Ateneo - UPO

History of the Romans: from Early Rome to Late Antiquity.

For the exam all students shall study the following book: Federico Russo (ed.), Storia di Roma antica. Dalla fondazione al 476 d.C., Milan, Pearson, 2025 (isbn 9788883398339). The handouts presented in class will be uploaded on the DIR platform.
Non-attending students shall study, in addition to the above handbook, also one of the following books (of their choice): 1) Cesare Letta, Simonetta Segenni (eds.), Roma e le sue province. Dalla prima guerra punica a Diocleziano, Rome, Carocci, 2015 (or reprints), isbn 9788843074235. 2) Mattia Balbo, I dodici anni che cambiarono Roma. La vicenda dei Gracchi nella crisi della Repubblica, Edizioni Saecula, Zermeghedo 2018 (or reprints), isbn 9788898291687. 3) Simonetta Segenni, Federico Russo, Michele Bellomo (eds.), Piccole storie di città dell'Italia romana, Rome, Quasar, 2024, isbn 9788854914711.

The module aims to meet the following objectives.
BASIC OBJECTIVES: 1) Knowledge and Skills: the module will provide basic knowledge of Roman history, with a focus on the institutions, and on the socio-economic aspects of the Roman republic and Empire. In-class reading of ancient sources and discussion of the main problems of Roman history will enable critical analysis of historical changes in Antiquity, and will allow to familiarize with different kinds of sources and historical problems. 2) Applying knowledge and skills: thanks to the acquired knowledge, students will be able to deal with the analysis of ancient sources, and they will develop the skill of discussing historical problems. 3) Expression of judgments: students will learn to express critical opinions on the themes of Roman history, even through the interpretation of modern bibliography. 4) Communication skills: the module aims to provide the basic skills to communicate effectively, even in an educational remit, the events and features of Roman history. 5) Study skills: knowledge and understanding of a historical fact; ability to assess the political, social, economic significance of an event, and to put it into context.
ADVANCED OBJECTIVES: 1) An organic view of the addressed subject, with analytical and synthesis skills. 2) Ability to critically elaborate the covered topics, with mastery of language. 3) Ability to independently explore individual topics in depth.
Achievement of the stated objectives will be evaluated in the examination.

None. Knowledge of Latin not required.

Lectures for a total of 30 hours, with slide presentation. The handouts will be uploaded on the DIR platform. Study of the handbook, notes and slides will be individual.

CLASSES:
Attending is strongly recommended. Students are invited to register on the DIR platform, in order to get access to the slides.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES:
Students with disabilities, or Specific Learning Disorders, or Special Educational Needs can request specific services and tools dedicated to them by contacting the Staff Development and Coordination Careers and Student Services. Please check the University website at: https://www.uniupo.it/it/servizi/servizi-studenti-disabili-e-dsa
Only after contacting the Staff, they are requested to contact the lecturer, in order to agree on the specific examination arrangements, and to define the teaching aspects.

Oral exam. Marks are on a 30 points scale (18 is the pass mark). The examination consists of a series of questions on the lecture contents and on the handbook. Non-attending students will be specifically examined on the handbook only.
The examination will ascertain the knowledge of the module contents (objectives 1-2), the judgement skills (objective 3), the use of a proper terminology (objective 4), the development of an adequate study method (objective 5). To achieve a full grade of 30/30, students have to achieve full knowledge and understanding of historical facts and the related sources, the ability to place them in the proper context, and the ability to express their knowledge in appropriate language.

Roman history from Early Rome to Late Antiquity. The module aims to provide the students with the basic notions about the political, economic, and social history of ancient Rome. Subjects: the archaic age, the imperial republic, the civil wars, the Mediterranean empire, the late-ancient changes.

Students are expected to acquire the following notions and skills. 1) Knowledge: to know the covered events. 2) Skills: to critically analyse the events. 3) Cross-curricular skills: know how to reconstruct and narrate a historical fact, using appropriate language. For advanced attainment they will need to demonstrate: an organic view of the covered topics, with the ability to analyse and synthesize; ability to critically elaborate on the covered topics, with full mastery of language; ability to independently explore particular topics in depth. These results fit with the educational objectives of the 1st level degree in Literature.