01009 - Roman History (D-L)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students know the issues and the most important events in Roman history (about politics, institutions, mindset, religion, economics) and can frame them critically as well. Students know the basic methodology of historical research and analysis of literary and documentary sources, with particular focus on historiography and epigraphy. They can address the main historical questions with awareness of their transformation over time and of the main scientific approaches.

Course contents

1. Class lectures:

a. Introductory part: the main methodological problems in the reconstruction of Roman history: documentary sources and historiography;

b. Analysis of some case studies of Roman history and cross-cutting issues related to politics, institutions, mentality, religion, economics. Analysis of ancient documentation and of the historiographic debate; case study analysis is meant to facilitate a critical study of the themes.

2. Students will be asked to study on the textbook the lines of development of Roman history, from the origins, also paying particular attention to the ancient documentation.

3. Further insights on themes and problems of the Republic, the Empire and Late Antiquity through autonomous reading.

Readings/Bibliography

• Teaching materials presented during the classes and progressively available in the online page of the course unit
• Autonomous study on one of the following textbooks:
  • Giovannella Cresci Marrone, Francesca Rohr Vio, Lorenzo Calvelli, Roma antica. Storia e documenti, Il Mulino, Bologna 2019, second edition;
  • Giovanni Geraci, Arnaldo Marcone, Storia romana, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2002 or other following editions.
    

Non attending students will prepare the following textbook:

• Giovanni Geraci, Arnaldo Marcone, Storia romana. Editio maior, Firenze 2017.

3. Autonomous study of one of the following essays:

• Francesca Cenerini, Messalina. Leggenda e storia di una donna pericolosa, Bari-Roma, Laterza, 2024: It is possible to agree with the professor on another reading from the list offered to non-attendees.

• Non-attending students will prepare a second additional reading to be chosen from the following list:
  
  
• Livia Capponi, Cleopatra, Bari-Roma, Laterza, 2021.
•  Filippo Carlà, Arnaldo Marcone, Economia e finanza a Roma, Bologna, Il Mulino 2011.
•  Francesca Cenerini, La donna romana. Modelli e realtà, Bologna, Il Mulino, last  edition (NO edizione 2002)
•  Luca Fezzi, Modelli politici di Roma antica, Roma, Carocci editore 2015.
• Simonetta Segenni, Cesare Letta, Roma e le sue province, Roma, Carocci, 2015.

NB: Depending on the specific interests or needs of the students, it is possible to agree on different essays.

Erasmus or International students who have difficulties with scientific essays, manuals or materials in Italian, can agree with the teacher a special reading list in other languages.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is suggested that they get in touch as soon as possible with the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) and with the lecturer in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

Everyone is recommended to use an historical atlas among the many available in the library of the Department of History Culture Civilization - Section of Ancient History, via Zamboni 38, 4th floor, under CONS ATL.

Teaching methods

Lectures focusing on the analysis of textual documentary and literary sources with specific attention on epigraphic sources. Students interaction will be welcomed.

Assessment methods

Assessment will be carried out, through an oral exam, aimed at testing if students can demonstrate:

• Knowledge of the development of Roman history, from the origins to the Late Antiquity and the institutional aspects of the Roman world;
• Knowledge of the methodology of analysis of ancient sources and documentation also based on the interpretations of modern bibliography;
• he ability to use such knowledge to critically identify events, problems and themes of Roman history, also in the light of the materials developed in class and/or self-prepared readingsthe ability to use such knowledge to critically identify events, problems and themes of Roman history, also in the light of the lessons developed in lessons or self-prepared material;
• capacity of oral expression.

Grading criteria:

Excellent / very good:

• comprehensive and analytical exposition of historical events and institutional issues in all three responses;
• specific and critical recall to the sources behind the reconstruction and the main issues of the scientific debate;
• synthetic organic vision of transversal themes;
• expressive and specific language skills.

Good / satisfactory:

• concise description and synthetic commentary on the events and themes proposed in all three responses;
• constant reference to sources and to scientific debate, even if in essence;
• awareness of the cross-cutting development lines;
• correct language, even if not always appropriate.

Sufficient:

• basic illustration of the exam material with some circumscribed gap or error in only one of the questions;
• critical analysis of sources only at the examiner's solicitude;
• uncertainty in the reference framework or in evaluating historical development lines or insecurity in correctly explaining transversal themes;
• correct but partially inappropriate language.

Fail:

• Lacks in knowledge of events and lines of historical development in more than one question;
• Lack of critical analysis of sources, gaps in the analysis of sources and poor awareness of analytical methods;
• poor orientation within the overall reference framework and limited ability to describe and explain cross-themes and issues;
• Inappropriate or incorrect language.

Students who attend at least 75% of the lessons are considered to be attending.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

In 2025, the exams will take place in January (around the middle), April, May, June, late September/early October, December).

Teaching tools

• PowerPoint slide shows (which will be available in the teaching materials;
• texts and images that will be analyzed and commented in class will also be available in the teaching materials;
• the Textbook G. Cresci Marrone, F. Rohr Vio, L. Calvelli, Roma antica. Storia e documenti, Il Mulino, Bologna 2014 is available both on paper and in digital format at the web address: https://www.pandoracampus.it/pandora/booksheet/index/ean13/97888152517;
• both for the printed copy and for the digital one the manual is enhanced by materials, exercises, slides and useful active content for the study and teaching. It is highly recommended to use this part for the preparation of the exam.

Office hours

See the website of Francesca Cenerini