Newnham Hall 37
tel. 592-5324
home (573) 815-9333 (not after 10:30 p.m.)
e-mail: leuciv@jaynet.wcmo.edu
Web home page: http://www.wcmo.edu/users/faculty/leuciv/index.html

M-F 11:00 am-noon.(except when there is a faculty meeting)
and by appointment

N. Bailkey, Readings in Ancient History, (Bailkey)
P. MacKendrick and H. Howe, Classics in Translation, Vol. II, (Mack)
G. I. F. Tingay and J. Badcock, These Were the Romans, (Tingay)
R. B. Kebric, Roman People, (Kebric)

Links for materials to support this course:
The syllabus also provides links to various sites
 

Visual resources

Objectives: The course is a survey of ancient Roman life and thought. Our goals are to:

• establish a basic understanding of ancient Roman culture and daily life;
• understand how everyday life of the different social classes was affected by politics, economics, societal norms, and the culture;
• appreciate the literature and art produced by Rome and its significance;
• understand the evolution of political and religious systems in Roman history;
• understand how the political, economic, religious, cultural, and social aspects of ancient Rome were related and integrated;
• appreciate how ancient Roman culture is similar to and different from contemporary culture, providing roots for much of our modern Western culture; and
• learn to reach and defend positions based on careful analysis of primary sources and thoughtful and judicious use of secondary sources (with an awareness of how and why the secondary sources agree and disagree).

Relationship to the General Education Curriculum: Roman Civilization 228 satisfies one of the two courses required within the Historical Perspectives Context of Tier II. As stated in the course objectives, Roman Civilization 228 provides students with opportunities to immerse themselves in the ancient Roman culture and daily life, learning how it evolved politically, socially, culturally, and economically over time. Mastering an understanding of a culture’s art, architecture, literature, philosophy, science, economics, politics, and religion offers opportunities for reflection on varying cultural, social, and historical traditions including work, family, voluntary associations, government. The course will also foster an awareness of the role of values in decision making, search for meaning and identity, and the ethical issues of society. Much of this will be accomplished through the study of certain "archetypal" individuals from the time period covered. Students should also gain insight into ways their culture is similar to and different from the ancient Roman culture. It is intended that students will acquire a deeper understanding of the breadth of our human experience and heritage over the expanse of Roman history. Also intended is the understanding of the interrelationships of the political, social, artistic, cultural, intellectual, religious, and scientific aspects of life in ancient Rome. Finally, it is expected that students will gain a greater respect for other peoples and cultures because of their study of ancient Roman civilization. Through this course, students will develop a propensity for historical methods of study that lead to an understanding of patterns and meaning in history. The teaching and use of historical methods will be key for much of the above discussions, examinations, and analysis. It is expected that the students will be able to reach and defend their own positions based on careful analysis of primary sources (keeping in mind that many of our ‘primary’ sources for this time period are, in fact, secondary to varying degrees) and thoughtful and judicious use of secondary sources.

Writing Intensive Option: Several different types of writing will be part of the course: microthemes, three exams that are predominately essay, a short paper, and a long paper. Four to six microthemes will be assigned as a means to help participants come to a better understanding of important themes, ideas, and concepts. The short paper will be a critical evaluation of two different viewpoints on an important issue relating Roman Civilization. One to three of the microthemes and the short paper will be revised on the basis of a conference with me. Through conference sessions each student will develop and refine the paper topic. A critique and conference after the completion of the paper may also occur. In addition to meeting with me to discuss writing assignments, participants in the class should highly consider using the services of the Writing Lab and especially the Lab tutors, who can be of tremendous assistance.

Format: The course will consist of both lectures and discussion. We will also explore certain aspects of Roman life via the Web. Certain course information regarding assignments will also be posted to a webpage created for this course and will also be available via a discussion group in Exchange. More than two unexcused absences will be considered excessive and will factor in determining your grade. No make-up work will be accepted for unexcused absences. I expect you to abide by Westminster’s honor code.

Exams and “mini” exam:  The exams will be a combination of fill-in the blank or short answer with essays. Usually there will be 10-15 fill in the blank questions worth 2 points each and two long essays worth 35 to 40 points each. The “mini” exam will be similar to a regular exam only shorter. The essays should be well written in standard paragraph format and replete with pertinent facts to support your thesis (or theses). The average length for a good essay should be 300 words--typically one to two full pages depending on how large you write, what type of margins you use, etc. You will typically receive a review sheet one week before the exam as an aid in your preparation.

Microthemes and Essays:
    Content:

•  Microthemes: The microthemes will focus on a specific question based on your readings or possibly on a web site. The questions will be narrow in focus, and your paper should be corresponding “narrow.” The thesis you maintain in your paper should be supported with facts from the readings and from quotes where appropriate. The paper, however, should not be one long quotation.

•  Essays: For both essays you will be given several topics to choose from. The topics will naturally be of a broader nature than that of the microthemes, but the importance of a central thesis and supporting facts will be the same. Neither essay is intended to be “research” in nature (but careful reading and critiquing of select secondary sources is expected); rather they are intending to be opportunities for you to examine certain topics and to come up with reasonable responses, i.e. responses that are based on reason and that can be supported by the information which you have covered in this class.

