This Week
W Apr 25: Exemplarity: the Game, Roman History, and the Class
| Read | Agenda: Comparing the actions of HaverRomans and historical Romans; discussing the Reacting experience; Prizes!; a valediction to Rome and our Course; a final Word of the Day; and a secret revealed! Update & Prizes! Take 5 minutes to update me with your grade goals for the game and course; and vote for: the Most Roman! Best Hisser/Latro Shouter! Noblest Roman! Best Senate Moment! Best Politicker! and More! Reflection, to be submitted at start of class: There is no reading for today, but before the start of class on Wednesday, please reflect in writing on your own performance during the game. Your discussion should be wide-ranging and (1) explain your behavior in the game; and (2) reflect on the experience of donning the mask of a Roman for a few weeks. Consider whether you were able to accomplish your goals and act as your character. How or why not? If you carried on significant discussion or debate outside of Senate or other activities, be sure to reveal these. Is there anything you wish you had done differently? This is the time to stand outside your Roman self and reflect, criticize, and justify your actions in playing your role. To complete this week’s reflection satisfactorily you must: ❏ respond to the prompt in all aspects; ❏ there is no set word count for this reflection: a single-spaced page or two should do; although if you feel you need to be more expansive in your comments, please feel free to do so; ❏ use a clear, direct, concise style (get to the point; since ideas cannot survive typos and grammatical flubs, proofread!) ❏ print your reflection and submit it at the start of class ❏ with your name(s) and your character name listed at the top of the first page. You must submit this at the start of class on Wednesday. No tabellae allowed, as this reflection must be written before our discussion. You are welcome to work on this reflection with your partner or separately, as you wish. |
Annales
Week 1: Introductions
W Jan. 19: “Civis Romanus Sum”
Introduction to the course, the Romans, and learning about the past
Verbum Diurnum (“Word of the Day”): CIVIS (with link to day’s slides)
S Jan. 21 (Remember that you can do a reflection but need not in a given week)
No Quiz option this week
Reflection 1: Topic: Well, we’re just getting started, but if you’d like to reflect at this point, I invite you to share in more detail what you know about the Romans — or what you wonder most about? What aspects of the past (or present) fire your curiosity? What encounters with Romans have you had and when? Who are, now, the Romans to you?
To complete this week’s reflection satisfactorily you must: ❏ respond to the prompt in 500-700 words (a page to a page and a half), no more, no less ❏ write from your own perspective (not that of a Roman) ❏ use a clear, direct, concise style (get to the point; since ideas cannot survive typos and grammatical flubs, proofread!) ❏ save your file with a title in this format: Reflection1-LASTNAME ❏ submit your reflection as a .pdf via Moodle by midnight on Saturday.
Week 2: Meet the Romans
M Jan. 24: Welcome to Rome
| Read | ❏ “Roman Names” in Ancient Rome on 5 Denarii a Day (pp. 47-54; note, includes only about a page of text as it straddles the color images at the book’s center) and, if you would like more detail, see Francese (522-525) ❏ Gwynn, “Introduction” and “The Mists of the Past” (pp. 1–11) ❏ Plutarch’s Life of Romulus 1-13 (12.2–6 gets into the weeds of Romulus’ birthday and can be skimmed) [more recent translation] |
Verbum Diurnum: NOMEN
W Jan. 26: Family
| Read | ❏ “Family” in Ancient Rome on 5 Denarii a Day (pp. 59-62) ❏ Pliny the Younger on the Death of Fundanus’ Daughter (Francese, p. 315-16) [on-line, only if you don’t yet have Francese] ❏ Praise of Turia (Francese, p. 452-457) [on-line, if you don’t yet have Francese] ❏ Perpetua, The Passion of Perpetua et Felicitas (Francese, p. 257-266) [on-line if you don’t yet have Francese] |
Verbum Diurnum: AUCTORITAS
S Jan. 29 (Remember that you can do at most either a quiz or a reflection in a given week)
Quiz 1: Available here
To complete this week’s reflection satisfactorily you must: ❏ complete the 20-multiple-choice-question quiz and score above an 84% before the end of the day on SATURDAY ❏ complete the quiz by yourself, without aid or violation ❏ complete the quiz in a single sitting (although there is no prescribed time limit, I anticipate it will take no more than 20 minutes).
Reflection 2: Topic: On Monday, we discussed the importance of “name” in Roman culture. Consider Plutarch’s Life of Romulus OR one of the texts read on Wednesday, and discuss one or more moments that demonstrate the importance of names and naming in Rome.
