Course Description
Readings from the Annales, Historiae, and/or minor works of Tacitus, with attention to literary and historical issues surrounding the author and his works.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students are required to direct seminar sessions and write more extensive research papers.
Athena Title
Tacitus
Prerequisite
LATN 4000 or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1. STUDENTS WILL GAIN AN IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE OF THE AUTHOR TACITUS AND HIS WORKS. 2. STUDENTS WILL GAIN FLUENCY AND FACILITY IN THE READING AND TRANSLATION OF TACITUS' LATIN PROSE. 3. STUDENTS WILL EXPLORE THE LITERARY STYLE AND METHODS OF TACITUS (ONE OF THE GREATEST OF LATIN PROSE STYLISTS). 4. STUDENTS WILL BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE HISTORICAL ISSUES THAT SURROUND THE VARIOUS PERIODS OF ROMAN IMPERIAL HISTORY TREATED BY TACITUS. 5. STUDENTS WILL LEARN TO ASSESS AND APPRECIATE TACITUS' PLACE IN BOTH LATIN LITERATURE OF THE "SILVER AGE" AND IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ROMAN HISTORIOGRAPHY. 6. STUDENTS WILL ENGAGE IN CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF SEMANTIC, SYNTACTIC, GRAMMATICAL, STYLISTIC, IDEOLOGICAL, POLITICAL, RHETORICAL, AND HISTORICAL EVIDENCE IN TACITUS. 7. STUDENTS WILL PRODUCE WRITING APPROPRIATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTERS OF ROMAN HISTORY AND HISTORIOGRAPHY AND TO THE DISCIPLINES OF CLASSICS AND ANCIENT HISTORY.
Topical Outline
N.B., INDIVIDUAL TOPICS WOULD CHANGE DEPENDING ON WHAT PART OF TACITUS' SURVIVING WORK IS READ. BELOW IS ONE TYPICAL COURSE OUTLINE: I. INTRODUCTION: TACITUS AS AUTHOR; TACITUS AS HISTORIAN OF EMPIRE II. THE HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL TRADITIONS LEADING UP TO TACITUS III. TACITUS ANNALES, BOOK 13 A. SECTS. 1-5: REIGN OF NERO BEGINS B. SECTS. 6-10: WAR IN PARTHIA C. SECTS. 11-24: EVENTS IN ROME, A.D. 55 D. SECTS. 25-30: EVENTS IN ROME, A.D. 56 E. SECTS. 31-33: EVENTS IN ROME, A.D. 57 F. SECTS. 34-41: EVENTS IN THE EASTERN EMPIRE, TO AND THROUGH A.D. 58 G. SECTS. 42-52: EVENTS IN ROME, A.D. 58 H. SECTS. 53-57: EVENTS IN GERMANY, UP TO AND THROUGH A.D. 58 I. SECT. 58: CONCLUSION -- AN OMINOUS PORTENT IN ROME IV. TACITUS, ANNALES, BOOK 14 A. SECTS. 1-13: NERO MURDERS HIS MOTHER, AGRIPPINA B. SECTS. 14-19: EVENTS IN ROME, A.D. 59 C. SECTS. 20-22: POLITICS IN ROME, A.D. 60 D. SECTS. 23-28: EVENTS IN THE EASTERN EMPIRE, THROUGH A.D. 60 E. SECTS. 29-39: EVENTS IN BRITAIN, THROUGH A.D. 60 (REVOLT OF BOUDICCA) F. SECTS. 40-47: EVENTS IN ROME, A.D. 61 G. SECTS. 48-65: EVENTS IN ROME, A.D. 62 1. DEATH OF BURRUS 2. RETIREMENT OF SENECA 3. NERO'S MARRIAGE TO POPPAEA 4. FORMATION OF THE CONSPIRACY OF PISO
Syllabus