Office Hours: MWF 9:55-10:45; 1:30-2:20; 3:30-4:30; Tuesday 10:30-4:30; and by appointment.
 
 

Augustus Primaporta

     The principate of Augustus (31 B.C. to 14 A.D.) was one of the richest cultural periods in the history of the Roman Republic and Empire, influencing the art, literature and politics of many later civilizations.  In this course, we will examine the history, art and literature of this period and will consider how Augustus and his circle used the visual and literary arts to promote the moral and political ideas that came to fruition during this period.  In addition, each of you will complete a major project that studies one way in which the politicians, writers, and artists of the time influenced later generations.

Texts

 John Boardman, Jasper Griffin, and Oswyn Murray. The Oxford History of the Roman World. Oxford, 1991.

Horace.  The Complete Odes and Epodes. Translated by David West. Oxford, 1997.

Livy. Early History of Rome: Books I-V of the History of Rome from Its Foundation. Translated by Aubrey de Selincourt. Penguin, 1991.

Ovid. Metamorphoses. Translated by A.D. Melville. Oxford, 1998.

Virgil. Aeneid. Translated by Robert Fitzgerald. Vintage Books, 1990.

Virgil. Eclogues. Translated by Guy Lee. Penguin, 1984.

and xeroxed texts (loaded as pdf files on Blackboard) as appropriate.

Course Policies

Format of Papers: I expect you to type all paper proposals and final drafts. Other assignments (including rough drafts) may be handwritten. Please double space your papers, number the pages, and put approximately one-inch margins on all sides.  I will not accept handwritten final drafts or proposals, nor will I make allowances for papers handed in late because of computer or printer problems. Make sure that you hand papers in on time, since I deduct ten points for each class a paper is late.

Writing Assignments: During the semester you will complete a few minor assignments, and you will write a short essay on an article you have selected, which you will read to the class on the date you have chosen. You will also complete a major research project. A bibliography and proposal will be due during the semester, but your final draft and seminar report will not come until the last two weeks of class. We will not have a final examination. You will also be responsible for completing all reading assignments; you will be required to bring into each class for which a reading is assigned two written questions or comments about the reading. You will hand these written questions or comments in as you come into class. We may also have short reading quizzes if they become necessary.

You must hand all papers in on time. I will deduct a grade for each class a paper is late. You should also remember that the minimum requirement for passing the course is to hand in all papers.

Quizzes and Questions: I expect each of you to do all the reading for class. I will expect you to come prepared for class by bringing in two written comments or questions about each assigned reading. If you miss class, you should bring in your comments or questions to the next class. We will begin our discussions with your questions, so they are important. You will  also have a short reading quiz at the beginning of the class for which the reading has been assigned. When you have been absent from class, you will not need to take a makeup quiz; I will simply record no grade for the missed quiz. However, each of you must be present for two thirds of the quizzes. A student who misses more than one third of the quizzes for the semester will earn zeros on those quizzes given after he/she has missed more than the third. I will also drop the lowest quiz grade at the end of the semester.

Writing Folder: Please buy a manila folder or the equivalent. In this folder you will keep all notes, outlines, proposals, rough drafts, and final drafts. Bring this folder to class and to any appointments with me.

Final Grade:

Extra Instruction: I encourage you to seek extra instruction during office hours if you need help. I will require you all to come in for a conference about your projects at least twice during the semester. You can come in at any stage in the writing process, so do not wait until the day or two before an essay is due.

Useful Internet Links (I will add to these throughout the semester)

Here are some general links that you will find useful throughout the semester:
 The Perseus Project :  Without doubt the most comprehensive resource on Greek and Roman culture.  It includes ancient texts in both English and Latin, a dictionary, an encyclopedia, images and a searchable database.
 Ancient Roman History Timeline
 Augustus: Images of Power : This site offers pictures of several important art works of the period and includes discussions of these works.
 Caesar Augustus: An Annotated Guide to Online Resources
  Maecenas: Images of Ancient Greece and Rome This site has a very complete set of pictures representing Roman art throughout the empire during the Augustan age. 
Roman Art and Architecture
 Roman History Useful Links
 Rome Resources
 

Tentative Schedule (Note: I will hand out various xeroxes throughout the semester.)