To complete this week’s reflection satisfactorily you must: ❏ respond to the prompt in 500-700 words (a page to a page and a half), no more, no less ❏ write from your own perspective (not that of a Roman) ❏ use a clear, direct, concise style (get to the point; since ideas cannot survive typos and grammatical flubs, proofread!) ❏ save your file with a title in this format: Reflection2-LASTNAME ❏ submit your reflection as a .pdf via Moodle by midnight on SATURDAY.
Week 3: The Early Republic and the Conquest of Italy
M Jan. 31: Rome Before the Free State, or Lost & Found
| Read | ❏ [You might revisit the account of Perpetua’s Martyrdom, as we’ll revisit it at the start of class today] ❏ “Reading the Romans” (Francese, p. xx-xxiii) ❏ Livy, Ab Urbe Condita Book 1 (in Francese, p. 142-183) — be sure to give yourself time to read this incredible rich and rewarding (but not easy) text. ❏ Gwynn, “The Republic Takes Shape” (pp. 12–24) |
Verbum Diurnum: ANTIQUUS
W Feb. 2: Slavery… and Freedom
| Read | ❏ “Slaves” in Ancient Rome on 5 Denarii a Day (pp. 58-59) ❏ Inscriptions 51-56 (Francese 474-78) ❏ Pliny on grief over slaves (Francese 324-25) ❏ Platus, Mostellaria or “the Haunted House” ❏ Twelve Tables (Francese 503-11) |
Verbum Diurnum: LIBERTAS [with a supplemental video to complete the introduction]
F Feb. 4 (Remember that you can do at most either a quiz or a reflection in a given week)
Quiz: Available here
To complete this week’s reflection satisfactorily you must: ❏ complete the 20-multiple-choice-question quiz and score above an 84% before the end of the day on Friday ❏ complete the quiz by yourself, without aid or violation ❏ complete the quiz in a single sitting (although there is no prescribed time limit, I anticipate it will take no more than 20 minutes). Be sure to read your selections in Gwynn before taking the quiz!
Reflection: One day, while walking across campus a temporal vortex opens before you and out steps a Roman from the 4th century BCE. Explain to him, in terms that he would understand, why you are or are not free. [NOTE: because we did not quite finish our discussion of LIBERTAS this might be a challenge to answer; I have made a short supplementary video to help]
To complete this week’s reflection satisfactorily you must: ❏ respond to the prompt in 500-700 words (a page to a page and a half), no more, no less ❏ include at least two exempla to illustrate your argument ❏ write from your own perspective (not that of a Roman) ❏ use a clear, direct, concise style (get to the point; since ideas cannot survive typos and grammatical flubs, proofread!) ❏ include your word count at the bottom of the page ❏ add a compelling yet accurate title ❏ save your file as a .doc or .pdf (preferred) with a title in this format: Reflection3-LASTNAME; and ❏ submit your reflection via Moodle by midnight on Friday.
Sat Feb. 6: Geography Mastery Quiz
Complete your Geography Mastery Quiz by midnight on SATURDAY.
Before you take your quiz, look at the quiz description and study guide and read “Environs of Rome” in Ancient Rome on 5 Denarii a Day (pp. 15-24)
Week 4: The Growth of Rome’s Empire
M Feb. 7: Virtue
| Read | ❏ Revisit Gwynn’s, “The Republic Takes Shape” (pp. 12–24) and Gywnn, Ch. 3 “Men Women and the Gods” ❏ If you have not already done so, please view the supplemental video to complete our introduction to LIBERTAS ❏ Livy, Book 2.1–10, 12–13, 23–24, 27–30, 32-35, 40-41, 44-45, 61 ❏ Livy, Book 3.33–50, 52-53, 55–59 |
Verbum Diurnum: VIRTUS
W Feb. 9: Credit
| Read | ❏ Nepos, Life of Hannibal; if you would like to know more about Nepos, the Punic War, or Hannibal, we invite you to peruse this site. Of particular interest is this essay on Cannae and its Legacy. ❏ Plutarch, Life of Fabius; read as much as you can but at least Sections 1-8, 13-18, and 23-24. |
Verbum Diurnum: FIDES // Summary Notes
F Feb. 11 (Remember that you can do at most either a quiz or a reflection in a given week)
Quiz: Available here. Note that for this week, be especially sure that you understand the basic architecture of the Roman constitution, including its political offices.
To complete this week’s reflection satisfactorily you must: ❏ complete the 20-multiple-choice-question quiz and score above an 84% before the end of the day on Saturday ❏ complete the quiz by yourself, without aid or violation ❏ complete the quiz in a single sitting (although there is no prescribed time limit, I anticipate it will take no more than 20 minutes).
