Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Course Convenor and Tutor
Mark Hebblewhite
Contact via Contact via Dialogue Tool
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Lecturer
Lea Beness
Contact via lea.beness@mq.edu.au
Department of Ancient History, Australian Hearing Hub, South Wing, Level 2
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit examines Roman history from 168 BC until the emergence of Augustus as Rome's 'First Man'. You will examine the effect upon Roman institutions of Rome's domination of the Mediterranean and investigate the rise of political instability and violence, which led to civil war, and the establishment of military autocracy. Particular attention will be paid to the changing expression of leadership qualities in Rome, the ideology of Rome's political class and evolving moral tradition. It is intended that at the end of this unit you will understand the ethos of the Roman Republic's political elite as it met Rome's changing circumstances; and understand the complex phenomenon of that Republic's failure at the very time of Rome's successful imperial expansion around the Mediterranean basin.
All enrolment queries should be directed to Open Universities Australia (OUA): see www.open.edu.au
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.open.edu.au/student-admin-and-support/key-dates/
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION
This unit uses ‘Turnitin Assignments’ as the submission method for all assessment tasks. Assignments are submitted through the appropriate portal in the ‘Assessments’ section of the iLearn website.
For information about 'Turnitin', see <http://www.mq.edu.au/iLearn/resources/turnitin_tips.htm>. You may also find the following helpful:
iLearn Assignment Upload Procedure
N.B. (NOTA BENE), i.e. NOTE WELL: You should always keep a copy of completed assignment tasks in case of loss.
GRADING
Criteria and standards required for the assessment tasks will be found on the unit iLearn site.
The grade a student receives will signify their overall performance in meeting the learning outcomes of the unit. Grades will not be awarded by reference to the achievement of other students nor allocated to fit a predetermined distribution. In determining a grade, due weight will be given to the learning outcomes and level of the unit. Markers in the unit will use the following grades:
HD = High Distinction 85–100
D = Distinction 75–84
Cr = Credit 65–74
P = Pass 50–64
F = Fail 0–49
PENALTIES FOR LATE SUBMISSION FOR ALL ASSESSMENT TASKS
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 the final exam.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATION
A student who has experienced unexpected, unavoidable, and serious circumstances affecting their assessable work may lodge an application for Special Consideration.
Applications will only be accepted in the following circumstances:
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.
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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Source Analysis | 30% | No | 5pm (EST) Friday of Week 4 |
Paper | 30% | No | By 5pm (EST) Friday of Week 10 |
Final Exam | 40% | No | By 5pm (EST) Sunday of Week 13 |
Due: 5pm (EST) Friday of Week 4
Weighting: 30%
In 1000 words or less, outline the main features of the Roman aristocratic ethos in the second century B.C., making reference to specific items of ancient evidence to support this outline. Indicate what you see as the strengths and weaknesses of that value system.
Due: By 5pm (EST) Friday of Week 10
Weighting: 30%
After contemplating your findings with regard to Rome's aristocratic value-system (which you submitted as a Source Analysis in Week 4) and thinking about the values espoused by Cato the Elder (which you studied in Week 1), discuss to what extent you can see a similarity between the thoughts of Cato and the thoughts of Marius. Can we discern an "ideology of novitas"? In what ways did the protestations of Marius differ in terms of his values from those traditional values of Rome's aristocracy?
The word limit is 1000 words. A bibliography of any modern works utilised must be provided.
Due: By 5pm (EST) Sunday of Week 13
Weighting: 40%
You are asked to answer two exam questions which will be released at 9am (EST) on the Monday of Week 13.
ABOUT THIS UNIT
The aim of this unit is to examine the ethos of the Roman Republic’s political elite as it met Rome’s changing circumstances. The period chosen for study also allows us to examine the complex phenomenon of that Republic’s failure at the very time of Rome’s successful imperial expansion around the Mediterranean basin.
The course concerns itself with the last century and a half of the period conventionally designated in modern times as the Roman Republic: from 168 BC, when Roman troops destroyed the Macedonian army at the battle of Pydna, and particularly from 146 BC, the year of the destruction of Carthage and Corinth, to 27 BC, the year in which C. Iulius Caesar Octavianus (Octavian) assumed the title Augustus, with the last lecture looking at the long principatus (or “premiership”) of Augustus which lasted until his death in AD 14. (Special emphasis is placed on the second century BC.) Developments in this period, both internal and external, are of critical significance in the history of western civilization. We look closely at traditional political and social institutions, values and practice, and try to assess the effect on these of Rome’s emergence as the supreme power in the Mediterranean.
