| WEEK
1 |
||
| Th,
1/6 |
Introductions
and Course Overview The Roman World in Late Antiquity: The Actors & the Stage |
Brown,
Preface & chapter 1 (pp. 7-21) Map of Roman Empire c.200 |
| WEEK
2 |
||
| Tu, 1/11 | Romans
and Barbarians | How to Read a Document
(Guidelines on reading primary-source texts) Tacitus, Germania (1st 7 pp; end after section entitled "Funeral Rites") 1-page assignment: Based on your reading of Tacitus, answer one of the questions in Level II.3 or III.2 in the document "How to Read a Document." One paragraph is sufficient. No more than one page! |
| Th, 1/13 | The Third
Century: Crisis or Tranistion? Recovery: The Reforms of Diocletian | Brown,
chapters 2-3 Diocletian & the fourfold division of empire Theodosian Code (excerpts) |
| WEEK 3 |
||
| Tu, 1/18 | The Religious World of the Roman Empire | Brown,
chapters 4 & 5 Start Robert Wilken, The Christians as the Romans Saw Them (at least chaps. 1 & 2) Pliny the Younger, Letter on the Christians |
| Th, 1/20 |
Christianity
Before Constantine: Internal Developments & Roman Responses Christianity Before Constantine (cont.): Martyrdom (Discussion) |
Wilken, chap.
3 Diocletian: Edicts Against Christians Certificate of having sacrificed to the gods Porphyry, Against the Christians (1-page excerpt) The Martyrdom of Saints Perpetua & Felicitas 1-page assignment due! Click here for questions & assignment. |
| WEEK
4 |
||
| Tu, 1/25 | Pagan Piety
and Philosophy | Brown, chap. 6 Wilken, chaps. 4-6 Marcus Aurelius, The Meditations (excerpts) Plotinus, On Beauty (Ennead I.6; focus on sections 1, 2, 8, & 9) Questions on Marcus Aurelius and Plotinus are available for your reflection. Please read and consider them before class. |
| Th, 1/27 |
Constantine,
Christianity & Greco-Roman Culture Discussion! (Come prepared with texts!) Questions |
Brown,
chapter 7 Eusebius of Caesarea, Life of Constantine, Book I, skim 1-10, read I.10-47 (In this section focus on the excerpts re. the conversion of Constantine: Conversion of Consantine) Eusebius of Caesarea, Ecclesiastical History, Book IX, chapter ix Zosimus, Book II.29-34 (A pagan Roman historian's view of Constantine) |
| WEEK 5 |
||
| Tu, 2/1 | Church
and State After Constantine | The
Creed
of Nicaea Eusebius of Caesrea, Life of Constantine, excerpts from Books 3 and 4 Ambrose, Letter to Emperor Theodosius Start readings for Thursday. |
| Th, 2/3 |
Desert
Christians: The Rise of the Monastic Movement Monastic Life: Distinctive Features & Appeal |
Brown, chap. 8 Athanasius, Life of Anthony (long excerpt) Recommended: Athanasius, Life of Anthony (full text) Palladius, Lausiac History (selections) The Rule of St. Benedict (selections) Recommended: Gregory of Nyssa, Life of Macrina |
| WEEK 6 |
||
| Tu, 2/8 | Varieties of
Monastic Life for Men & Women (Discussion of monastic texts listed under Th, 2/3) | 1-page assignment due!