Reflection: Successful states have often found it expedient, perhaps necessary, to define themselves against some other state or group. Discuss an example of how the Romans did this, drawing from the readings and/or class lectures (be specific and clear about how they do it), and compare this to an example of how the United States (or some other modern nation) has employed a similar strategy.
To complete this week’s reflection satisfactorily you must: ❏ respond to the prompt in 500-700 words (a page to a page and a half), no more, no less ❏ include at least two exempla to illustrate your argument ❏ write from your own perspective (not that of a Roman) ❏ use a clear, direct, concise style (get to the point; since ideas cannot survive typos and grammatical flubs, proofread!) ❏ append your word count to the bottom of the page ❏ add a compelling yet accurate title ❏ save your file as a .doc or .pdf (preferred) with a title in this format: Reflection4-LASTNAME; and ❏ submit your reflection via Moodle by midnight on Saturday.
Week 5: Empire & the Arena
M Feb. 14 Empire
| Read | ❏ Gwynn, Chapter 4, “Carthage must be destroyed” ❏ Plutarch, Life of Cato (in Francese, pp. 333–354) ❏ Plutarch, Life of Flamininus; as much as you like but at least sections 7-12 (pp. 456–463). ❏ Apuleius, Metamorphoses or The Golden Ass 9.35-42 (with Reading Guide (and text if you don’t yet have the novel) |
Verbum Diurnum: IMPERIUM
W Feb. 16 Spectacle
| Read | Note that there are many readings for today but there are, by and large, short. ❏ “Entertainment” in Rome on 5 Denarii a Day (80-95) ❏ Martial, On the Spectacles (Francese 202-204) ❏ Inscriptions on Actors and Gladiators 77-88 (Francese 492-495) ❏ Seneca 2, “Avoid the Crowd” (Epistulae Morales 7) (Francese 396-398) ❏ Pliny the Younger, Epistles 7.24 (to Rosianus Genius, “A Roman Lady and Her Pantomime Troupe; Francese 322-33) and Epistles 9.17 (to Julius Genitor; “Entertainments at Dinner”; Francese 326) Optional ❏ Novatian, On the Spectacles (Francese 220-226) ❏ “The Greatest of All Time” by Peter Struck (a very short note on the career of the highest earning athlete of all time (at (more or less) PPP). |
| Watch | Spend 5 minutes in the Circus Maximus with this clip of the chariot race from Ben Hur (1959) and and another 5 in the Colosseum with this Hannibal-themed clip from Gladiator (2000) [self-evident warning for spectacular violence] |
Verbum Diurnum: LUDUS
F Feb. 18 (Remember that you can do at most either a quiz or a reflection in a given week)
Quiz 4: Available here
To complete this week’s reflection satisfactorily you must: ❏ complete the 20-multiple-choice-question quiz and score above an 84% before the end of the day on Saturday ❏ complete the quiz by yourself, without aid or violation ❏ complete the quiz in a single sitting (although there is no prescribed time limit, I anticipate it will take no more than 20 minutes).
Reflection 5: The poem linked to below exemplifies several themes from this week’s readings and classes. Choose one of the texts you read this week, whether from the readings or from the lecture slides (see website), and discuss it in relation to this poem, situating both texts within a particular Roman attitude or tradition we talked about. Remember to be specific in your references to both texts.
To complete this week’s reflection satisfactorily you must: ❏ read this description by Martial of a spectacular performance (Liber Spectactulorum 24) ❏ respond to the prompt in 500-700 words, no more, no less ❏ include specific references to the texts we have read about Rome ❏ use a clear, direct, concise style (get to the point; since ideas cannot survive typos and grammatical flubs, proofread!) ❏ save your file with a title in this format: Reflection5-LASTNAME; and ❏ submit your reflection via Moodle by midnight on Saturday.
