Peristyle of the House of the Vetii, Pompeii
Class Hours during Week
1: M-W 9-11 a.m.; afternoons for films and VRoma: 1-2:15 p.m.
Office Hours during Term 8: 11-12 noon
M W F and by appointment
Required Texts
-
John E. Stambaugh, The
Ancient Roman City (Johns Hopkins 1988)
-
Amanda Claridge. Rome.
Oxford Archaeological Guides (Oxford 1998).
-
photocopies of maps,
sites, plans, reconstructions, and articles
Recommended Texts
Goals
- To appreciate the task of the archaeologist,
- to learn how to "read"
the material remains of the ancient Roman world,
- to become sensitive to the relationship
between space, time, and Roman values in the Roman world.
- to explore the intersection of cultures: Romans, Greeks, native Italian communities, and others
- to see how the material record helps us understand the diversity of individuals in the Roman world: freeborn and slave, male and female, noble and plebeian, city-dweller and farmer
- to reflect on your experience of being a hospes "guest" in a country different from our own
By the end of the course, each participant should have a
greater understanding of how Roman archaeology contributes to our knowledge of the culture, society, politics, and religious
customs of the ancient Romans from the third century B.C. to the third
century A.D., but also have a better understanding of how the Romans
influenced the subsequent history of Italy.
Requirements
Each participant will prepare
one site report. A list of topics
can be found here. Each report should be accompanied with a site plan,
chronology, bibliography and a summary of the important features of the
site or topic to be given to the members of the class on site. See the
handout on Oral and Written Reports for
further details. The written portion of the report will be due the first
Friday at 4:00 p.m. The oral portion will be given on site.
You will also keep a daily
journal while we are in Italy. In it you can record your observations,
comments, and reflections on the events of the day. It is not meant to
be a diary (i.e. what happened), but an exploration of your reflections
on your experiences (how or why it happened). You should of course comment
on the archaeological record and how it helps you understand the ancient
Roman world. What patterns, themes, parallels (and differences) do you see that help you understand the lives of those who populated the Roman world? In addition, you may reflect on how the Romans have influenced
later periods, and on your interaction with modern Italian culture. In
other words, you should comment not only on the archaeological portion
of the trip, but also reflect on the "whole" experience.
The final exam will include a mixture of map identifications,
short answers on specific monuments (a paragraph or two), and more general
essays that explore larger issues.
Grading
- punctuality, cooperation, preparation
and participation in class and at each site 10%
- written portion of site report 10%
- quiz on chronology, terms, forum, etc. 10%
- oral portion of the site report 20%
- final exam 30%
- journal while on trip 20%
Let's get dirty! Start digging!
Photo credit: Leo Curran, Maecenas:
Images of Ancient Greece and Rome
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