Rome is best remembered today as the world of gladiators, back-stabbing politicians, and bloodthirsty soldiers. The course goes behind our modern myths and preconceptions to uncover the reality of Roman history, literature, and culture. This was a society that produced beautiful poetry such as Virgil's Aeneid and stunning works of art like the Dying Gaul, yet it was also a culture built on enslavement, conquest, and plunder. Rome evolved and expanded from one city on the Tiber River to an empire that stretched from Spain in the west to Syria in the east, from Germany in the north to Africa in the south. Rome's leaders and imperialistic ambitions have served as models both to celebrate and to reject monarchical rule and colonialism. It was a world that witnessed some of the most important transitions that have shaped the modern world, from the rise of Christianity to law and legal institutions. This course will explore Rome from multiple perspectives, from politicians and poets to pilgrims and pirates, paying attention to the voices of the enslaved, dispossessed, and exploited and acknowledging the rich cultural diversity of the territories ruled by Rome. We will not only study ancient texts and monuments but also later literary and artistic interpretations of the Roman world.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. think critically about Rome's history, literature, and culture and its legacy in the modern world, including contemporary Australia;
2. analyse and evaluate primary historical sources;
3. conduct research using the primary sources and modern scholarship;
4. formulate logical arguments based on the primary source evidence; and
5. communicate clearly and effectively in both oral and written modes.

Required Resources

Resources to be provided on Wattle and via the ANU Library.

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying online, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Lecture: How can we tell Rome's story? (CD). Tutorial: Introduction / Decoding Roman Names.	Tutorial participation (ongoing)
2	Lecture: How did the Roman Republic work? (CD). Tutorial: Understanding the Roman Aristocracy.
3	Lecture: What was the impact of Roman imperialism? (CD). Tutorial: Staging Empire: Plautus' The Little Carthaginian.
4	Lecture: How can we explain the rise of Augustus? (CD). Tutorial: Constructing the Other: Cleopatra.	Source and Referencing Exercise due
5	Lecture: How did emperors rule the Roman world? (CD). Tutorial: Screening Rome: Gladiator.
6	Lecture: Why did the Roman empire fall (or transform)? (CD). Tutorial: The Christian Experience: The Passion of Perpetua.
7	Lecture: Between Greece and Rome: What did the Romans believe in? (SM). Tutorial: Roman Religion and Festivals: Ovid's Fasti.
8	Lecture: Roma Amor? Falling in Love in Ancient Rome (SM). Tutorial: Latin Elegy and Contemporary Pop Music.	Research Essay due
9	Lecture: How was gender understood and performed in Ancient Rome? (SM) Tutorial: Staging Masculinity in the Roman World.
10	Lecture: Everything burns: Environment and natural collapses in Rome (SM). Tutorial: Pliny, Pompeii and the Vesuvian eruption: Past and Present.
11	Lecture: What do we know about Roman medicine? / What did the Romans eat? (SM). Tutorial: Celsus' On Medicine.
12	Lecturer: Who owns the Roman past? (GPR) / How not to deal with the Roman past: Ancient Rome in Fascist Italy (SM). Tutorial: Reflections & Exam Preparation.

Tutorial Registration

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Learning Outcomes
Source and Referencing Exercise (15%)	15 %	1,2,3,4,5
Tutorial Participation (10%)	10 %	1,2,5
Research Essay (35%)	35 %	1,2,3,4,5
Final Examination (40%)	40 %	1,2,3,4,5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Students are expected to attend lectures. Lecture recordings are provided in the event of illness, misadventure, unavoidable clashes with other university commitments. Attendance at and participation in tutorials is compulsory. Students should come prepared having completed the assigned readings ready to engage in discussions.

Assessment Task 1

Source and Referencing Exercise (15%)

A short exercise in the analysis of ancient sources and referencing them correctly. Full details to be provided on Wattle. Due 11.59pm Thursday 15 August.

Assessment Task 2

Tutorial Participation (10%)

Students are expected to attend, and participate actively in, all the tutorials for this course. Participation includes, but is not limited to: asking questions in class; answering questions in class; and participating in whole-class, small group, or paired discussions. Participation in all these activities should show awareness of completing the assigned readings. 

Assessment Task 3

Research Essay (35%)

A 2,000-word research essay in answer to one of the questions provided. Full details to be provided on Wattle. Due 11.59pm Friday 27 September.

Assessment Task 4

Final Examination (40%)

A 2-hour examination to be held during the university examination period. Full details to be provided on Wattle.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Accessibility for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students