EUH 5394
Graduate Proseminar in Late Antiquity

Fall Semester, 2006
Thursday, 3:00-6:00 pm; CBD 0230


LATE ANTIQUITY:  FROM PAGAN ROME TO CHRISTIAN EUROPE

Prof. Andrea Sterk
Office:  220 Keene-Flint;  Phone:  392-0271, x257
E-mail:  sterk@history.ufl.edu Office Hours:  TU 2:00-3:30, F 9:30-10:30, or by appointment


Course Description:
             This seminar will introduce graduate students to the central sources, themes, and historiographical debates in the field of Late Antiquity.  Special empahsis will be placed on religious developments and the rise of Europe.


For a full syllabus of readings and assignments, click here:  Syllabus

Schedule of Weekly Topics:

1.  Aug. 24        Introduction
2.  Aug.  31       Defining Late Antiquity
                               a)  Introduction to Historiography & Geography
                               b)  Christianization

3.  Sept. 7         Diocletian:  Administering the Revived Empire 
                                         a)  Third-Century Crises
                               b)  Religion & Empire

4.  Sept. 14        Constantine and the New Empire            Additional Reading:  Zosimus, Historia Nova II.29-34
                         
a)  Eusebius on Constantine
                                 b)  Constantine, Religion, & Empire


5.  Sept. 21          Religion & the State                                                              Macmullen article
                           a)  The Reign of Julian
                                  b)  Pagans, Christians, & the Law in the Fourth Century

6.  Sept. 28          Education and Authority
                                  a)     
The Church Fathers and Education                                
                                  b)   Old & New Models


7.  Oct. 5             New and Old Elites, Part I:  Senators and Bishops
                                  a) Ambrose, Symmachus and Friends

                                  b) Christian Aristocracy, Christian Empire


8.  Oct. 12            New and Old Elites, Part II:  Bishops, Monks, and Ascetics
                                   a) The West
                                   b)  The East

9.  Oct. 19            Barbarians, the Economy, and the Fall of Rome
                             
    [We will not meet as a seminar this week.  Instead I will meet with you individually to discuss your final paper topics.  However, you are          
                                  responsible for completing this week’s reading and reaction paper, which will form the subject of our discussion during the first part of our    
                                  seminar Oct. 26]

10.  Oct. 26           The Fall of Rome (cont.)

Nov. 1 (Wednesday):  Lunch with Daniel Boyarin, 12:30-2:30


11.  Nov. 2             Saints, Cities, Christianization, & the Jews (5th-6th century)

12.  Nov. 9             The West: The Rise of Christian Europe

13.  Nov. 16            The View from the East:  Byzantium & Beyond                                

Nov. 23:  THANKSGIVING – No class

14.  Nov. 30             Revisiting Decline, Fall, & Late Antiquity as an Epoch

                                Reports

15.   Dec.  7              Reports

Dec. 11 (Monday)     Final Papers Due