Week 6: The Social Sphere
M Feb. 21: Education
| Read | ❏ Gwynn, Chapter 7 “Word & Image” ❏ Livy, From the Founding of the City 39.8–19 (“The Bacchanalian Affair”) [THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL READING; PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO IT] ❏ Quintilian, Institute of Oratory: Selections from Book 1 (Francese 382-393) and 1.12. ❏ Seneca on the Liberal Arts (Francese 411-18) ❏ Pliny, Epistles 1.9 (to Minucius Fundanus, “False Activity and Authentic Leisure”; Francese, p. 300) and Epistle 3.3 (to Corellia Hispulla, “Choosing a Teacher”; Francese, p. 309) Optional but Strongly Suggested ❏ Cicero, “In Defense of Archias” (Francese, p. 35-43) |
Verbum Diurnum: OTIUM/NEGOTIUM
W Feb. 23: Friendship
| Read | ❏ Gwynn, Chapter 6 “The Cost of Empire” ❏ Plutarch, Life of Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus (In Plutarch, Roman Lives, 83-115). To help you keep track of the important players, you might have this family tree handy. Week of Living Philosophically Prep ❏ Introduction in your Stoic Week Handbook (pp. 1-15) or your Epicurean Week Guidebook (pp. 6–15); at some point before Friday skim the rest of the handbook. |
Verbum Diurnum: AMICITIA
F Feb. 25: Weekly Quiz or Reflection
Week 6 Quiz: Available here
To complete this week’s reflection satisfactorily you must: ❏ complete the 20-multiple-choice-question quiz and score above an 84% before the end of the day on Saturday ❏ complete the quiz by yourself, without aid or violation ❏ complete the quiz in a single sitting (although there is no prescribed time limit, I anticipate it will take no more than 20 minutes).
Reflection 6: It’s election season! One of your friends is running for the tribunate. You will, of course, campaign for him. Write a brief appeal to be delivered from the rostrum in support of his candidacy. You can determine whether you and your friend are a supporter of the traditional prerogatives of the Senate or see the people as sovereign in all things. Feel free to pick a particular moment in which to run your campaign, or draw more broadly from the trends in the period we have been looking at this week. Just be sure to be consistent. In preparing your appeal, you should revisit the Lives and Boatwright to see what the people want. You should also peruse, to the extent you find helpful, Quintus Cicero’s Running for Office: A Handbook (Francese 77-91).
To complete this week’s reflection satisfactorily you must: respond to the prompt in 350*-700 words, no more, no less ❏ give your friend a good Roman tria nomina ❏ determine exactly which year in which the election is being held, referring to this using Roman practice of naming by the consuls (but also include a footnote or parenthetical remark with the year BCE) ❏ respond to the prompt in all its facets and in a way consistant with the year you’ve selected ❏ include specific references to the texts we have read about Rome ❏ use a clear, direct, concise style (get to the point; since ideas cannot survive typos and grammatical flubs, proofread!) ❏ save your file with a title in this format: Reflection6-LASTNAME; and ❏ submit your reflection via Moodle by midnight on Saturday. * Note that the low bound is lower this week.
Sat Feb. 26: Politics Mastery Study Guide and Quiz
Sun. Feb. 27: Begin our WEEK OF LIVING PHILOSOPHICALLY
Week 7: Italy Threatened, Enfranchised, Divided + Week of Living Philosophically
T Feb 28: Punishment
| Read | ❏ Plutarch, Life of Marius (In Plutarch, Roman Lives, 116-168) We’ll be focusing on Marius through the year 100 for class today; read at least through Section 28 (p. 149) ❏ “Law & Order” in Rome on 5 Denarii a Day (71-79) ❏ Catullus: “Introduction” in Francese and Poems 11, 15, 28 ❏ Lucretius, On the Nature of Things, “Freedom from Pain and Worry (1.1–264) in Francese |
Verbum Diurnum: INFAMIA
Th Mar 2: Character as Performance
| Read | ❏ Cicero, On Duties 1.107–115 [PDF] (“Our 4 Roles”) ❏ Seneca the Younger, “Sin City” (Francese, pp. 403–405) ❏ Horace, Satires 1.6 “On Ambition and Noble Birth” and 1.9 “The Pest” (Francese, pp. 110-115) ❏ Catullus, remainder of the “Selected Poems” (Francese, pp. 24–33) |
Verbum Diurnum: PERSONA
Su Mar. 6 SPECIAL: This week you can complete both the QUIZ & REFLECTION
Weekly Reflection 7
On Friday you finished your (first) week of living like a Stoic or an Epicurean. Take some time to reflect on the experience. This reflection can take whatever form you think best conveys your encounter with Stoicism and your attempt to practice it in your life.
Note: to successfully complete Week of Living Philosophically Week you must successful complete this reflection.
To complete this week’s reflection satisfactorily you must: ❏ respond to the prompt in 500-800 words, no more, no less ❏ use a clear, direct, concise style (get to the point; since ideas cannot survive typos and grammatical flubs, proofread!) ❏ save your file with a title in this format: Reflection7-LASTNAME; and ❏ submit your reflection via Moodle by midnight on Sunday.
Quiz 6: Available here
This week’s quiz will focus on the threats to Rome from the Germanic invasions, the conflict between Marius and Sulla, the tumultuous tribunates of Saturninus and Drusus the Younger, the government of the provinces, and of course the texts we read and the Words of the Day.
