Newcastle University

Pre Requisite Comment

n/a

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The aim of this module is to provide students with a broad overview of Roman history from the foundation of the city to the reign of Trajan, which marked the stage of greatest expansion of the empire. The focus is on providing a general overview of chronology and of important themes and problems across the centuries.
The module will focus on key issues, including Rome’s imperial expansion, the rise and fall of the Republic, the emergence of the Principate, and the quality and scale of cultural transformation in the Mediterranean world.

Outline Of Syllabus

This module explores the following key themes and periods:
•       the origins of Rome and the problems of using later traditions.
•       the development of the early Republic and the struggle of the orders.
•       Rome’s expansion in Italy and the Mediterranean: conquest and settlement.
•       the fall of the Roman Republic and the Augustan settlement.
•       the Hellenisation of Rome and the Romanisation of the Mediterranean.
•       the Principate from the Julio-Claudians to Trajan.
•       the neighbours of the Roman empire, esp. the Germans and the Parthians

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

At the end of this module students will acquire knowledge of:
•       a chronological outline of Roman history from the 8th century BC to the early 2nd century CE;
•       key themes, facts and debates, including imperialism, Romanisation, and regime change;
•       selected primary sources in translation;
•       key modern scholarship.

Intended Skill Outcomes

At the end of this module students will acquire the following skills:
•       the ability to analyse key primary source material;
•       the ability to engage critically with modern scholarly debates;
•       the ability to write a reasoned argument on a set of historical questions;
•       the ability to navigate across the chronological and geographical range of Roman history from the 8th century BCE to the early century CE.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures and associated readings will introduce students to key historical topics and how to approach them. Lectures are not merely intended to provide them with answers. Instead, they will provide students with the knowledge and skills that will enable them to both formulate and answer their own questions. Listening, reading and note-taking skills will play a key role in this process. The seminar discussions are an opportunity to develop their understanding dynamically, e.g. by engaging in discussion of how they should go about addressing historical questions, the relative merits of different types of evidence or approach to the sources or by gaining clarification of any points that may prove elusive. In doing so they will develop analytical skills, oral communication skills and ability to work as part of a team. Two Q&A sessions will provide guidance on the assessment components for this module, and will also be the opportunity to cover important study skills points.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The two written assignments, which have the same format but are weighted differently (40% and 60%), test the students' ability to analyse an ancient source (part 1: commentary) and to engage in depth with key primary evidence and modern scholarship and construct a reasoned argument on the basis of these (part 2: essay).

The formative assessment is intended to support students in becoming acquainted with a wide range of topics and problems, and with a rich and diverse set of primary evidence and secondary material, as well as providing them with prompt and tangible feedback on the progress they are making.

All Erasmus students at Newcastle University are expected to do the same assessment as students registered for a degree.

Study-abroad, non-Erasmus exchange and Loyola students spending semester 1 only are required to finish their assessment while in Newcastle. This will take the form of an alternative assessment, as outlined in the formats below:

Modules assessed by Coursework and Exam:
The normal alternative form of assessment for all semester 1 non-EU study abroad students will be one essay in addition to the other coursework assessment (the length of the essay should be adjusted in order to comply with the assessment tariff); to be submitted no later than 12pm Friday of week 12. The essays should be set so as to assure coverage of the course content to date.

Modules assessed by Exam only:
The normal alternative form of assessment for all semester 1 non-EU study abroad students will be two 2,000 word written exercises; to be submitted no later than 12pm Friday of week 12. The essays should be set so as to assure coverage of the course content to date.

Modules assessed by Coursework only:
All semester 1 non-EU study abroad students will be expected to complete the standard assessment for the module; to be submitted no later than 12pm Friday of week 12. The essays should be set so as to assure coverage of the course content to date.

Study-abroad, non-Erasmus exchange and Loyola students spending the whole academic year or semester 2 are required to complete the standard assessment as set out in the MOF under all circumstances.

General Notes

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