Friday, 7 January: Introduction to the course; registration on Blackboard and discussion of research project.  Historical background on Rome.
    Assignment for Monday, 10 January: Read Boardman, Oxford History of the Roman World (OHRW), pp. 1-49; write down a question or comment about the reading.  Relevant Links:  Roman Government and the Cursus Honorum

Monday, 10 January:   Historical background on Rome.   Discussion of the Roman Republic.
    Assignment for Wednesday, 12 January:  Read OHRW, pp. 50-73; 90-120.  Write down a question or comment about the reading.

Wednesday, 12 January:   More on the Roman Republic
    Assignment for Friday, 14 January: Read selections from Republican literature:  Cicero, Catullus, Sallust (materials to be found on Blackboard).  Optional reading:  OHRW, pp. 121-142.  Write down a question or comment about the reading. internet links:  Catullus on the Web Cicero homepage

Friday, 14 January:  Brief discussion of Republican literature:  Cicero, Catullus, Sallust
    Assignment for Wednesday, 19 January:  Read OHRW, pp. 146-177; 215-243.  Write down a question or comment about the reading.  If possible, watch episode one of I Claudius (I will try to broadcast it continuously on Monday on the NADN network). 

Monday, January 17:  Martin Luther King Holiday.  NO CLASS!

 Wednesday, 19 January:  The Augustan principate:  history and guiding principals
    Assignment for Friday, 21 January:   Read selections from Augustus, Res Gestae (materials to be found on Blackboard).   Write down a question or comment about the reading.

Friday, 21 January:  Discussion of Augustus; more of I Claudius.
    Assignment for Monday, 24 January:  Read Livy, Ab Urbe Condita, pp. 7-62.  Write down a comment or question about the reading. Relevant internet link:  Material on Livy

Monday, 24 January:   Discussion of Livy, Ab Urbe Condita
    Assignment for Wednesday, 26 January:   Read Livy, pp. 62-116.  Write down a comment or question about the reading.

Wednesday, 26 January:   Discussion of Livy Ab Urbe Condita
    Assignment for Friday, 28 January: Read Livy, pp. 116-167.  Write down a question or comment about the reading.  

Friday, 28 January: Discussion of  Livy, Ab Urbe Condita
    Assignment for Monday, 31 January:  Read Livy, pp. 167-222.  Write down a question or comment about the reading.

Monday, 31 January:  Discussion of Livy, Ab Urbe Condita
    Assignment for Wednesday, 2 February:   Read  Livy, pp. 222-276.  Write down a question or comment about the reading.

Wednesday, 2 February:  First set of library presentations over in Nimitz Library.
    Assignment for Friday, 4 February:   Read Livy, pp. 276-326.  Write down a question or comment about the reading.

Friday, 4 February:  Second set of library presentations over in Nimitz Library.
    Assignment for Monday, 7 February: Read Livy, pp. 326-338.  If possible, we may watch another episode of I Claudius on the NADN network, to be shown continuously on Sunday.  

Monday, 7 February:   Last class on Livy
    Assignment for Wednesday, 9 February:  Read Horace, Odes and Epodes, pp. vii-xxvi; 3-22.  Select one poem on which you particularly want to concentrate.  Finalize the topic for your semester seminar project.  Relevant internet links: Materials on Horace's Odes Horace's Sabine Villa

Wednesday, 9 February:  Discussion of the poetry of Horace
    Assignment for Friday, 11 February: Read  Horace, Odes and Epodes, pp. 25-75.  Select one poem on which you particularly want to concentrate. Finalize the topic for your semester project.

Friday, 11 February:  Discussion of Horace, Odes.  By this date you must have identified the topic for your semester seminar project.  Discussion of annotated bibliographies
    Assignment for Monday, 14 February:  Read  Horace, Odes and Epodes, pp. 76-131.  Select one poem on which you particularly want to concentrate.

Monday, 14 February:  Discussion of Horace, Odes
    Assignment for Wednesday, 16 February:  Read selections from Horace, Satires (selections to be found on Blackboard).  Write down a question or comment about the reading. 

Wednesday, 16 February:  Discussion of Horace, Satires
    Assignment for Friday, 18 February:  Read Virgil, Eclogues, pp. 11-25; 29-107 (note that every other page is in Latin, which you can skip).  Pay particular attention to Eclogue IV.  Write down a question or comment about the reading. Relevant internet links:   Virgil.Org and  Vergil homepage

Friday, 18 February :   Virgil, Eclogues
    Assignment for Wednesday, 23 February:  Work on seminar project, especially your annotated bibliography.

Monday, 21 February:  Presidents' Day Holiday. NO CLASS!

