Department of Classical Studies

Department of Classical Studies CS 3906G: Conquest and Crisis: the Late Roman Republic Course Outline Course Location: Thames Hall 3102 (M&W), Thames Hall 3101 (F) Course Times: MWF 1:30 2:30 Instructor: Dr. Debra L. Nousek E-mail: dnousek@uwo.ca Office: Lawson Hall 3206 (tel: 661-2111 ext. 87481) Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays 11:30-1:00 Course Website: on OWL COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES: As Rome came into conflict with Carthage in the mid-third century BC, foreign relations took on a new meaning: for the first time, the city on the Tiber played a part on the world stage. Some two hundred years later, the face of the Roman republic was about to change forever. We will examine the particular problems and developments in the Roman constitution and administrative system; the organization of the military; the question of Rome's "empire"; personal politics and the relationship between culture, history and the literature of the period. Emphasis will be placed on careful consideration of modern scholarly works on matters pertaining to this period. Students can expect to read and critique scholarly articles and book excerpts and to develop skills in critical thinking, argumentation and scholarly writing. These activities will be supplemented by close readings in the ancient sources as well (e.g. Polybius, Caesar, Cicero, Sallust and Livy). TEXTBOOKS: (available at the UWO Bookstore, or online retailers) Suggested (but not required) 1. C.S. Mackay, The Breakdown of the Roman Republic: From Oligarchy to Empire. CUP 2012. ISBN 9781107657021 Note: Although there are no required textbooks for this course, it is advisable for students who have little knowledge of Late Republican Roman History to acquire and read this text in order to solidify their understanding of the larger historical issues that serve as the foundation for our more specialized reading assignments. 1

CLASS PROCEDURE: The weekly reading assignments comprise a small sampling of essential, classic and provocative articles and book excerpts that focus on the week s particular topic in Roman history. For each week, students will choose an article/book chapter, read through the material carefully and critically, and will write an assessment of the article s strengths and weaknesses. Mondays: Historical introductions (lecture/discussion) Wednesdays: Continued discussion of issues; presentation of critiques by students Fridays: Presentation of critiques by students; sign-up for next week s readings EVALUATION: 1. Active In-Class Participation: 20% [students must engage fully in the discussion to receive full credit] 2. Weekly Article Analysis: 25% 3. Midterm Test: 25% [March 17] 4. Final Examination (as scheduled by the Office of the Registrar): 30% NOTE FROM THE DEAN OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES: You are responsible for ensuring that you have successfully completed all course prerequisites and that you have not taken an antirequisite course. Lack of prerequisites may not be used as basis of appeal. If you are not eligible for a course, you may be removed from it at any time, and you will receive no adjustment to your fees. These decisions cannot be appealed. PLAGIARISM: Students must write their essays and assignments in their own words. Whenever students take an idea, or a passage of text from another author, they must acknowledge their debt both by using quotation marks where appropriate and by proper referencing such as footnotes or citations. Plagiarism is a major academic offence (see Scholastic Offence Policy in the Western Academic Calendar). Students should be aware that the instructor may use plagiarismchecking software for written assignments. UWO POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR MEDICAL ILLNESS: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/accommodation_medical.pdf [downloadable student medical certificate (SMC): https:/studentservices.uwo.ca/secure/medical_document.pdf. Students seeking academic accommodation on medical grounds for any missed tests, exams and/or assignments worth 10% or more of their final grade must apply to the office of the Dean of their home faculty and provide documentation. Academic accommodation cannot be granted by the instructor or department. UWO ACCESSIBILITY POLICY: Western has many services and programs that support the personal, physical, social and academic needs of students with disabilities. For more information and links to these services: http://accessibility.uwo.ca/ MENTAL HEALTH: Students who are in emotional and/or mental distress should refer to the Mental Health@Western website for a complete list of options about how to obtain help. 2

