7 May 2023

This week we're discussing 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, or 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

4 May 2023

I’ve updated the final exam page. On this page you’ll find information about the final and review materials. The exam will take place Thursday, May 18 from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m.

The review sheet is not designed to be a list of answers so much as questions you can use to guide you toward the areas you want to focus on in your review. As you read through the questions on the review sheet, those you have a sense of how you might answer are lower priority for review than those questions you’re not sure how you would answer; those you’d then want to go back and spend some time reviewing in your notes, the readings, the videos, quiz notes, and class discussions.

Also note that the terms are a useful way of finding concepts you need to go back and review, so I’d advise stepping through the terms at the end of each topic and making sure you have a sense of what they mean and why we’re studying them.

To prepare for the essays, I suggest that you focus on what you would consider to be four or five of the major themes of this course, and think about possible questions that relate to those topics across the periods and transitions we’ve explored. For each essay you’ll be asked to give three examples, so you can sketch out a question about a recurring topic in the course, your perspective on that question, and three similar or contrasting examples of that demonstrate that perspective.

Please take a look at the review sheet for details on the exam’s content and structure. Once you’ve read through the review sheet, if you have any questions about the exam or about any of the topics covered in it, please don’t hesitate to come to me or bring them up in class.

To get to the final exam page, click on “Exams” in the navigation index, or follow the link to the “Final Exam page” below.

Link to Final Exam page

30 April 2023

This week 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?

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

Link to Schedule page

23 April 2023

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

15 April 2023

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

2 April 2023

Enjoy your break! We’ll meet again on the 20th to continue exploring the Roman principate and all that...

Link to Schedule page

25 March 2023

This week we're talking about the Roman world adjusting to the loss of Augustus. 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

19 March 2023

This week we're talking about Augustus himself and the principate he created, and there are so many perspectives on him. What makes it possible for Augustus to rule without serious challenge for so long? What exactly is that nature of this rule? What's wrong with it, and what's right about it?

What is the rise of Augustus and the emergence of the principate telling us about the Romans of this time? Discuss your thoughts and questions about Augustus, his role in the Roman story, and all that's going on around him. How different are Augustus the man and Augustus the idea?

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

Link to Schedule page

12 March 2023

This week we’re talking about Caesar’s assassination and its aftermath. Why do you think Caesar was really killed? Did the political climate make the failure of the self-styled liberators inevitable, or did they screw up a chance to restore Rome to a pre-Caesar state?

The end of the Republic is still dominated by colorful figures, including that oddest of couples, Antony and Octavian. Antony had the experience, and Octavian was just a kid—so what factors made it possible for him to win out over Antony? How does Cleopatra rate in all of this—pawn or freedom fighter?

I mentioned the end of the Republic, but historians still argue over when the Republic was truly gone. Given what the Romans would have meant by the word, when does the Republic end, do you think? What are the possible turning points after which what’s operating in Rome is no longer the Republic of the previous four-plus centuries?

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

Link to Schedule page

5 March 2023

This week we’re experiencing Rome in the wake of the Marius’s bloody coup and Sulla’s equally brutal restoration of the Republic. Some parts of Sulla’s reforms have staying power, but a lot of what Sulla accomplished was rolled back in the decades after his retirement and almost immediate death. What do you think about that? What was Sulla’s most lasting legacy, and why did his reforms started to get unstuck almost from the day he gave up power?

The later stages of the breakdown of the Republic are a breeding ground for fascinating figures. What did Cicero really stand for, do you think? Are there potential justifications for saying Pompey was, in fact, “great”? Was Clodius an iconoclast, an anarchist, an attention-seeker, or a cultural troll? Who else grabs your interest from this turbulent time?

And then: Caesar. Your take, please, on one of the most famous Romans in history. Was he the man Rome needed in 49, when he crossed the Rubicon—to this day a metaphor for there being no turning back? Was his vision for Rome about more than just his own leadership—and if so, what kind of Rome do you think he hoped to create? How was Caesar bad for Rome, even if he had good intentions? And, inevitably: why do you think he was killed?

One more thing to ponder: Sulla and Caesar, though political opposites, had two things in common. Both marched on Rome, and both took hold of the power of the dictatorship to reshape Rome according to their vision. Caesar supposedly said Sulla’s mistake was that he resigned, restoring the Republic to a new normal he had created. Do you agree? Was Sulla naïve to resign, or was Caesar the one who should have stepped down before he was pulled down?

