commodus and the Severi | Ward367–381 |
| XXVIII. The Third-Century Anarchy | Ward382–391 |
| XXIX. Changes in Roman Life and Culture during the Third Century | Ward392–407 |
READ AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
| ZOSIMUS / Imperial Weakness Invites Barbarian Aggression | Reader113 |
| EUSEBIUS / The Persecution under Decius | Reader116 |
| VOPISCUS / Aurelian’s Conquest of Palmyra | Reader118 |
| HERODIAN / How Didius Julianus Bought the Empire at Auction | Reader110 |
| VARIOUS / The Lives of Soldiers and Sailors | Reader111 |
(3) Post in the comments below
(4) Take Quiz #8 (closed)
Take the quiz between May 7 and 13.
Quiz 8 Recap
Discussion and Presentations
Respond to and discuss the readings and lecture. Also try to react to what other students are saying. This is where we get at what these readings and ideas are all about, so discussing and interacting here is absolutely vital.
- Your comments should include your reactions to the arguments made in the readings, both specific points made by the writers and their overall claims, assumptions, and biases, as well as responses to comments made by other students.
- Your participation grade will be derive not only from the fact that you have posted, but on how well you contribute to the discussion of that day’s topic.
Make sure to also include a question that arose from you from today's readings or lecture. It can be any kind of question, but ideally something that provokes some discussion.
Important: Please treat this as an in-class discussion, not like an internet comment board. What I'm asking for is reaction, discussion, and real questions about the material, as a part of your weekly participation in the course.