Students

AHIS312 – Rome and the Caesars

2019 – S1 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Ray Laurence
ray.laurence@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
39cp at 100 level or above or (6cp in AHIS or AHST units at 200 level)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit is a study of Roman political and institutional history from the murder of Julius Caesar (44 B.C.) to the First Tetrarchy (A.D. 284-305). We will examine the lives and policies of Roman emperors, as well as the impact of the Roman state on the provinces. The unit will involve study of literary, numismatic, epigraphic, and archaeological evidence. 

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Research and critically analyze the literary, archaeological, and documentary sources for Roman imperial history
  • Research and critically analyze modern scholarship on Roman imperial history
  • Communicate the results of outcomes 1 and 2 in group discussion
  • Communicate the results of outcome 1 and 2 in written assignments and the final examination

General Assessment Information

Tutorial Attendance and Participation

Students are expected to prepare for, attend, and participate actively in all tutorials in the course. Tutorial participation is worth 10%. If a student must be absent from tutorials for health or other reasons, they must complete a Special Consideration application.

Submission of Written Assignments

The Coin Assignment (10%) and Research Essay (40%) must be submitted through TurnItIn via the iLearn unit portal.

Length of Written Assignments

The word length for assignments includes includes quotations, references, and footnotes, but not the bibliography. The length must be within 10% (plus or minus) of the specified word count.

Late Submission Penalty 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests. 

Important note on Final Marks

Please note with respect to the marks you receive for work during the session: that the marks given are indicative only; final marks will be determined after moderation. See further the note on Results in the Policies and Procedures section below.

 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Participation 10% No Every tutorial (ongoing)
Roman Coin Assignment 10% No 20/03/2019
Research Essay 40% No 10/05/2018
Final Examination 40% No Exam Period

Participation

Due: Every tutorial (ongoing)
Weighting: 10%

Students are expected to attend all tutorials for the course, to participate actively, and to demonstrate knowledge of assigned reading.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Research and critically analyze the literary, archaeological, and documentary sources for Roman imperial history
  • Research and critically analyze modern scholarship on Roman imperial history
  • Communicate the results of outcomes 1 and 2 in group discussion

Roman Coin Assignment

Due: 20/03/2019
Weighting: 10%

Students will be required to produce an 800-word report on a Roman coin from the Triumviral or Augustan periods, explaining its significance as a source for Roman history. Full details of the assignment will be placed on the iLearn website.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Research and critically analyze the literary, archaeological, and documentary sources for Roman imperial history
  • Research and critically analyze modern scholarship on Roman imperial history
  • Communicate the results of outcome 1 and 2 in written assignments and the final examination

Research Essay

Due: 10/05/2018
Weighting: 40%

Students will be required to research and write a 2500 word essay on a topic in Roman imperial history. Full details of the assignment will be placed on the iLearn website.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Research and critically analyze the literary, archaeological, and documentary sources for Roman imperial history
  • Research and critically analyze modern scholarship on Roman imperial history
  • Communicate the results of outcome 1 and 2 in written assignments and the final examination

Final Examination

Due: Exam Period
Weighting: 40%

There will be a 2-hour examination in the exam period. The exam is worth 40%, to be divided up as follows: (i) 2 source identification and analysis questions (5 marks each); (ii) 2 essays (15 marks each). Full details will be provided on the iLearn website.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Research and critically analyze the literary, archaeological, and documentary sources for Roman imperial history
  • Research and critically analyze modern scholarship on Roman imperial history
  • Communicate the results of outcome 1 and 2 in written assignments and the final examination

Delivery and Resources

Classes

For lecture times and classrooms please consult the MQ Timetable website: <http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au>. This website will display up-to-date information on your classes and classroom locations.

Lectures: There is a 2-hour lecture every week, except Week 9.

Tutorials: There are tutorials every week, except Week 1, Week 9, and Week 13.

Student Workload

In accordance with Senate Guidelines, a student workload of 3 hours per credit point (i.e., 9 hours per week for this 3-credit point unit) for 15 weeks (13 weeks of lectures + 2 weeks of recess) is expected.

Required Readings

There are no textbooks for this course. Students will be required to read source materials placed on the iLearn website.

Online iLearn Site

This unit has an online presence. Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/ Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient.

For technical support go to: http://mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/informatics/help

For student quick guides on the use of iLearn go to: http://mq.edu.au/iLearn/student_info/guides.htm

 

Unit Schedule

Week

 Lecture Topic

Tutorial Topic

Week 1: Thursday February 28th

Romans and Caesars

None

Week 2: Thursday March 7th

Triumvirate and Principate

 

Using Coins 1: The Triumviral Period

Week 3: Thursday March 14th

 

Emperor and Empire

Using Coins 2: The Age of Augustus

Week 4: Thursday March 21st

 

 

State and Society

 

Interpreting Inscriptions 1: Res Gestae

Week 5: Thursday March 28th

 

 

Politics and Personalities

Reading History 1: Suetonius’ Life of Claudius & Seneca's Apocolocyntosis ('Pumpkinification')

Week 6: Thursday April 4th

 

The Actor and the Secret

Interpreting Inscriptions 2: Emperor Worship in Greece

Week 7: Thursday April 11th

War and Games

 

Reading History 2: Martial, Liber Spectaculorum ('Book of Spectacles')

Recess: April 15th-28th

No lectures

 

 

Week 8: Thursday May 2nd

 

Dacians and Greeks

Reading History 3: Pliny, Letters

Week 9: Thursday May 9th

Reading week: no classes

 

 

Reading week: no classes

Week 10: Thursday May 16th

The Philosopher and the Gladiator

 

Reading History 4: Fronto, Letters; Cassius Dio, Roman History

 

Week 11: Thursday May 23rd

Africans and Syrians

 

Interpreting Inscriptions 3: The Epigraphic Habit

Week 12: Thursday May 30th

Soldiers and Martyrs

 

Using Coins 3: Communication and Consensus

 

 

Week 13: Thursday May 6th

Emperors and Edicts

 

 

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Research and critically analyze the literary, archaeological, and documentary sources for Roman imperial history
  • Research and critically analyze modern scholarship on Roman imperial history

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Roman Coin Assignment
  • Research Essay
  • Final Examination

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Research and critically analyze the literary, archaeological, and documentary sources for Roman imperial history
  • Research and critically analyze modern scholarship on Roman imperial history
  • Communicate the results of outcomes 1 and 2 in group discussion
  • Communicate the results of outcome 1 and 2 in written assignments and the final examination

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Roman Coin Assignment
  • Research Essay
  • Final Examination

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Research and critically analyze the literary, archaeological, and documentary sources for Roman imperial history
  • Research and critically analyze modern scholarship on Roman imperial history

Assessment tasks

  • Roman Coin Assignment
  • Research Essay
  • Final Examination

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Communicate the results of outcomes 1 and 2 in group discussion
  • Communicate the results of outcome 1 and 2 in written assignments and the final examination

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Roman Coin Assignment
  • Research Essay
  • Final Examination