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

Link to Schedule page

5 March 2023

Here are a few brief reminders about the proposal, which is due very soon on Monday, March 20.

I’m looking for: a problem that can be argued; your proposed thesis; and any other thoughts about what you might want to explore or how you think you might go about supporting your argument in the position paper itself. I’ll give feedback on topic viability, scope, and possible primary and secondary sources.

There is also a video on the course website (see the Essays page or the Videos page) that details exactly what I’m looking for. A sample is also posted on the proposal page. I’m happy to discuss possible ideas and approaches in office hours, after class, or by email.

Here’s what the syllabus has for the proposal assignment.

The assignment:  The proposal is just a brief one-page preview of your position paper. It should include:

• The topic you think you’ll want to write about and the problem you’re interested in addressing. You should be able to delineate the problem by describing the opposing views people might take. To make sure you have two clear opposing opinions, you might want to express them in the form “Some say… . Others say….”
• Your preliminary thesis statement—in other words, what you think you might be arguing in your paper.
• Your thesis statement, both here and in the final paper, should be a statement of opinion that someone could disagree with. It can take the form of following up the description of the opposing opinions with your own: “I believe….”
• Remember that your thesis is provisional. You can change anything about your approach and interpretation after the proposal; in fact, uncovering information as you do your research makes refining or changing your initial assessments very likely.

Your proposal is structured like the introduction to your final paper, and may serve as the basis for it.

The proposal is not graded, but whether you submitted a proposal on time will be factored into the final grade for the position paper. I will give you feedback on things like the feasibility of researching your topic, whether the scope is too big or too narrow for a paper like this, and some possible sources you might want to look at.

Link to Position Paper Proposal page

5 March 2023

We’re now approaching the midpoint of the course, and you know what that means. Blood and mayhem in the streets of Rome! Also, your second presentations.

If you have not done so already, please claim your reading. To sign up for your second presentation, go to the Signup #2 page.

Link to Presentation Sign-up #2 page

26 February 2023

This week, after we finish with Rome and the East, we start to experience the forces that will break up the Republic—though it will be a long century of turmoil and blood before the Republic is swept aside for the principate.

With the Gracchus brothers, the tensions that have been building in the Republic start to break loose. They were a polarizing factor in their lifetimes and they are just as polarizing now. From the primary sources, the readings, and the lectures, you get multiple perspectives on both brothers. Noble heroes or demagogues? Out to save Rome, or in it for the glory? Or both? What do you think truly drove Tiberius Gracchus, and how was his brother Gaius different or alike? Is their legacy their own doing, or did they happen to be the tribunes that pushed the conservatives over the edge?

And then we have the matched set of Marius and Sulla—who are, if anything, even more divisive today than the Gracchi. Marius the singular arch-populist, and Sulla the strange maverick among the optimates. Both were great generals and compelling leaders… both honestly believed they were saving Rome… and both were ruthless murderers who took Rome by force and massacred all their enemies. Sulla got the bad press because his side lost in the end, so step back and look at their stories objectively. What do you think of them as men, and what do you think of them as Romans? Do either or both earn your respect, and why? What do you think are Marius’s most lasting legacies, and what do you think are Sulla’s?

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

Link to Schedule page

19 February 2023

This week, after we catch up talking about Carthage, we’re talking about the Roman expansion in the East. Did the Romans deliberately set to out to create an eastern empire, or did it happen accidentally, as Rome reacted to events in the east? What factors do you think most drive Rome to increase its presence in the east?

We’re also talking about the effects of empire on Rome. What stands out to you as the way Rome is most changed by the acquisition of empire, and would the Romans have seen this as a positive change? What do you think the Romans were most concerned about as they saw the transformation empire was wreaking on them? Why would they embrace Greek language and culture if they were so proud of being Roman?

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

Link to Schedule page

12 February 2023

This week we’re talking about the Roman expansion in Italy, leading directly to Rome’s conflict with Carthage. That in itself is a topic for discussion: it seems like a straightforward progression, with Rome’s dominion getting larger and larger, like a time-lapse video. How is that impression misleading, do you think? Also, is it all about Rome? What factors in Italy might have made the growth of Rome’s power possible besides Rome’s military strength and adaptability?

Roman historians like to emphasize the Sack of Rome as turning the Romans toward more aggressive expansion. What do you think? What signs do you see that suggest Rome would have kept on taking more cities after Veii even without the Sack—or would they have settled down into their new and improved city-state on the Tiber and stayed put?