SCHEDULE OF TOPICS AND READINGS W1 (Jan 6-13): Introduction and Background [no class Jan 6] 1. Critical thinking about Roman history: Harriet I. Flower (2010), Introduction: Periodization and the End of the Roman Republic, in Roman Republics. Princeton. 1-17. 2. (All) Champion, C. and A. M. Eckstein (2004). Introduction: The Study of Roman Imperialism, in Roman Imperialism: Readings and Sources. C. Champion. Maldon, Mass.: 1-16. W2 (Jan 16-20): / Punic Wars I 1. Badian, E. 1968. Roman Imperialism in the Late Republic. Oxford. 16-28. 2. Harris, W. V. 1979. War and Imperialism in Republican Rome: 327-70 B.C. Oxford. 54-67. 3. Eckstein, A. M. 1980. Polybius on the Role of the Senate in the Crisis of 264 BC. GRBS 21: 175-190. 4. Badian, E. 1958. Foreign Clientelae (264-70 B.C.). Oxford. 33-54. W3 (Jan 23-27): Punic Wars II 1. Lazenby, J. F. 2004. Rome and Carthage, in The Cambridge Companion to the Roman Republic. H. I. Flower, ed. New York: 225-241. 2. Rosenstein, N. 1993. Competition and Crisis in Mid-Republican Rome. Phoenix 47: 313-338. 3. Astin, A. E. 1967. Saguntum and the Origins of the Second Punic War. Latomus 26: 577-96. 4. Crake, J. E. A. 1963. Roman Politics from 215 to 209 B.C. Phoenix 17: 123-130. 5. Erdkamp, P. 1992. Polybius, Livy and the Art of Roman Strategy. Ancient Society 23: 127-148. W4 (Jan 30-Feb 3): Provincial Expansion 1. Gruen, E. S. 1984. The Hellenistic World and the Coming of Rome. Berkeley and Los Angeles. 273-315. 2. Badian, E. 1958. Foreign Clientelae (264-70 B.C.). Oxford. 84-115. 3. Paltiel, E. 1979. The Treaty of Apamaea and the Later Seleucids. Antichthon 13: 42-47. 4. Gruen, E. S. 1975. Rome and Rhodes in the Second Century BC: a Historiographical Inquiry. CQ 25: 58-81. 5. Richardson, J. S. 1986. Hispaniae: Spain and the Development of Roman Imperialism, 218-82 B.C. New York. 95-125, 172-180. W5 (Feb 6-10): The Bacchanalian Affair 1. a) Bauman, R. A. 1990. The Suppression of the Bacchanals: Five Questions. Historia 39: 334-48. b) Frank, T. 1927. The Bacchanalian Cult of 186 B.C. CQ 21: 128-132. 2. Gruen, E. S. 1990. The Bacchanalian Affair. Studies in Greek Culture and Roman Policy. Berkeley and Los Angeles: 34-78. 3. McDonald, A. M. 1944. Rome and the Italian Confederation. JRS 34: 11-33. 4. Walsh, P. G. 1996. Making a Drama out of a Crisis. G&R 43: 188-203. 5. Pagán, V. E. 2004. Conspiracy Narratives in Roman History. Austin. 50-67. W6 (Feb 13-17): The Gracchi 1. Briscoe, J. 1974. Supporters and Opponents of Tiberius Gracchus. JRS 64: 125-135. 2. Morgan, M. G. and J. A. Walsh 1978. Tiberius Gracchus (Tr. Pl. 133), the Numantine Affair and the Deposition of M. Octavius. CPh 73: 200-210. 3. Sherwin-White, A. N. 1982. The lex repetundarum and the Political Ideas of Gaius Gracchus. JRS 72: 18-31. and also Garnsey, P. and D. Rathbone 1985. The Background to the Grain Law of Gaius Gracchus. JRS 75: 20-25. 4. Horvath, R. 1994. The Origins of the Gracchan Revolution. Studies in Latin Literature and Roman History 7: 87-116. 5. Bauman, R. A. 1979. The Gracchan Agrarian Commission: Four Questions. Historia 28: 385-408. 3