The main questions will be how and why the traditional political order was challenged and finally overrun by violence leading to military autocracy and the radical transformation of the Republic. Larger social and economic developments in Italy and the Mediterranean will need to be addressed, and the distinctive features of moral and political thought of the period will also be considered. The course is largely a study of the Roman nobility and its members’ response to change and crisis. One of the themes of the course will be the values of Rome’s elite.
Lectures: The lectures for this unit have been recorded and the audio recordings can be downloaded or streamed via the Echo 360 system which can be accessed via the iLearn site.
Tutorials: Topics for discussion and questions to be addressed are set out under the appropriate week on the iLearn unit site. The material covered will form an essential preparation for your responses in Part (i) in the Examination. Preparation for each tutorial is advised, since the material covered in these sessions will be examined. Only by reading the material set for discussion in advance will you receive the full benefit of these sessions. Students are asked to discuss tutorial topics amongst themselves by posting online via the Discussion Forum for the appropriate week on the iLearn website.
We hope that participation in these discussions will be a vital and rewarding part of the unit.
RESOURCES
Required Reading and Texts
Plutarch, Makers of Rome (London, Penguin Books Ltd, 1965)
Plutarch, Fall of the Roman Republic (London, Penguin Books Ltd, 1958, 2005 edition)
H.H. Scullard, From the Gracchi to Nero (5th edition, London, 1982)
NOTE
In this course 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.
Required texts are available for purchase at the Co-Op bookstore <http://www.coop-bookshop.com.au>.
UNIT WEBPAGE AND TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED
This unit will use iLearn: <https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/MQ/>. PC and Internet access are therefore required. Basic computer skills (e.g., internet browsing) and skills in word processing are also a requirement. Please consult teaching staff for any further, more specific requirements.
SATISFACTORY COMPLETION OF UNIT
Students are required to participate in tutorial discussions online via the Discussion Fora on the iLearn website.
Students will be expected to attempt each of the assessment tasks and will need to achieve an overall mark of 50% or above to complete the unit satisfactorily.
Week 1 |
An Introduction to Roman Culture and History |
Week 2 |
The Rise of Rome to 146 BC |
Week 3 |
Scipio Aemilianus |
Week 4 |
Problems Facing Rome in the Mid-Second Century |
Week 5 |
133 BC: The Tribunate of Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus |
Week 6 |
The Killing of Tiberius Gracchus |
Week 7 |
Archaeological Evidence for the Impact of Gracchus’ Land Program |
Week 8 |
The Tribunates of Gaius Sempronius Gracchus |
Week 9 |
The Killing of Gaius Gracchus and the Rise of Marius |
Week 10 |
From the Political Violence of 100 BC to the Dictatorship of Sulla |
Week 11 |
Pompey the Great |
Week 12 |
Caesar |
Week 13 |
Augustus |
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.
The University recognises that students may experience events or conditions that adversely affect their academic performance. If you experience serious and unavoidable difficulties at exam time or when assessment tasks are due, you can consider applying for Special Consideration.
You need to show that the circumstances:
If you feel that your studies have been impacted submit an application as follows:
Outcome
Once your submission is assessed, an appropriate outcome will be organised.
You can withdraw from your subjects prior to the census date (last day to withdraw). If you successfully withdraw before the census date, you won’t need to apply for Special Circumstances. If you find yourself unable to withdraw from your subjects before the census date - you might be able to apply for Special Circumstances. If you’re eligible, we can refund your fees and overturn your fail grade.
If you’re studying Single Subjects using FEE-HELP or paying up front, you can apply online.
If you’re studying a degree using HECS-HELP, you’ll need to apply directly to Macquarie University.
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).
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 shown in iLearn, 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.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
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.
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Students please note that the Special Consideration Policy is effective from December 4th 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.
Special Consideration Policy: https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration
There are new penalties for late submission which adhere to the required policy of the Faculty of Arts at Macquarie University.