The Christian Empire
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| CLAR3052 | Classics and Archaeology | 3 | 20 | Autumn UK |
- Code
- CLAR3052
- School
- Classics and Archaeology
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Autumn UK
Summary
This module examines a fascinating and tumultuous period of Roman history: from Diocletian’s seizure of power (A.D. 284) to the sack of Rome by a Visigothic army (A.D. 410). In the 126 years which separated these two events, the Roman world was fundamentally transformed, by (amongst other things) the rise of Christianity and the decline of imperial power. This transformation is documented for us by a range of captivating sources: from St. Augustine’s disarmingly frank autobiography, his Confessions, to Zosimus’ savage indictment of the damage he alleged Christianity had done to the empire. Over the semester, we will work our way through the period, looking at key political, social, religious, and cultural developments and analysing the source material for this absorbing chapter in Rome’s imperial story.
Target Students
Year 2 and Year 3 Ancient History, Classical Civilisation and Classics students.
Classes
- One 2-hour seminar each week for 5 weeks
- One 2-hour lecture each week for 10 weeks
Assessment
- 50% Coursework 1: 1 x 2,500 - 3,000 word essay
- 50% Exam 1 (2-hour): 1 x 2 hour exam
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
To study the political, social and cultural history of the Roman Empire in the 4th Century AD, to understand how the Empire got to the state it was in during that century and how it fed into the issues of the 5th century.Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding; to have acquired an understanding of the political, social and cultural history of the period AD 284-410; to have a detailed knowledge of specific topics which make up the study of this period (e.g. politics, warfare, race, religion, gender, genres of literature and art, and so on); to command a range of techniques and methodologies, such as skills in reading (whether secondary or primary literature and in translation or in the original) and analysis.
Intellectual Skills: to engage in detailed analysis of a range of ancient evidence; to think independently while giving due weight to the arguments of others; to understand complex ideas and relate them to specific problems or questions; to acquire substantial quantities of information systematically and process it effectively; to construct a coherent argument substantiated by relevant evidence and present it orally or on paper.
Professional Practical Skills; to select, sift and synthesise information from a range of primary and secondary sources; to identify and compare central arguments in relation to these materials; to use library resources effectively; to word-process material with attention to detail and accuracy, including appropriate referencing skills.
Transferable (key) skills; to work productively with others; to communicate effectively in writing; to communicate effectively by oral presentation; to develop intellectual autonomy; to organise and manage working time, including scheduling tasks and meeting deadlines; to take responsibility for their own learning, reflect upon and assess their own progress, strengths and weaknesses.