To complete this week’s reflection satisfactorily you must: ❏ complete the 20-multiple-choice-question quiz and score above an 84% before the end of the day on Sunday ❏ complete the quiz by yourself, without aid or violation ❏ complete the quiz in a single sitting (although there is no prescribed time limit, I anticipate it will take no more than 20 minutes).
Spring Break
Week 8: The Domination of Sulla & Its Legacy
M Mar 14: Character as Culture
| Read | ❏ Plutarch, Life of Sulla (p. 175-215) ❏ Appian, Roman History 5.22-23, on the so-called “Asiatic Vespers,” the coordinated murder of 80-150,000 Romans throughout Asia Minor in 88 BCE.❏ Cicero, Ad Atticum 1.13 (“On the Bona Dea Scandal”, 46-48) ❏ Cicero, Ad Atticum 1.16 (“On the Trial of Clodius”, 48-53)—both Cicero and Clodius are among you… can you guess who? OPTIONAL: You are invited to read more about Sulla’s Funeral and the Three Insurrections of the 70s in Appian, Civil Wars 1.105-121 |
Verbum Diurnum: MOS
W Mar 16: Resistance
| Read | ❏ Appian on Spartacus (Francese 11-13) ❏ Plutarch, Life of Pompey. pp. 223-224 and pp. 243-248 and p. 263-74 (on his character ( Chs 1-2) and his Campaign against the Pirates (Chs. 24-29) and his Third Triumph and Preeminence in Rome (Chs. 45-55) You are invited, of course, to read as much of Pompey’s Life as you wish. ❏ Petronius, Satyricon (Francese, pp. 267-298) Nota bene: As you read this rollicking account of an absurd dinner party, keep two objects of study foremost in your mind: on the one hand, Roman concepts of theatricality and spectacle; on the other, traditional Roman value and virtues and how they appear in the work. |
Verbum Diurnum: LATRO // Notes
S Mar. 19: Quiz or Reflection
Quiz 7: Available here
This week’s quiz will focus on Marius vs. Sulla, Sulla’s reforms, the turmoil of the 70s, and of course the texts we read and the Words of the Day. You will also need to know the FULL name of your Roman character (i.e., the complete name with all it’s parts — so, not “Caesar” but “Gaius Julius Caesar.”
To complete this week’s reflection satisfactorily you must: ❏ complete the 15-multiple-choice-question quiz and score more than 77 of the 90 points (and correctly entered your Roman identity, which is worth an additional 10 points); and ❏ complete the quiz by yourself, without aid or violation; ❏ complete the quiz in a single sitting (although there is no proscribed time limit, I anticipate it will take no more than 20 minutes).
If you have scored more than 73 of 90 you may automatically revise your quiz (see course blog, “Guidelines for Revising Quizzes”, for more information). You may revise a quiz with a lower score by use of a tabella, using the same guidelines.
Weekly Reflection 8
For this week’s reflection, I’d like you to write about the idea of belonging (who, how, etc.). You might focus exclusively about belonging as it has emerged in our contact with ancient Rome—or you might write about how your exposure to Rome has influenced your thinking about belonging (and/or its opposite). This might be strictly analytical or more personal, as you wish.
To complete this week’s reflection satisfactorily you must: ❏ respond to the prompt in 500-800 words, no more, no less; ❏ use a clear, direct, concise style (get to the point; since ideas cannot survive typos and grammatical flubs, proofread!) ❏ save your file with a title in this format: Reflection8-LASTNAME; and ❏ submit your reflection via Moodle by midnight on Saturday.
