Aims

This course examines the archaeology of the Roman Empire from Augustus to Justinian. It spans a period that saw high drama and rapid change for many of the peoples of Europe, North Africa, Asia Minor and the Near East. The different and unequal ways that the imperial authorities and local populations adapted to one another are manifested in a plethora of settings, from epic monuments to humble homes, and from rich graves to rubbish pits. This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the landscapes, buildings and artefacts of the Empire, while at the same time revealing the important role of regions far beyond Rome in generating new forms, styles and ideas.

Outline Of Syllabus

Week 1 (Timetable week 5)       Introduction      
Lecture: Introducing the Early Empire: Historiography and the Empire from Augustus to the Tetrarchy - TR
Lecture: Introducing the Later Empire: Historiography and the Empire from the Tetrarchy to Justinian. Writing Societal Change: from Decline to Transition - MJ
           
Week 2 (Timetable week 6)            
      Seminar: Group A       Wild monks and excitable virgins       MJ
      Seminar: Group B       Wild monks and excitable virgins       MJ
Lecture: The Tetrarchic and Constantinian adventus; Imperial propaganda and ideology       MJ

Week 3 (Timetable week 7)
Seminar: Group A: Coinage Seminar 1       RC
Seminar: Group B: Coinage Seminar 1       RC
Lecture: Power and Patronage: Archaeology of self-advertisement / Discussion: Costume and identity in the Roman World       - TR
Lecture: Power and Patronage: Innovating urban design in Late Antiquity       MJ

Week 4 (Timetable week 8)            
      Seminar: Group A: Coinage Seminar 2       RC
      Seminar: Group B: Coinage Seminar 2       RC
Lecture: Urbanism: Roads and the Creeping power of urbanism/public space       - TR
Lecture: Urbanism: Streets, commerce and infrastructure in Late Antiquity, A case study from Constantinople       MJ

Week 5 (Timetable week 9)
           
FIELDTRIP Segedunum
Thursday 15.00-17.00
      VISIT TO SEGEDUNUM (WALLSEND) Studying a Roman Fort - TR

Week 6 (Timetable week 10)            
Deadline: Monday NOON       FINAL DAY FOR SUBMISSION OF EMBASSY EXERCISE PAPERS      
Seminar: Group A: Team Preparation for Embassy Exercise       TA
Seminar: Group B: Team Preparation for Embassy Exercise       TA
Lecture: Religion and ritual: The Archaeology of belief in the Roman Empire/ Practical: curses and vows       - TR
Lecture: Religion and ritual: Archaeology of Belief in Late Antiquity – the rise of the Church       MJ

Week 7 (Timetable week 11)            
Seminar: Group A: Leisure and Entertainment: Decorating the hippodrome       MJ
Seminar: Group A: Leisure and Entertainment: Decorating the hippodrome       MJ
Lecture: Leisure and Entertainment: Theatres, Amphitheatres and other centres of spectacle/Practical: Gladiators       - TR
Lecture: From Late Roman rural housing to urban palaces and elite dwellings in Late Antiquity       MJ

Week 8 (Timetable week 12)            
Lecture: Palaces and Houses under the Early Empire/ Excavating Roman farms and villas       - TR

Week 9 (Timetable week 13)            
Tuesday 18.30-20.00 Hrs SEGEDUNUM ROMAN FORT       EMBASSY EXERCISE - TR & MJ, RC
Tuesday MIDNIGHT       COIN EXERCISE GOES LIVE ON BLACKBOARD (Deadline is 9 January, 2017)      
      Lecture: Archaeology of the Roman Economy: Riches from the Earth Archaeology of the early Roman Economy       - TR
      Lecture: Archaeology of the Late Roman Economy: Late Antique Pottery in use: Pisidia pottery production
Late Roman ships and shipwrecks       MJ
Week 10 (Timetable week 14)       YOU SHOULD HAVE LEARNT EPIGRAPHY ABBREVIATIONS BY THIS TIME      
GREAT NORTH MUSEUM
      Practical: Reading Roman Inscriptions in the GNM - TR
GREAT NORTH MUSEUM
      Practical: Reading Roman Inscriptions in the GNM - TR

Lecture: Late Roman Funerary Art and mortuary practice. Pagan to Christian: sarcophagi, tombs and martyria & Investigating Roman sarcophagi with Greek Inscriptions in Asia Minor       MJ

Week 11 (Timetable week 15)       YOU SHOULD HAVE LEARNT MAPS BY THIS TIME      
Lecture: The ties that bound: Religion and the sea in the early Roman Empire       - TR
Lecture: Religion and the sea in Late Antiquity MJ

Week 12 (Timetable week 19)       Revision      
Monday MIDNIGHT       FINAL DAY FOR SUBMISSION OF COIN EXERCISE ON BLACKBOARD      
Revising the Early Empire - TR
Revising Late Antiquity - MJ

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The programme combines lectures, seminars, practical (object handling) sessions and site visits to develop student familiarity with both synthetic analysis and raw material for the study of the Roman Empire. Particular emphasis will be placed on fostering basic finds handling skills.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Examination examines conceptual understanding through 2 essays (selected from six questions), 1 further essay and technical knowledge of Roman administrative machinery through short multiple choice section (25 questions).
Knowledge outcomes 1, 3 & 4.

Problem Solving Exercise/ Data handling exercise assesses knowledge outcome 2.
Practical Exercise/Presentation assess knowledge outcomes 1, 3 & 4. It aims to familiarise students with the unity and diversity of the Roman Empire through study of specific city case studies. Students will study and present the history, architecture and costume of different urban communities in the Empire.

Submitted work tests intended knowledge and skills outcomes, develops key skills in research, reading and writing.

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.