HIST 224
Introduction to Roman Archaeology and Material Culture Fall 2009
Division II
Cross-listed CLAS 235 / ANTH 235
This is not the current course catalog

Class Details

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.
The Class: Format: lecture/discussion
Limit: 40
Expected: 30
Class#: 1895
Grading: yes pass/fail option, yes fifth course option
Requirements/Evaluation: evaluation will be based on classroom performance, quizzes, one 8- to 10-page paper, a midterm, and a final exam
Prerequisites: none
Enrollment Preferences: majors or prospective majors in Classics, History, Art History, and Anthropology
Unit Notes: meets Group C and G requirements in History major if registration is under HIST
Distributions: Division II
Notes: meets Division 1 requirement if registration is under CLAS; meets Division 2 requirement if registration is under HIST
This course is cross-listed and the prefixes carry the following divisional credit:
HIST 224 Division II CLAS 235 Division I ANTH 235 Division II
Attributes: HIST Group C Electives - Europe and Russia
HIST Group G Electives - Global History

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