This course examines the development of Roman archaeology and the material culture that is its focus from the early Iron Age, ca. 1000 BCE, to the end of reign of Constantine in 337 CE. The primary goal of the course is to help students understand the social and historical context in which Roman material culture was created and used. We will consider a variety of evidence from across the empire including monumental and domestic architecture, wall painting, mosaics, sculpture, coins and inscriptions. Special emphasis will be placed on the city of Rome; however, we will also look at other important urban centers, such as Pompeii, Ephesus and Alexandria. Class discussions will focus on issues related to gender, ethnicity and cultural identity in the Roman Empire. For example, what does it mean to be "Roman" in terms of language, ethnicity and cultural institutions? Roman art and architecture was not the product of any single people or culture, but rather the hybrid synthesis of a complex cultural negotiation between the Romans and their colonial subjects (i.e., Greeks, Jews, Celts, etc.). We will also discuss how Roman elites used material culture to convey political messages and social status in the imperial hierarchy, as well as the legacy of Roman art and architecture in the modern world.