The age of Augustus: Rome's golden era
S J Bastomsky and A C Romano
6 points
* 3 hours per week
* Second semester
* Clayton
Objectives The subject is designed to introduce students to the study of Roman history by a full and detailed consideration of a particular and most important period of that history. It intends to give an awareness of the interrelationship of politics, art, literature, religion and culture in an historical period.
Synopsis In the high-tech world of today we still need to be aware of our debt to the past, for our culture is a blend of the Greek and Roman tradition. The Roman is arguably the more important as it was largely through it that the Greek influence played a role in the formation of Western civilisation. Essential in an attempt to comprehend the development of the Roman tradition is an understanding of the times of Augustus, the first of the Roman principes. The subject deals with his life and the era in which he lived. The aftermath of the assassination of Caesar in 44 BCE is considered and then the rise of Octavian to sole power by his defeat of Mark Antony and Cleopatra in 31BCE. Why he became known as Augustus and how he consolidated his control of the Roman world and met any challenges to his supremacy are then studied. The literature of the time - known as the `Golden Age of Latin Literature' - is discussed as well as the art and monuments of the period. Throughout the subject the centrality of this era to an understanding of Roman history is stressed.
Assessment Tutorial paper (1000 words) and essay (1500 words): 55%
*
Examination (2 hours): 45%
Prescribed texts
Dudley D Roman society Pelican
Shotter D Augustus Caesar Routledge
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