Week 9: The End of the Beginning
M Mar 21: Excellence
| Read | ❏ Gwynn, Ch. 8 “The Last Years” ❏ Plutarch, Life of Caesar Chs 1-32 ❏ Lucan, Civil Wars: Prologue and Rubicon (1.1-228 = pp. 3-9); Caesar attacks the Sacred Grove (3.399-449 = pp. 52-53) [Reading Guide] [Outline, if you’d like to contextualize these passages in the narrative thread of Lucan’s epic] OPTIONAL: Caesar on the Druids (Book 6.13–16); Caesar Builds a Bridge (Book 4.17); Caesar Goes to Britain (Book 4.23–26) |
Verbum Diurnum: DIGNITAS
W Mar 23: Victory
| Read | ❏ Plutarch, Life of Caesar Chs 33-54 ❏ Lucan, Civil Wars: Raft of the Caesarians (4.448-581 = pp. 74-78); Scaeva’s Aristeia (6.138-262 = pp. 110-113); Death of Domitius and Pompey’s defeat: 7.599-737 = pp. 144-148] ❏ Watch this excerpt from HBO’s “Rome” on when Caesar learns of Pompey’s death. [6 min] ❏ Lucan, Civil Wars: Caesar Receives Pompey’s Head (9.1.1034-1108 = pp. 204-206) ❏ Plutarch, Life of Cato the Younger, Chs. 49-53 (actions against Caesar) and Chs. 65-73 (his death after the defeat at Thapsus, note “the three hundred” mentioned in his passage is the rump Roman Senate that Cato reconstituted in Africa) |
Verbum Diurnum: CLEMENTIA
S Mar. 26: Reflection
Weekly Reflection 9
For this week’s reflection, select a passage in any of the ancient texts that we read this week and respond to it in character. Your reaction might be a serious reflection on a political or philosophical concept, a heated reaction to an opinion expressed, a subtle critique of poetics—whatever is appropriate for your character. Be sure to cite (specifically and properly) the passage of the text to which you are reacting.To complete this week’s reflection satisfactorily you must: ❏ respond to the prompt in all its facets ❏ be as true as you can be to your Roman character ❏ respond to the prompt in 500-700 words, no more, no less ❏ properly cite your passage ❏ use a clear, direct, concise style (get to the point; since ideas cannot survive typos and grammatical flubs, proofread!) ❏ save your file with a title in this format: Reflection9-CHARACTERNAME; and ❏ submit your reflection via Moodle by midnight on Friday.
Week 10: Caesar’s Dictatorship & Death
M Mar 28: Duty
| Read | ❏ Read Nicolaus of Damascus on the Ides of March carefully. ❏ Peruse this set of rhetorical exercises on tyrannicides from Seneca’s Controversiae: read all of 3.6 and 4.7 (~ 2 pages) and crucially in 9.4, the opening (the first 2 short paragraphs on p. 3) and the start of the divisio section (read all of p. 6 at least). As you read these, consider the typical features of the tyrant and tyrannicides in Roman declamation. ❏ If you wish, you can see the HBO Rome version of the assassination, here. ❏ Plutarch, Life of Caesar Chs 55-69 (p. 346-59) ❏ Suetonius, Life of the Divine Caesar, Chs. 80-82 (death of Caesar)—although I invite you to read more of the biography if you wish. |
Verbum Diurnum: OFFICIUM
W Mar 30: Envy
| Read | ❏ Kelly, “Imperial Power” in A Very Brief History of the Roman Empire ❏ Plutarch, Life of Brutus ❏ Lucan, Civil Wars, “The Witch” 6.412-830 [p. 117–128 Zombie Romans!]; Civil War 7.728–872 (p. 148–152); “the End” 10.136–171 and 332–546 [~6 pages; Outline of the epic, if you’d like to contextualize these passages in the narrative thread of Lucan’s epic]The section in Book 10 between the required reading is a very interesting account of the Nile and its connection to (thwarted) empire). As you finish Lucan’s account, think back to Scaeva’s Aristeia in Book 6, which I hope to return to in class today. |
Verbum Diurnum: FASCINUM
S Apr 1: Quiz or Reflection
Weekly Quiz : Available here
This week’s quiz will focus on Kelly and the war between Caesar and Pompey and Caesar’s dictatorship and assassination (our class activities over the last 2 weeks), and of course the texts we read and the Words of the Day. You will also need to know the exact day that Caesar was assassinated.
To complete this week’s reflection satisfactorily you must: ❏ complete the 20-multiple-choice-question quiz and score above an 84% before the end of the day on Saturday ❏ complete the quiz by yourself, without aid or violation ❏ complete the quiz in a single sitting (although there is no proscribed time limit, I anticipate it will take no more than 20 minutes).
Weekly Reflection 10
Caesar est mortuus! This will be the second of several reflection that you will write in the voice of your Roman self. In the voice of your character, react to the death of Caesar. The form of your response is up to you: you might write a speech delivered at the Rostra, or a letter to a friend, or a personal note, or a conversation with your wife or son or lover. Note that some of you were involved in the event; some of you are long dead and are observing earthly events from the Underworld (if you were an Epicurean… sorry, it turns out that we are not but atoms but remain aware of the world, at least for this reflection).
To complete this week’s reflection satisfactorily you must: ❏ respond to the prompt in all its facets ❏ be as true as you can be to your Roman character ❏ respond to the prompt in 500-700 words, no more, no less ❏ include at least one specific references to the texts we have read about Caesar’s death ❏ use a clear, direct, concise style (get to the point; since ideas cannot survive typos and grammatical flubs, proofread!) ❏ save your file with a title in this format: Reflection10-CHARACTERNAME; and ❏ submit your reflection via Moodle by midnight on Saturday.
