Timothy Moore, WAG 14CA, 232-4161; (timmoore@mail.utexas.edu), Office hours T 2-3:30, Th 11-12:30 and by appointment
TAs:
Sarah Davies, WAG 14C, 471-2376 (s_davies@mail.utexas.edu), Office
hours W 1-4
Keith Kitchen, WAG 14C, 471-2376 (kmk364@mail.utexas.edu), Office
hours M12:30-2, W 1-2:30
Jessica Luther, WAG 11, 471-0677 (jluther@mail.utexas.edu), Office
hours Th 11-12:30
Course description: The ancient Romans are both fascinating in their own right and uniquely useful for contemporary Americans. Because Rome has been so influential on our own institutions and culture, the Romans offer us invaluable perspectives on the modern world. At the same time, the Romans were in many ways frighteningly different from us. The study of Rome thus helps us to appreciate how cultural differences can determine how humans think and act. Our aim in this course is to gain a fuller understanding of Rome--its similarities to, and its differences from, us--in order to understand better who we are, both as humans and as modern descendants of the Romans. We will reach this goal through reading and discussion of works written by the ancient Romans and secondary works on Roman history and culture.
Texts:
Course packet, available from University Duplication, Welch
2.228
The Oxford Illustrated History of the Roman World, edited by
John Boardman, Jasper Griffin, and Oswyn Murray.
Plautus and Terence: Five Comedies, translated by Deena Berg
and Douglass Parker.
Vergil, Aeneid, translated by Robert Fitzgerald.
Petronius, Satyricon, translated by William
Arrowsmith
Grading:
2 midterm exams: 30% each
Comprehensive final exam: 40%
Missed and late work
Exams may not be made up, and papers may not be handed in late,
except in the case of a religious holiday (see below), or a
documented medical or family emergency. Missed work must be made up
within two weeks.
Attendance
Please do not think that because this class is large, attendance
is not important. It is absolutely imperative that you attend class
each day, except in the case of emergencies. Much of each exam will
be based on material only covered in class, and no amount of help you
can get from the TAs, the web, your colleagues, or the instructor can
substitute for attendance in class.
Reading Assignments
It is vitally important that you read the assigned readings
before class. Lectures and discussions will take for granted that you
are familiar with the readings assigned for the day.
Common courtesy:
As you see, our class is a very large one. We must therefore all
follow the following rules religiously:
1. Cell phones must be turned off during class.
2. No talking (even in a whisper) during class: it is simply too
distracting.
3. No reading of other material (especially newspapers) during
class.
4. Class lasts until 1:45 AM: Please remain still in your seats until
that time. It is impossible for anyone to learn when 250 people are
closing notebooks, shuffling papers, and getting up to leave.
Infringement of these rules may lead to expulsion from
class.
Please do not take this class if you are
unwilling or unable to do the following:
1. Attend class each day, except in the case of medical or family
emergency ("I slept late," "It's the OU football weekend," "I had a
test in another class" are not medical or family emergencies).
2. Remain quiet and attentive throughout class.
3. Read and think about assigned readings before class.
4. Review class notes and readings carefully before exams.
Scholastic dishonesty:
Scholastic dishonesty on any graded assignment will result in a
failing grade (Zero), which you may not drop. Scholastic dishonesty
includes any kind of cheating; if you are unsure about the exact
definition you should consult the General information catalogue,
Appendix C, Section 11-802 (http://www.utexas.edu/student/registrar/catalogs/gi01-02/app/appc11.html)
Academic disabilities:
The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request
appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with
disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of
Students at 471-6259 or 471-4641, or the information online at
http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/.
Religious holidays:
You may make up work missed because of a religious holiday if you
bring me documentation of the holiday fourteen days ahead of
time.
August
26:
Introduction to course
31 The Oxford Illustrated History of the
Roman World (hereafter OIH) 1: "Early Rome and Italy" (pp. 9-38);
Start Vergil, Aeneid
September
2 OIH 2: "The Expansion of Rome" (pp. 39-59)
7 Plautus, Double Bind
(Menaechmi) in Plautus and Terence: Five Comedies, pp.
100-184
9 Plautus, Double Bind (Menaechmi) in Plautus and
Terence: Five Comedies, pp. 100-184
14 Terence, The Brothers (Adelphoe)
in Plautus and Terence: Five Comedies, pp. 345-405
16 OIH 4: "Cicero and Rome" (pp. 76-99)
21 Catullus, Selected Poems in Course
Packet, and poem 63, online at
http://www.perseus.org/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0006:poem=63:line=1
Lucretius, On the Nature of Things, Book 4, verses
1037-1287, online at
http://www.perseus.org/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0131&layout=&loc=4.1057
23 Cicero, First Oration Against Catiline (in course
packet)
28 Lucretius, On the Nature of
Things, Book 3 (in course packet)
30 Exam I
October
5 OIH 6: "The Founding of the Empire" (pp. 121-149)
7 Livy, From the Founding of the City, Selections from Books
1-2 (in course packet)
12 Vergil I: Complete Vergil's Aeneid
by today
14 Vergil II
19 Selections from Horace's Odes and
Satires (in course packet)
21 Suetonius, Nero (in course packet)
26 Tacitus, Selections from Annals
(in course packet)
28 Petronius, Satyricon, pp. 38-84
November
2 Juvenal, Satires 3 and 10 (in course packet): NOTE
CHANGE
4 Exam II
9 OIH 7: "The Arts of Government" (pp.
150-181)
11 OIH 14: "The Arts of Living" (pp. 308-337)
16 OIH 15: "Roman Life and Society" (pp.
338-360)
18 OIH 16: "Roman Art and Architecture," 1st half (pp.
361-380)
23 OIH 16: ""Roman Art and Architecture,"
2nd half (pp. 380-400)
25: Dies Gratias Agendi
Note change to syllabus for November 30th
30 OIH "Envoi: On Taking Leave of
Antiquity", first section only (pp. 401-409); 210
Reasons for the Fall of Rome (on
line): Read list, choose one or two proposed reasons to discuss in
class
December 2 Review
Sat 11 Dec, 9 AM to 12noon, Art 1.102: Final Exam