W7 (Feb 20-24): Reading Week (no classes) W8 (Feb 27-Mar 3): Marius, Sulla and the New Republic 1. Griffin, M. T. 1973. The leges iudicariae of the pre-sullan era. CQ 23: 108-26. 2. Bates, R. L. 1986. Rex in Senatu: A Political Biography of M. Aemilius Scaurus. PAPhS 130: 251-288. 3. Holroyd, M. 1928. The Jugurthine War, was Marius the Real Victor? JRS 18: 1-20. 4. Gruen, E. 1968. Roman Politics and the Criminal Courts. Cambridge, MA. 185-214. 5. Gabba, E. M. Livius Drusus and Sulla s Reforms. Republican Rome: Army and Allies. E. Gabba: 131-141. 6. Badian, E. 1964. Studies in Greek and Roman History. London. 206-234. W9 (March 6-10): The Social War 1. Badian, E. 1958). Foreign Clientelae (264-70 B.C.). Oxford. 220-251. 2. Crawford, M. 1981. Italy and Rome. JRS 71: 153-160. 3. Brunt, P. A. 1988. The Fall of the Roman Republic and Related Essays. Oxford. 93-143. 4. Barlow, C. T. 1980. The Roman Government and the Roman Economy. AJPh 101: 202-219. 5. Nagle, D. B. 1973. An Allied View of the Social War. AJA 72: 367-378. 6. Levick, B. M. 1982. Sulla s March on Rome in 88 BC. Historia 31: 503-508. W10 (Mar 13-17): (Mis)Government and Politics in the 70s **MIDTERM EXAM: FRIDAY MARCH 17** 1. Glew, D. 1977. Mithridates Eupator and Rome: A Study of the Background of the First Mithridatic War. Athenaeum 55: 380-405. 2. Hillman, T. P. 1990. Pompeius and the Senate. Hermes 118: 444-454. 3. Deutsch, M. E. 1918. The Death of Lepidus, Leader of the Revolution of 78 BC. Univ. Calif. Publ. Class. Philol. 5: 59-68. 4. Marshall, B. A. and J. L. Beness 1987. Tribunician Agitation and Aristocratic Reaction 80-71 BC. Athenaeum 65: 360-378. 5. Hayne, L. 1972. M. Lepidus (cos. 78): A Re-appraisal. Historia 21: 661-668. W11 (Mar 20-24): Coalitions and Conspiracies 1. Badian, E. 1959. The Early Career of A. Gabinius (cos. 58 B.C.). Philologus 103: 87-99. 2. Williams, R. S. 1978. The Role of Amicitia in the Career of A. Gabinius (cos. 58). Phoenix 32: 195-210. 3. a) Waters, K. H. 1970. Cicero, Sallust and Catiline. Historia 19: 195-215. b) Seager, R. 1973. Iusta Catilinae. Historia 22: 240-248. 4. Phillips, E. J. 1978. Catiline s Conspiracy. Historia 25: 441-448. 5. Tatum, W. J. 1990. Cicero and the Bona Dea Scandal. CPh 85: 202-208. W12 (Mar 27-Apr 1): Gangsters, Dynasts and the Establishment 1. Taylor, L. R. 1957. The Rise of Julius Caesar. G&R 4: 10-18. 2. Mulroy, D. 1985. The Early Career of P. Clodius Pulcher: A Reexamination of the Charges of Mutiny and Sacrilege. TAPhA 118: 155-78. 3. Stanton, G. T. and B. A. Marshall 1975. The Coalition between Pompeius and Crassus, 60-59 BC. Historia 24: 205-219. 4. Rundell, W. M. F. 1979. Cicero and Clodius: The Question of Credibility. Historia 28: 301-28. 5. Seager, R. 1965. Clodius, Pompey and the Exile of Cicero. Latomus 24: 519-531. 6. Lintott, A. W. 1974. Cicero and Milo. JRS 64: 62-78. 7. Marsh, F. B. 1932. The Gangster in Roman Politics. CJ 28: 168-178. 4

W13 (Apr 05-09): Caesar, Civil War, and the Ides of March 1. Jameson, S. 1970. The Intended Date of Caesar s Return from Gaul. Latomus 29: 638-660. 2. Salmon, E. T. 1938-1939. Caesar and the Consulship for 49 BC. CJ 34: 388-395. 3. Syme, R. 1939. The Roman Revolution. Oxford. 47-77. 4. Wirzubski, C. 1960. Libertas as a Political Idea at Rome during the Late Republic and Early Principate. Cambridge. 79-90. 5. Ehrenberg, V. 1964. Caesar s Final Aims. HSCPh 68: 149-161. 6. Epstein, D. F. 1987. Caesar s Personal Enemies on the Ides of March. Latomus 46: 566-570. 7. Smith, R. E. 1957. The Conspiracy and the Conspirators. G&R 4: 58-70. The Final Examination will be scheduled by the Office of the Registrar. 5