Week 11: Augustus and the Transformation of the Roman World
M Apr 4: Right
| Read | ❏ Begin to orient yourself towards the Crisis of Catiline by perusing the opening of the Game Book (a hard copy will be distributed in class today). Look at the Table of Contents; read the “Brief Overview of the Game” “Quintus’ Final Mission” and “How to React to the Past” (pp. 1–18). You might also start reviewing the “Historical Context” section. Note that much of this will be review, as it’s the history we’ve been slowly accumulating over the course of the semester. But for this week’s Mastery Quiz, you’ll really want to review the “Crises of the Republic” section (pp. 28–40). ❏ Plutarch, Life of Anthony Chs. 19–20 (p. 378–79) and 71–87 (p. 419–430); I invite you to read as much of the rest of the Life as you wish; it’s one of Plutarch’s singular achievements in characterization). ❏ Horace, Odes 1.37 (“Now we must drink…!”) (Francese p. 122) |
Verbum Diurnum: IUS
W Apr 6: Cosmos
| Read | ❏ Vergil, Eclogue 1 (Francese p. 446–448 or here) ❏ Augustus, Res Gestae (Francese p. 14–22) ❏ By this date you must have read your character sheet to the extent that you are entirely aware of (if not yet fully comfortable) with your Roman identity. Consult with your partner to make sure you have a good sense of the character — even better, study for the Mastery Quiz together! Read around the Game Book as you need to discover the role your character will pay in the upcoming drama. |
S Apr 9: Quiz AND Reflection
Crisis of Catiline Mastery Quiz: Available here
This mastery quiz will focus on the nitty gritty of the world that you inhabit in the Crisis of Catiline Game. You should know well the “Mos Maiorum: The Traditions of the Roman Senate (Rules and Procedures)” (pp. 48–52); including the difference between a relatio, a sententia, and a consultum); the nature of the 3 factions during the Crisis (pp. 69–70); and “recent” history of the “Crises of the Republic” (pp. 28–40).
As you think about the Traditions of the Senate, the Factions, and “recent” history, I encourage you to think about how they relate to the overarching themes we’ve discussed this semester and the lived experience of your Roman persona. Not because, in this instance they will be asked specifically on the Mastery Quiz — the quiz itself will be multiple choice, like the previous quizzes— but so that the process of reviewing for this quiz become an opportunity for you to make intellectual connections and activate the work you have done all semester in the context of your own intellectual development and your stepping into the liminal space of ethopoeia in the form of your Roman persona. When you see that Roman senators, all distinguised Patres Conscripti nevertheless rise when a magistrate enters, consider how that relates to what we’ve studied this semester (you might also remember the anecdotes in Aulus Gellius about the fathers and sons and magistrates); when you think about how senators vote, likewise think about auctoritas, dignitas, intentionally messy Republicanism, and more. So pay attentiont to details, but enmesh those details in the context of all that you’ve learned this semester. And enjoy!
Weekly Reflection 11
Res publica reddita (“the Republic Restored!”). What, dear Roman, does the Republic mean to you? Express your answer from the prospective of your Roman self in 63 BCE. You may consider the prompt as narrowly or expansively as you wish, but your answer must move beyond a recitation of the structure of the Republic (although your answer might well/should certain mention at least some of these elements). Instead consider e.g. what makes the Republic work (or not) or why is it worthwhile (or not).
To complete this week’s reflection satisfactorily you must: ❏ respond to the prompt in all its facets ❏ be as true as you can be to your Roman character ❏ respond to the prompt in 400-700 words, no more, no less ❏ include at least one specific references to a text we have (and site this source) ❏ use a clear, direct, concise style (get to the point; since ideas cannot survive typos and grammatical flubs, proofread!) ❏ save your file with a title in this format: Reflection11-CHARACTERNAME; and ❏ submit your reflection via Moodle by midnight on Saturday.
Week 12: The Crisis of Catiline I
M Apr 11: First Meeting of the Senate (August 4th): Agenda: Amnesty!
