Students

AHIS2225 – Rome and the Caesars

2025 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Peter Keegan
peter.keegan@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
40cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

Rome and the Caesars focuses on the political and institutional history from the murder of Julius Caesar (44 BC) to the First Tetrarchy (284-305 CE). Students will study how the lives and policies of Roman emperors affected those living in the Roman empire. Training will be provided in the study of literature, coins, inscriptions 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:

  • ULO1: illustrate a broad knowledge of historical developments, research principles and discipline specific methodologies for the study of Roman imperial history
  • ULO2: devise arguments and solve problems relating to Roman imperial history.
  • ULO3: present a clear and coherent, evidence based exposition of knowledge and ideas about Rome and the Caesars

General Assessment Information

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of‚ 0 (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.  

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Source Analysis 20% No 23:55 AEST, 23-03-25
Portfolio: Commentary, Catalogue of Sources, Bibliography 40% No 23:55, 11-05-25
Blog 40% No 23:55, 8-06-25

Source Analysis

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 18 hours
Due: 23:55 AEST, 23-03-25
Weighting: 20%

 

The source analysis assessment refers to a close, focused and personal discussion of ONE example of ancient primary evidence which you have encountered during Weeks 2-3 of this unit which illustrates a facet of a key area of learning about Roman republican or proto-imperial history before 27 BCE. 

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • illustrate a broad knowledge of historical developments, research principles and discipline specific methodologies for the study of Roman imperial history
  • present a clear and coherent, evidence based exposition of knowledge and ideas about Rome and the Caesars

Portfolio: Commentary, Catalogue of Sources, Bibliography

Assessment Type 1: Portfolio
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 23:55, 11-05-25
Weighting: 40%

 

The portfolio assessment refers to a CATALOGUE OF SOURCES which illustrate facets of a key area of learning about 1st-early 2nd century CE Roman imperial history, along with an HISTORICAL COMMENTARY or reflection about these sources and a BIBLIOGRAPHY of peer-reviewed academic references (available in the LEGANTO reading list) which you use to support the information and ideas included in your HISTORICAL COMMENTARY.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • illustrate a broad knowledge of historical developments, research principles and discipline specific methodologies for the study of Roman imperial history
  • devise arguments and solve problems relating to Roman imperial history.
  • present a clear and coherent, evidence based exposition of knowledge and ideas about Rome and the Caesars

Blog

Assessment Type 1: Non-academic writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 23:55, 8-06-25
Weighting: 40%

 

The blog assessment refers to a public-facing, non-academic, online reflection which addresses a particular topic about Roman imperial history. You may select a topic from any period of Roman imperial history covered in Weeks 8-13 of the unit; in other words, the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE from the principate of Hadrian to the advent of the Tetrarchy (118 CE-the final years of the 3rd century CE/first decade of the 4th century CE). Whatever topic you select, your blog will show how imperial leadership affected the lives of the people living under Roman rule during the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE. 

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • illustrate a broad knowledge of historical developments, research principles and discipline specific methodologies for the study of Roman imperial history
  • present a clear and coherent, evidence based exposition of knowledge and ideas about Rome and the Caesars

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

UNIT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS

Classes

For lecture/tutorial times and classrooms please consult the MQ Timetable website. This website will display up-to-date information on your classes. For any variations on this information, please consult the AHIS/AHIX2225 iLearn website (which is accessible at the commencement of teaching session).

Lectures: There are two recorded lectures a week for all weeks of the session. The importance of regular listening to lectures is that we signal the topics that we deem significant. It is expected that you audit ALL lectures over the session. We shall expect you to discuss these topics in the portfolio and blog.

Tutorials: There is a tutorial for most weeks of the session in which it is expected that students will participate actively. Tutorials commence in Week 1.

Each student will have undertaken the reading for each week’s tutorial and will contribute to the best of their ability to the discussion. A unit like this, drawing on such a broad range of material and different perspectives, works best when everyone brings their thoughts to the table. Participation in tutorials is considered a vital and rewarding part of the unit.

Required and Recommended Texts

The areas covered in this unit are too broad for a single set text. Students will, however, be asked to readings (including translations of ancient primary sources) through Leganto which will be used for specific tutorials, in lectures and in assessment preparation. It will be made available electronically on the iLearn site.

In this unit emphasis is placed upon the direct examination of the ancient sources and evidence. Students are expected to base all their work on a personal examination of these sources. It will not be sufficient simply to read modern studies on any topic; however sound and highly recommended these are: it will be essential to look first at the ancient sources on which all modern studies are necessarily based. 

Technology Used and Required

The unit has an iLearn page which can be accessed via your iLearn login. PC and internet access are therefore required. Basic computer skills (e.g., internet browsing) and skills in word processing are also a requirement. You will also receive training in the use of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite of digital tools (in particular, Adobe Portfolio). Please consult teaching staff for any further, more specific requirements. 

NB: The unit iLearn page will go live in the week prior to the first week of the teaching session.

Unit Schedule

See AHIS/AHIX2225 iLearn unit webpage

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

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

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

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

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

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.

Changes from Previous Offering

The ASSESSMENT schedule for this offering of the unit now includes three tasks: 1. a Source Analysis (new). 2. a Portfolio (existing). 3. a Blog (existing). This means that the assessment weighting breakdown is now 20% (Assessment 1), 40% (Assessment 2), and 40% (Assessment 3).

Unit information based on version 2025.02 of the Handbook