- Weaknesses and Strengths of Constantius
- Julian tries to rebuild the temple
- Julian's Death
- Strengths and Weaknesses of Julian
Friday, December 5, 2014
Ammianus Marcellinus (extra credit)
While there are good translations of Ammianus Marcellinus' writings online, none of them are really easy to navigate. Fascinating stuff, however. Here are a couple of selections you might look at:
Monday, November 17, 2014
Herodian of Antioch (extra credit)

If you prefer, you might comment on one of the important women leaders, e.g., Julia Maesa or Julia Mamea. You might also like looking at what Herodian has to say about Xenobia, the queen of Palmyra.
You may find the site linked here a bit difficult to navigate. Persevere! Use the "page" button at the top to navigate through the eight *books* of this history looking at the book heading to see which emperors are included in that book. Once you find the right book, click through each of the chapter links to find the material on the emperor you want to talk about.
Marcus Aurelius' Meditations (extra credit)

Suetonius' Twelve Caesars (extra creidt)

For extra credit, please read Suetonius account of any one of the caesars of this period (links above) . Pick an incident from the life of this caesar that shows a way in which Augustus' system (the Principate) can work well, or an incident that shows that system created by Augustus was not working out particularly well.
If you have fallen behind on your blogs, you can add to your extra credit by doing an extra blog entry on a *different* ceasar than you talk about in your first post.
Selections from Tacitus' Histories (Extra Credit)

Thursday, October 23, 2014
Ovid (due Thursday, October 30)

If you want to get the overall picture of the Metamorphoses, see this excellent introduction and commentary by Larry Brown.
Virgil--Aeneid (due Tuesday, Oct. 28)

Cite a line or two from Book I or Book II that particularly well show Virgil's "insight into the human condition," i.e., that shows his understanding of subjects like fate, the relationships between men and women, relationships between men and gods, the impact of war, etc.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Augustus and the Julio-Claudians

For Thursday's class, please read Suetonius' account of Augustus, Tiberius, Gaius (Caligula), Claudius, or Nero. Pick a line that illustrates particularly well either the emperor's achievements or the way in which that emperor's life was a personal tragedy, or a tragedy for the people of Rome.
Monday, October 6, 2014
The 2nd Triumvirate (due 11/1)

Caesar the God (due 11/1)

Caesar as general and politician (due 11/1)

Some of you might find particularly interesting the accounts of Caesar's battles, something I don't talk about in class much. Note Sections 15-20, for instance, a summary of Caesar's campaign in Gaul.
Crasus, Pompey, and Their Contemporaries (Due date: 11/1)

Thursday, September 25, 2014
One More Plautus Play

Share here some ideas on what you might want to see your group include. What lines/passages would be particularly good for showing what the play says about Roman values, family relationships, romantic relationships, day-to-day life, religion, etc.?
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
The Prisoners

Thursday, September 18, 2014
Plautus' Swaggering Soldier (Miles Gloriosus)

Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Marius and Sulla

Please read Plutarch's Life of Marius, either in the abridged version here or the unabridged version here. Then read Plutarch's Life of Sulla, either in the abridged version here or the unabridged version here.
Cite an example that helps build the case that one of these men was a great hero for Rome *or* cite an example that shows how one of these men brought disaster to Rome.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
The War with Jugurtha

Thursday, September 4, 2014
Noble Romans (extra credit)

Abridged versions:
Tiberius Gracchus, Gaius Gracchus, Fabius Maximus, Cato the Elder, Camillus
Unabridged versions:
Tiberius Gracchus, Gaius Gracchus, Fabius Maximus, Cato the Elder, Camillus
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Roman Warfare (extra credit)

Selections you should find interesting include: Livy's description of the Roman method of declaring war, Livy's account of the war with and eventual destruction of Veii (Book V, sections 1-23), Livy's account of the Sack of Rome by the Gauls and Camillus' rescue of Rome (Book V, sections 33-55), Polybius' description of The Battle of Cannae, Polybius' comparison of the Roman maniple to the Macedonian phalanx, and Polybius' description of Roman government.
Thursday, August 28, 2014
The Twelve Tables

Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Livy--Stories from Early Rome

Choose one (1) character from one of the Livy stories that you think particularly interesting. What parts of the story do you think really happened, and what parts do you disbelieve? Why? How is the story of this character important for understanding Roman history/subsequent history?
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Welcome!

For this first post, you don't need to have done any of the readings. Just introduce yourself and explain why are taking this course.
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