Wednesday, 23 February: Discussion of Virgil, Eclogues.
    Assignment for Friday, 25 February:   Read Virgil, Aeneid, Books I and II, pp. 3-61.  Write down a question or comment about the reading.

Friday, 25 February:  Discussion of Virgil, Aeneid, Books I and II
    Assignment for Monday, 28 February:  Read Virgil Aeneid, Books III and IV, pp. 65-121.  Write down a question or comment about the reading.

Monday, 28 February:  Discussion of Virgil, Aeneid, Books III and IV
    Assignment for Wednesday, 2 March: Read  Virgil, Aeneid, Books V and VI, pp. 125-192.   Write down a question or comment about the reading. 

Wednesday, 2 March: Discussion Virgil, Aeneid, Books V and VI
    Assignment for Friday, 4 March: Read Virgil, Aeneid, Books VII and VIII, pp. 195-256.  Write down a question or comment about the reading.

Friday, 4 March: Discussion of Virgil, Aeneid, Books VII and VIII
    Assignment for Monday, 7 March:  Read Virgil, Aeneid, Books  IX and X, pp. 259-327.  Write down a question or comment about the reading.

Monday, 7 March:  Discussion of Virgil, Aeneid, Books IX and X
    Assignment for Wednesday, 9 March: Read  Virgil, Aeneid, Books XI and  XII, pp. 331-402.  Write down a question or comment about the reading.

Friday, 11 March:  ***ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY DUE*** Background on Augustan Art; Augustan portraiture and the Augustus Primaporta
    Assignment for Monday, 21 March:  Read Ovid, Metamorphoses, pp. ix-xxix, 1-50.  Relevant internet links:   The Ovid Project and  Ovid's Metamorphoses and its InfluenceWork on annotated bibliography. 

Monday 14 March to Friday 18 March: Spring Break!

Monday, 21 March:  More on Augustan art:  architecture and painting.
    Assignment for Wednesday, 23 March: Read Ovid, Metamorphoses, pp. 51-98 (books III and IV).   Write down a question or comment about the reading.   Complete your annotated bibliography.

Wednesday, 23 March: Discussion of  Ovid, Metamorphoses  Books I-IV
    Assignment for Friday, 25 March: Read Ovid, Books V and VI, pp. 99-143.  Write down one question or comment about the reading.

Friday, 25 March: Discussion of  Ovid, Metamorphoses, Books V and VI
    Assignment for Monday, 28 March: Read Ovid, Books VII and VIII, pp. 144-198.  Write down a question or comment about the reading.

Monday, 28 March:  Discussion of Ovid, Metamorphoses, Books VII and VIII
    Assignment for Wednesday, 30 March:  Read Ovid, Books IX and X, pp. 199-248. Write down one question or comment about the reading.

Wednesday, 30 March:  Discussion of  Ovid, Metamorphoses, Books IX and X
    Assignment for Friday, 1 April:    Read Ovid, Books XI and XII, pp. 249-293.   Write down one question or comment about the reading.

Friday, 1 April:   Discussion of Ovid, Metamorphoses, Books XI and XII, pp. 294-351.  Write down one question or comment about the reading.
    Assignment for Monday, 4 April: Read Ovid, Books XIII, XIV, and XV, pp. 294-379.   Write down one question or comment about the reading.

Monday, 4 April: Discussion of  Ovid, Metamorphoses, Books XIII, XIV, and XV
    Assignment for Wednesday, 6 April: Read  two seminar papers for Wednesday's class.

Wednesday, 6 April: seminar reports begin.
    Assignment for Friday, 8 April:  Read two seminar papers for Friday's class.

Wednesday, 13 April: seminar reports
    Assignment for Friday, 15 April:  Read  two seminar papers for Friday's class.

Friday, 15 April: seminar reports
    Assignment for Monday, 18 April: Read  two seminar papers for Monday's class.

Monday, 18 April: seminar reports
    Assignment for Wednesday, 20 April:  Read two seminar papers for Wednesday's class.

Wednesday, 20 April:  seminar reports
    Assignment for Friday, 22 April: Read  two seminar papers for Friday's class.

Friday, 22 April: Last class  for seminar reports
    Assignment for Monday, 25 April:  Read  the poetry of Ovid and Propertius (see materials on Blackboard)

Monday, 25 April:  Discussion of the short poems of Ovid and the elegies of Propertius
    Assignment for Wednesday, 27 April:   Work on revision of seminar paper.