This module explores the ways in which Romans thought about the world around them, their place in it, and ideas and ideals through which they shaped their society. Focussing on the periods of the late Republic and early Empire, this module allows students to engage with a range of different media including literary sources (authors such as Cicero, Sallust, Seneca, and Pliny the Elder), documents, inscriptions (epigraphy), coins (numismatics) and material culture, in order to investigate how the Romans conceptualised their world. Students will also learn how to evaluate the ancient evidence within theoretical frameworks, starting with models of Rome's world view, and then narrowing down the focus to a societal level, and then still further to the level of the individual and their experiences. This module will cover themes including the relationship between humans and the divine; humans and the physical/natural world; Rome and the provinces; ethics and government; political ideology; and socio-cultural ideals and models of behaviour.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module students should be able to:
Demonstrate an understanding of the different frameworks within which the Romans conceptualised their world.
Analyse and evaluate critically a range of different sources in order to widen their understanding of these areas.
Engage with modern theoretical frameworks in relation to the different themes of the module.
Undertake independent research into a topic within the field at a professional level, and present it in a coherent, professional written form
