History & Literature of the Roman Revolution
J. O'Hara
Spring 2001
(The coins show, from left, Antony, Octavian the future Augustus and
below that his
triumphal chariot, and Cleopatra. The images are reproduced from
the VROMA project; they
describe the coins here;
and here is
their policy for image use. )
CCIV274 / HIST274/ COL279
http://johara.web.wesleyan.edu/CCIV274.html
Monday-Wednesday 1:10-2:30 p.m. 339 Science Center
Jim O'Hara
329 Science Center (Classical Studies Department)
Ext. 2066 (w/ voice mail), home # was on handout given in class (if
nec., only 9 a.m.- 7 p.m.)
Dept. Office (w/ my mailbox) is SC 341, ext. 2070
Reserve Shelf for handouts, etc. = 334 SC (open 24 hours)
Course home page: http://johara.web.wesleyan.edu/hlrr.html
Office hours: MW 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m.
or by appointment (I’m here most of M-F 9-5)
My other class is GRK 261 Sophocles, W-F 10-11:20 a.m., 334 SC
Description from catalogue: This course will examine the events and literature of the civil war years from the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 B.C.E to the consolidation of power in the hands of Rome's first emperor, Augustus, in the 20's. We will look both at the struggle for power by Octavian, Mark Antony, and others, and at the response to crisis of the intelligentsia, as a new generation of historians and poets both fled from the real world to the escape of literary pursuits, and also grappled with the events of the day through writing that hoped to influence that real world. Primary readings will include late Cicero, Sallust's two historical monographs, and the earlier work of the poets Vergil and Horace, and the historian Livy. We will also read a basic survey of Roman history, one classic of modern historiography (Syme's 1939 The Roman Revolution), and one historical novel. The class will begin with background study of Roman history, and throughout the term readings will be supplemented by occasional mini-lectures on such topics as minor literary and historical figures, Roman coins and monuments, and political invective.
Course requirements: class participation (and attendance), four two-page papers on topics assigned 5-7 days before absolutely inflexible due dates (some will be read in class), 6-10 page term paper or take-home final due ______. The topic for the final paper will be up to you, though I will give you some suggestions: read everything like a person looking for a topic.
Grades: Each of the four short papers, and the final paper or take-home, will initially count for 20% of your average. Class participation can raise or lower your final grade by a full grade or, more commonly, by one notch (B to B+ or -).
Book List (don’t use other translations without permission, but you can ask):
EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS
4 short (two-page) papers on assigned topics during the term; a final 6-10 page paper or essay exam. For the two 2-page papers, several students will read their papers aloud in class, and the class will discuss; everyone will do this once.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS
COL students taking the course for COL will receive pass/fail or credit;
others will be graded.
Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate
directly with the
instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the
class list. NOTE: Students
must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.
Links
on Augustus, the Roman Revolution,
and our authors