Click here
for study and discussion
questions. Note: Print out all required texts & bring them to class for discussion! |
| Th, 2/10 |
Emperor
Julian and Fourth-Century Paganism After Julian: Pagans, Jews, & Heretics in the "Christian" Roman Empire |
Finish
Wilken, chapter 7 Julian, Rescript on Christian Teachers Ammianus Marcellinus (Bk. 14.1,5,7,9-11; Bk. 15.1-3 & 8; Bk.20.4-5 & 8-10; Bk. 21.1-5 &15) STUDY GUIDE to Ammianus Marcellinus (including questions) Dispute between Ambrose & Symmachus |
| WEEK 7 |
||
| Tu, 2/15 |
Ammianus
Marcellinus (Bk.22.1-5 & 9-14; Bk. 23.1; Bk. 24.1-5 (skim)
& 6-8; Bk. 25.3-5, 7, 9; Bk. 15.12-13; Bk. 18.4-19.9; Bk. 31.1-4
&
12-16) Paper #1 due in class! (Click here for paper assignment) |
|
| Th, 2/17 |
The Late
Roman State: Barbarians & the Military (with discussion) |
Finish Tuesday's Ammianus reading See Ammianus STUDY GUIDE for questions & assignment. (Written assignment due Tu, 2/22, but be prepared to discuss questions today!) |
| WEEK
8 |
||
| Tu, 2/22 |
Latin
Christian Culture, I: High Culture |
Brown, 9
(115-middle of 122) Ammianus Marcellinus (Bk.14.6; 16.10; 17.4; 19.10) 1-page assignment on Ammianus due! Start Augustine, Confessions (through Book 5 by the midterm) |
| Th, 2/24 |
Popular Christian Piety: The Cult of the
Saints The East Roman Empire (c. 400) |
Sulpicius
Severus, Life
of St. Martin Ammianus Marcellinus Bk. 29.1-2 |
| WEEK
9 |
||
| Tu, 3/1 |
Midterm Exam (in class) | No new reading. Review for midterm! |
| Th, 3/3 |
Women in Late Antiquity Introductory comments on final paper project |
The Acts of
Paul and Thecla 3 short accounts of the murder of Hypatia (Read introductory material also) |
| 3/5-3/13 |
SPRING
BREAK |
Continue
reading Augustine, Confessions.
Study Questions & & 2-page
paper due Th, 3/17. |
| WEEK 10 |
||
| Tu, 3/15 |
Augustine of
Hippo |
Augustine, Confessions (at least through Book
IX) |
| Th, 3/17 |
Discussion
Augustine’s Confessions The Quiet Fall of the Western Roman Empire |
Augustine, Confessions, through Book X Study Questions on the Confessions 2-page paper due (This one will be graded!) Brown, end of 9 & 10 (122-135) |
| WEEK 11 |
||
| Tu, 3/22 |
…Meanwhile in the East: From Theodosius II to Anastasius |
Brown,
chapter 11 Formula of Chalcedon (451) Work on paper topic |
| Th, 3/24 |
“Barbarians”
& The Fall of Rome: Theories & Realities
[Short lecture with discussion] East-West Tensions: A Parting of Ways |
At the
Court of Attila the Hun Edward Gibbon, On the Fall of the Roman Empire Augustine, City of God (excerpts on the 2 cities) Click here for questions on these documents. Print out documents and bring them with you to class for discussion! Work on paper topic |
| WEEK 12 |
||
| Tu, 3/29 |
The New
Barbarian World |
Sidonius
Apollinaris, “Country House Life in Gaul” & “A Visigothic King”
Sidonius Apollinaris, "A Barbarous Roman" (the second of 2 brief letters) Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks, Bk. II (excerpts) Final paper topic must be submitted and approved by today! |
| Th, 3/31 |
Clovis and
the Franks (with discussion) |
Complete 3/30
readings. Be
prepared to discuss
questions
on Sidonius Apollinaris and Gregory's History
of the Franks (Bk. II) in class! 1 page assignment due |
| WEEK 13 |
||
| Tu, 4/5 |
The Reign of
Justinian: Theology Politics and War |
Brown,
chapter 12 2 short excerpts from Procopius, On the Wars: Justinian Suppresses the Nika Revolt & Reconquest of North Africa Start Procopius, Secret History (must be finished by Th, 4/7) |
| Th, 4/7 |
The Reign of
Justinian: Art, Architecture, & Culture Discussion of Secret History |
Procopius, On
Buildings (short excerpt) Finish Procopius, Secret History; (Questions) 1-page assignment due |
| WEEK 14 |
||
| Tu, 4/12 |
The Decline
of Romanitas in the West: Society, Education &
the
Church |
Gregory
of Tours, History of the Franks
(excerpts) Law of the Salian Franks Recommended: Cassiodorus, On Divine and Human Readings (excerpt) Click here for questions on the reading! Work on your papers! |
| W, 4/14 |
From
East Roman to Byzantine Empire: The Sixth to Seventh Century |
Brown,
13 & 14 Antiochus Strategos, The Sack of Jerusalem (614) Recommended: A Zoroastrian Catechism Brown, 15 & 16 (finish by end of class) The Battle of Yarmuk (636) The Pact of Umar |
| WEEK 15 |
||
| Tu, 4/19 |
Cultural & Social Change in the East Roman World | No new reading. Work on final paper! |
| Th, 4/21 |
No class. Reading days. |
Paper
#2 due in my office (225 Flint) by Th, 4/21 |
| Date TBA |
Final Examination | Bring
bluebook for essay and short answer section |