Course Catalogue

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The course focuses on the work of Roman historians, and on the theoretical background to their writing. It combines the study of the canonical Latin historians in translation, with a curriculum of Greek texts. These texts are chosen to illuminate the wider intellectual and social context in which Roman historiography was produced, enabling students to explore the connection between Greek and Roman intellectual culture.

5x1 hour lectures & 15x1hr seminars shared with CLASSIC4045. This is one of the Honours options in Greek and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry in Classics, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation.

CLASSIC4045, The Roman Historical Imagination

None

Essay (2000 words) - 60%

Exam (2 hours) - 40%

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

This course aims to:

■ Familiarise students with three major Latin Historians (Sallust, Livy, Tacitus)

■ Foster an understanding of the relationship between historical writing and the intellectual culture in which it was produced

■ Introduce students to historiographical theory, both ancient and modern

■ Provide opportunities for the critical examination of ancient historical writing

■ Provide experience in reading theoretical writings in Greek

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Demonstrate an awareness of the major cultural and literary dynamics of Roman historiography, and its relationship to the Greek world

■ Develop and present their research into an aspect of this area of the discipline in writing, making full use of relevant scholarly resources, and drawing on their knowledge of texts in Greek

■ Show confidence in translating and interpreting passages in Greek that relate to the themes of the course

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.