| Read | ❏ Read the introduction to the session in the Game Book, pp. 55–56 and be sure to read the core readings suggested there; these can be found in the back of your Game Book. |
W Apr 13: Second Meeting of the Senate (August 26th): Agenda: Land Reform
| Read | ❏ Read the introduction to the session in the Game Book, pp. 56–57 and be sure to read the core readings suggested there; these can be found in the back of your Game Book. ❏ In support of the debate about land reform, please also read this short article about the failed attempt at reform at the start of 63 by E.T. Sage (1921), “Cicero and the Agrarian Proposals of 63 BC“, Classical Journal 16.4: 230-236. Although this is by a modern(ish) author, you’ll quickly see that it has a pro-Catilinarian bias (for a change). Also, there are short passages in Latin, which you can read, if you have Latin, or which can serve as a spur to learn Latin with me in the fall (2 sections available! 9:30 and 10:30). ❏ You might also peruse Smith on the Roman Agrarian Laws for more general context. ❏ For yet more background you may also like to read more of Cicero’s Second Speech Against Rullus’ Agrarian Law for a detailed account (which threads the line between poplaris and optimates , if you read it, almost all of you should find things to praise and blame therein) and/or the much shorter Third Speech Against Rullus’s Agrarian Law. |
S Apr 16: Reflection
Weekly Reflection 12
For this week’s reflection, react to the events of the first and/or second meeting of the Senate, in the form of a brief letter (revisit some examples in Francese to remind you how these look) in character. Your reaction might be a serious reflection on a political or philosophical concept, a heated reaction to an opinion expressed, a subtle critique of argument–whatever is appropriate for your character. Be sure to include one quotation from an ancient text and at least one BiCo Roman (although you may include quotations from other Romans in the debate or print)
To complete this week’s reflection satisfactorily you must: ❏ respond to the prompt in all its facets ❏ be as true as you can be to your Roman character ❏ respond to the prompt in 400-500 words, no more, no less ❏ include at least one specific references to a text we have (and site this source) ❏ incorporate a quotation (in Roman style, i.e., from memory is fine) by a fellow senator ❏ use a clear, direct, concise style (get to the point; since ideas cannot survive typos and grammatical flubs, proofread!) ❏ save your file with a title in this format: Reflection12-CHARACTERNAME; and ❏ submit your reflection via Moodle by midnight on Sunday.
Note: if you wish, you may actually send your letter to your correspondent!
Week 13: The Crisis of Catiline II
M Apr 11: Third Meeting of the Senate: Agenda: Debt Reform & Other Social Reform
| Read | ❏ Read the introduction to the session in the Game Book, pp. 57 and be sure to read the core readings suggested there; these can be found in the back of your Game Book. ❏ Read: Harrison, I. 2008. “Catiline, Clodius, and Popular Politics at Rome during the 60s and 50s BCE, Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies 51, 95–118 [only read through p. 110, since thereafter refers to the “future” in the context of the game] |
M Apr 11: Fourth Meeting of the Senate: Agenda: Senatus Consultum Ultimum!
| Read | ❏ Read the introduction to the session in the Game Book, pp. 58 and be sure to read the core readings suggested there; these can be found in the back of your Game Book. |
Weekly Quiz : Available here
This week’s quiz will focus on 1) Cicero’s First and Second Catilinarian; Sallust’s readings on Catiline
Weekly Reflection 13
For this week’s reflection, react to the events of one or more meetings of the Senate, in the form of a brief letter (revisit some examples in Francese to remind you how these look) in character. Your reaction might be a serious reflection on a political or philosophical concept, a heated reaction to an opinion expressed, a subtle critique of argument—whatever is appropriate for your character. Be sure to include one quotation from a Roman text (properly cited) and at least one BiCoRoman (in keeping with Roman practice you can do this from memory—or craft a quotation that captures the essence of the Roman’s character or position (even if they did not say it))
To complete this week’s reflection satisfactorily you must: ❏ respond to the prompt in all its facets ❏ be as true as you can be to your Roman character ❏ respond to the prompt in 400-500 words, no more, no less ❏ include at least one specific references to the First Catilinarian (and site this source) ❏ incorporate a quotation by a fellow senator ❏ use a clear, direct, concise style (get to the point; since ideas cannot survive typos and grammatical flubs, proofread!) ❏ save your file with a title in this format: Reflection13-CHARACTERNAME; and ❏ submit your reflection via Moodle by midnight on Sunday.
Week 14: The Crisis of Catiline III and Debriefing
M Apr 23: Fifth Meeting of the Senate: Agenda: TBA (possibly political reforms) & CONSEQUENCES!
| Read | Guidance: for today, think of the one change that would have the most salutary effect on Roman politics. ❏ Flower, Harriet. 2010. “An Alternative to a Crisis: Sulla’s New Republic” in Roman Republics, pp. 117–134. By revisiting Sulla’s reforms (what succeeded and failed) you can consider what radical and reactionary reform may look like in 63 BCE. ❏ Summary of proposed reforms in Cicero’s De Legibus (“On the Laws”) Note: these are theoretical reforms proposed by the historical Cicero in the last work he wrote before his assassination in 43 BCE; they have not been proposed by “our” Cicero. But this will give you a good sense of what elements of an incremental reform program might look like. You can find a link to a translation at the bottom of the page. |