Both the First and Second Punic Wars also seem inevitable in retrospect. Why do you think the Romans really went to war? Did they really want Sicily and Spain, or was something else driving the Romans? Did they seek out these conflicts, or were they just reacting to events?

Both wars were utterly disastrous at first, and yet ended with Roman victories. Did those victories come from Roman success, or Carthaginian failures?

And: How do you think the Rome of 200, after Zama—the actual city, and its citizens milling in the Forum and gathering in its assemblies and in the senate hall—were different from the Rome of two hundred years earlier, before Veii and the Sack?

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

Link to Schedule page

5 February 2023

This week we’re exploring the end of the regal period and the beginning of the Republic. The goal this week is to get into the nature of the Republic—opening up the hood and seeing what makes it work, as that will be the basis for the next few weeks’ discussion and readings.

One key concern for us this week and in the weeks to come is the factors and values that kept the Republic strong for most of five centuries. What do you think really kept the Republic going, not only well enough to survive but to prosper, expand, and become an empire?

A good way to explore how the Republic worked and how they thought about their relationship with the state is sorting out the officials and systems of the Republic. What seems strangest to you about this set-up? What’s the most impressive to you, and why? What factors do you think aren’t accounted for that might be a problem? When you think about how all of this operates on a day-to-day and year-to-year basis, what do you think is most likely to go wrong?

The most disruptive internal conflict of this time is the Conflict of the Orders. What do you think this struggle was really about? Why do you think it turned out the way that it did?

Perhaps most importantly, there's the primary source you read this week. What did you get out of it? What is this author telling us about Rome, and what idea is he most bent on trying to convince you of? How does this fit with the rest of what we’re discussing this week?

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

Link to Schedule page

30 January 2023

This week we're talking about the Roman kings. What's most striking to you about the kings, and how the Romans saw them? Why do you think did their legends described such a ferocious founding king in Romulus—and why did the Romans admire and literally venerate him anyway, placing him among their gods?

What do you think the stories of Tarquin and his son tell us about the Romans? Why are the stories of the Sabine Women and Lucretia so central to a manly culture like the Romans?

Setting legend aside, what do you think really made the Romans turn their backs on monarchy?

Also: If you haven’t signed up for your first presentation, please do so now! Go to the sign-up #1 page on the course website and claim one of the remaining readings. Email me with any questions.

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

Link to Schedule page

23 January 2023

This week we’re exploring core stuff like Roman names, the periods of Roman history, and key themes of the course—all of which is not only material we’ll be relying on regularly throughout the semester, but gives us some useful insights onto the Roman character. What strikes you as most interesting or unexpected about the Romans? What do you want to know more about?

One thing I'd like to talk about in the first meeting is how we’re connected to the Romans. What parts of your life link us back to the days when Rome ruled the Mediterranean world—and why was that part of the Roman world so enduring that we still have it with us two thousand years later?

Syllabus and video: As a reminder, the syllabus, assignments, and requirements are all on my website, markbwilson dot com. Make sure you’ve looked through the site and that you’ve watched the welcome video, which talks about how the course works and answers some common questions.

Books: Also make sure you have the books. You’ll need both the textbook and the Reader right away, as there are assignments next week. (Remember the Reader comes in an online version if you prefer it to the printed version—see the Books page for more.) The reading assignments on the Schedule page of the website are what you need to have read (and thought about) before coming to class.

Email me: Many of you replied back to the welcome-to-the-course email I sent you after you enrolled, confirming that I have a good email address for you. If you didn’t, could you do me a favor and email me and let me know that I can use this address, or that that a different email is better for you? Thanks.

I’m looking forward to meeting (and remeeting) you all and starting our Roman journey. See you Thursday!

Link to Schedule page

23 January 2023

For this class, you need to do two presentations on one of the primary sources from the Reader: one in the first half of the course, and one in the second. For each of these, you need to claim the one you want on the appropriate sign-up page.

Each presentation will give the class your perspective on (a) what this reading means, (b) the author’s perspective on the topics, and (c) how it relates to the material being discussed in the course. A write-up is posted to BlackBoard afterwards. Details are on the Essays page.

Please sign up for the first one now before the start of classes. As always I am grateful to those who choose the earlier ones!

To sign up for your first presentation, go to the Signup #1 page. To sign up for your second presentation, go to the Signup #2 page.

Link to Signup #1 page