• Should be double spaced.
• Start with a simple heading at the top of the page giving your name, etc.--but make sure that you include a word count
• Organization, style, grammar, and spelling all can aid or detract from the persuasiveness of your argumentation and can affect your grade.

Attendance:  Regular attendance and participation are essential for the success of the whole class.  More than two unexcused absences will be considered excessive, and no make-up work will be accepted for unexcused absences.  A hard copy and an electronic copy of papers are due at the beginning of the class period. I expect you to abide by Westminster’s honor code. Let me repeat, no make-up work will be accepted for unexcused absences. A hard copy and an electronic copy of papers are due at the beginning of the class period. I expect you to abide by Westminster’s honor code.

Assignments: The assignments given below are not “set-in-stone,” and may vary depending on how each class period goes. The syllabus will be updated as needed.

Topics and Assignments
 

Jan. 13	Th	General Introduction; Mos Maiorum and the Roman character, early Roman religion
18	Tu	Tingay, Ch. 1, 2 & 17, pp. 161-165; Bailkey: Livy: The Early Romans; Mack: Livy, pp. 282-295
20	Th	Kebric, Ch. 1, pp. 1-17, 31-32 (Ancestors and Anecdotes ...); Web tours: Roman Forum  (optional: SPQR; optional reading Bailkey: Archimedes)
25	Tu	Roman Comedy. Mack: Plautus, The Haunted House
27	Th	Roman Comedy continued.
Feb. 1	Tu	‘Mini’ Exam Click here for review sheet
3	Th	Tingay, Ch. 5 & 6; Kebric, Ch. 2;  optional reading (Bailkey: Tiberius Gracchi & Gaius Gracchi)
8	Tu	Kebric, Ch. 3; Bailkey: The Assassination of Julius Caesar; optional reading (Bailkey: ‘Julius Caesar’ and Mack: Sallust: The Jugurthine War)
10	Th	Winter Holiday
15	Tu	Kebric, Ch. 4; Tingay, Ch. 4 and 7
17	Th	Finish Kebric Chapters 3 & 4: The end of the republic
22	Tu	Tingay, Ch.  9-10; Republican Literature: Bailkey: Cicero, Champion of Liberty: The Second Philippic Mack: Catullus (pp. 204-212), Cicero, In Defense of Caelius (pp. 124-126) [Writing Intensive Microtheme due: topic]
24	Th	Republican Literature: Bailkey: Lucretius, pp. 406-414; Mack: Scipio’s Dream (pp. 150-153), On the Chief End of Man (pp. 162-168)
29	Tu	Finish Republican Literature; Start Augustus and his achievements
Mar. 2	Th	Exam I Click here for review sheet
7	Tu	Meet in Multi-Media Classroom; . Augustus--Slides from UCCS; Augustus--Images of Power (Morford site). FYI: Family Tree of Augustus
9	Th	Augustus and his achievements: Read Biography of Augustus, Kebric: pp. 123-124; Tingay: p. 54 and 150-153,
13-17	M-F	SPRING BREAK
21	Tu	.Augustan Age Literature: Mack: Vergil’s Georgics, pp. 217-218; Horace, 264-272; Ovid 273-5 and handout; introduction to the Aeneid
23	Th	Mack: Vergil’s Aeneid, pp. 219-242. Microtheme due: topics
28	Tu	Mack: Vergil’s Aeneid, pp. 243-263
30	Th	Tingay: Chapter 11;  Review for Exam; [Writing Intensive Microtheme due: topic]
Apr. 4	Tu	Exam II Click here for review sheet
6	Th	Meet in Hazel 311 (2pm class only);Tingay: Chapters 14, and 15, pp. 140-143, and 16;  Mack: Pliny, 361-362; Bailkey:  Petronius, pp. 442-451, Juvenal, pp. 455-458.
11	Tu	Meet in Hazel 311 (2pm class only); read Tingay: Chapter 3; Kebric: Chapter 6;  Mack: Pliny, 362-366
13	Th	Tingay: Chapters 8 and 20, pp. 191-194; Kebric: Chapter 7; Mack: Cicero on Old Age, pp. 187-190, Pliny on Pliny the Elder, pp. 362-364.  Short Essay  or Microtheme due: topics
18	Tu	Tingay: Chapters 17 & 20; Kebric: Chapter 8; Bailkey: Apuleius, pp. 462-465; Mack: pp. 277-278.
20	Th	Tingay: Chapter 17 (Christianity); Kebric: Chapter 9; Bailkey: pp. 488-489, 502-511
25	Tu	Meet in Hazel 311 (2pm class only); Tingay: Chapters 15, pp. 144ff. and 20, 194ff.; Kebric: Chapter 10.
27	Th	Tingay and Kebric continued; review for final; Roman food and meals;  Long Essay due: topics
May 1	M	Final Exam, 3:00 p.m. (for TR 2 pm class) Click here for review sheet
May 3	W	Final Exam, noon (for TR 9:25 am class) Click here for review sheet