Course Description
Examination of the literary, material, and environmental evidence for Roman occupation in Britain; investigation of the interaction between indigenous and Roman populations to illustrate processes of Romanization; examination of the social and economic structure of the Roman frontier in Britain and its place within the wider imperial context.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will undertake a major research project that
will build upon their background in classics and ancient history
and will allow them to acquire new expertise in the subject of
Roman Britain. They will present the results of their research
in two ways: 1. a traditional research paper (ca. 25-35pp.)
and 2. a PowerPoint presentation to the class.
Athena Title
Roman Britain
Prerequisite
CLAS 1000 or CLAS 1000E or CLAS 1000H or CLAS 1010 or CLAS 1010E or CLAS 1010H or CLAS 1020 or CLAS 1020E or CLAS 1020H or CLAS 3000 or CLAS 3010 or CLAS(ANTH) 3015 or CLAS(ANTH) 3015E or CLAS 3030 or CLAS 3040 or CLAS3050 or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
By the end of the course students will: -know the literary, material and environmental evidence for Roman conquest and occupation of Britain from the late Iron Age to the early fifth century CE, including the evidence for the imperial administration in the province -know the key archaeological sites and museum collections on Roman Britain -understand the place of Britain within the Roman world, economically and socially -understand the process of Romanization within Britain -know the key archaeological and written evidence for the imperial army in Britain and understand the role of Hadrian's Wall within the wider Roman frontier system -know how to use a variety of primary (including archaeological) and secondary (including web resources) sources to reconstruct a picture of Roman Britain -be able to engage in critical analysis and synthesis of the various categories of evidence for Roman Britain -be able to produce writing appropriate to the subject matter of Roman Britain and to the disciplines of classics and classical archaeology
Topical Outline
-Introduction: Chronological and Geographical Frameworks, Source Materials -Conquest: Caesar, Claudius, Agricola, Septimius Severus, Constantius -Romanization: Native Kingdoms, Roads, Towns, Villas, Religion, Art, Architecture -Economy of Roman Britain: Trade, Industry, Natural Resources, Agriculture -Social Life of Roman Britain: Languages, Religion, Women, Soldiers, Burial Practices -Provincial Administration: Governor and His Staff, Local Government, Taxation -Defense and the Army: Organization of Army, Presence of Army in Britain, Forts, Fortresses, Hadrian's Wall, Antonine Wall -End of Roman Britain