A history of Rome from Augustus to Constantine. The course surveys the struggles between the Roman emperors and the senatorial class, the relationship between civil and military government, the emergence of Christianity, and Roman literature as a reflection of social and intellectual life.

This course offers an introduction to the history of the Roman empire, from the advent of monarchy at Rome in the first century BCE to the breakdown of central state authority in the fifth century CE. Major themes include the overlapping networks of social power in the Roman empire (both institutional and personal); the unity and diversity of Roman imperial culture; the changing relationship between state and society; the political economy of the Roman empire; and the geography and ecology of the Mediterranean world. Lectures will provide an essential historical narrative and interpretations of central problems in Roman imperial history, and discussion sections will give students an opportunity to engage with key texts from or about the Roman empire, from Tacitus to Gibbon.

Repeat Rules

Course is not repeatable for credit.

Requirements class fulfills