CLASSART 081, Winter 2008
Stanford University
Introduction to Roman Archaeology
MW 3:15-4:45 Bldg. 260, Room 011

Instructor: Meg Butler
Email: mbutler@stanford.edu
Phone: (650) 387-7505
Office: 2nd Floor Bldg. 110 (sign on door)
Office Hours: MW 2-3

Course Description and Objectives

This course is intended to provide the student with an introductory overview of the ancient Roman world, covering the Italian peninsula and the provinces of the Roman Empire, from the 8th century B.C.E. to the 5th century C.E., as interpreted through material remains such as temples, churches, baths, palaces, urban ruins, rural settlements, burials, and associated art works and artifacts. We will examine the material evidence for key areas of Roman society and history: class and socio-political change, cultural identity, daily life, economics, imperialism and imperial propaganda, military life, politics, provincial encounters, religion, sex and gender, and state formation. Classes will involve both lecture and discussion.

Course Materials

Greene, K. 1986. The Archaeology of the Roman Economy. Berkeley.
Ramage, N.H., and A. Ramage. 2005. Roman Art. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ.

These texts are required and available in the Stanford bookstore or through online booksellers. As indicated on the schedule, I will be distributing several handouts with assigned readings. The course website/wiki, located at http://humanitieslab.stanford.edu/MegButler, is an integral part of the course; please check it regularly for schedule adjustments, reference images, course discussion, and other matters.

Policies and Evaluation

Please come to class prepared. This includes reading all assigned texts and all distributed handouts by the date indicated on the schedule. Please get adequate sleep and eat properly before class. You will save yourself a great deal of trouble by being alert when we cover new material. Thoughtful participation in class discussion will make the course more enjoyable and rewarding for all of us. Please contact me as soon as possible if you find you will have to miss any class meetings. Please come to class on time.

If you have any concerns or would like to discuss readings, material presented in lectures, your presentations, or your essay-writing skills, please see me during office hours or make an appointment to meet with me. Students who display inappropriate conduct, including cheating and plagiarism, may be subject to disciplinary action as provided in Stanford's Fundamental Standard and Honor Code.

40% of grade: Final Examination

The examination will be divided between identifications and short and long essay questions. Throughout the term I will give you advice on preparing for this examination. The identifications will cover material since the first test, but the essays will be cumulative. For the essays, you will be required to cite examples covered in readings and lectures. No notes or texts may be used. The examination will be administered at 12:15-3:15 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19th. Students with scheduling conflicts should consult with me as soon as possible. I will not provide “make-up” examinations unless a serious illness or emergency prevents a student from taking the examination at the scheduled time.

25% of grade: Identification Test

On this test you will identify key terms, sites, and images (short answers). No notes or texts may be used. This test will be administered in-class on Wednesday, Jan. 30th. I will not provide “make-up” tests unless a serious illness or emergency prevents a student from taking the test at the scheduled time.

25% of grade: Presentation

Each student will give a 15-20 minute presentation of material covered in the Greene textbook. I will assign topics during the second week of the quarter. Part of the assignment is to create a page(s) on the wiki with appropriate images, helpful outlines, links to relevant web pages, etc. Each presenter must decide on three key questions about the material to post on the wiki, and after the presentation, all students are required to respond to the presenter’s questions with some thoughtful comments and insights. Failure to comment on another student’s questions/presentation will result in the loss of ten points (out of a possible 100) off of your own presentation. The material covered in these presentations will appear on the test and exam.

10% of grade: Conference Review

Stanford's Archaeology Center is hosting a conference on Roman Archaeology on March 1-2. Some of the leading scholars in the field will be presenting papers and chairing sessions. This is a unique and excellent opportunity for you to learn more about current debates and "hot" issues in Roman archaeology. You will be required to attend at least one session and to review that session's papers and the discussion that follows. I will post more details about this assignment closer to the conference date. If there is a good reason that you will be unable to attend any of the conference sessions (the conference falls on a weekend), please contact me to discuss the situation. If you are unable to attend the conference, I will ask you to write a short essay comparing two papers (I will provide the papers), and this essay will count for 10% of your grade.
Conference Page

Schedule

Each reading assignment should be prepared before class meets on the date listed just above the assignment. Some weeks have significantly longer reading assignments than other weeks, so schedule your preparation accordingly. I will adjust the schedule as needed, so please consult the website/wiki for changes, which I will announce also in class.

Wednesday, Jan. 9th
Course Overview/Periods and Societies
Important Dates in Roman History

Monday, Jan. 14th
Approaches to and Important Terminology in Roman Archaeology
Early Societies of the Italian Peninsula and Neighboring Islands
Readings: Ramage & Ramage Introduction and Chapter 1; Greene Introduction

Wednesday, Jan. 16th
Roman Cities I: Rome and Ostia
Readings:

Monday, Jan: 21st
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (no classes)

Wednesday, Jan. 23rd
Video: Pompeii

Monday, Jan. 28th
Roman Cities II: Timgad, Pompeii, and Herculaneum
Readings:

Wednesday, Jan. 30th
Identification Test

Monday, Feb. 4th
Augustan and Imperial Imagery and Propaganda
Readings:

Wednesday, Feb. 6th
no class (but read ahead for next week)

Monday, Feb. 11th
Roman Spaces I: Markets, Theaters, Temples, Palaces, and Baths
Readings:

Wednesday, Feb. 13th
Roman Spaces II: Markets, Theaters, Temples, Palaces, and Baths
Readings:

Monday, Feb. 18th
Presidents’ Day (no classes)

Wednesday, Feb. 20th
TBA
Readings:

Monday, Feb. 25th
Roman Memorialization: Burials, Monuments, and Portraiture
Readings:

Wednesday, Feb. 27th
Provinces of the Roman Empire
Readings:

**3/5 Greene presenters post material on wiki by 6 pm on Friday Feb. 29th

Saturday/Sunday, Mar. 1st and 2nd
Roman Archaeology Conference

Monday, Mar. 3rd
Late Antique and Early Christian Art and Architecture
Readings:

Wednesday, Mar. 5th
Economy and Society I: Greene Presentations and Discussion
**Post conference review on course wiki by 6 pm on Friday, Mar. 7th

**3/10 Greene presenters post material on wiki by 6 pm on Friday Mar. 7th

Monday, Mar. 10th
Economy and Society II: Greene Presentations and Discussion

**All students must have commented on all Greene presentations on the wiki by 10 pm on Tuesday, Mar. 11th

Wednesday, Mar. 12th
Review and Synthesis

Wednesday, March 19th
Final Examination, 12:15-3:15 p.m.