Classics 330/HSTAM 330: The Age of Augustus
Winter Quarter 2023
TTh 10:30-12:20 PM
226 Communications
Please note that this class will be taught live and in person; there is no online or remote option
5 credits ** satisfies A&H (VLPA)/SSc (I&S) ** Optional W class (see below)
Professor A. M. Gowing
Office: Denny M262C
E-mail: alain@u.washington.edu
Phone: 543-2266 (Dept. of Classics)
Winter Quarter Office Hours: My regular WQ office hour is Tuesday, 1:30-2:30 (starting 1/10/23); also available by appointment. I am happy to have you come to my office if you wish, though I will also be available at that time via Zoom (I understand that for some of you this may be preferable and/or more convenient). The Zoom link for this office hour is https://washington.zoom.us/j/91275744953
Description: This course will examine all aspects of the Age of Augustus (31 BC - AD 14), a period of profound political and cultural change that permanently altered the course of Roman history. The history, politics, literature, art, architecture, and religion of the period will all come under scrutiny as we investigate the various ways in which Rome's first emperor sought to repair and redirect a society fragmented by years of civil war -- and the various ways in which the citizens of Rome reacted to the Augustan reforms. The readings will be drawn largely from primary texts, including Augustus' own account of his rule (the Res Gestae); selections from the works of Vergil, Ovid, Horace, and other Augustan writers; Suetonius' Life of Augustus; and numerous inscriptions illustrating various aspects of life in Rome as well as in the provinces.
Course goals: At the conclusion of this class students will have:
- learned to think critically and knowledgeably about an important period in Roman history specifically and western civilization generally
- acquired the skill to evaluate and analyze a wide variety of historical evidence relevant to the period, from inscriptions to coins to literary texts and material remains
- imaginatively re-created in writing a piece of 'lost' historical evidence
- learned to think critically about and acquired an appreciation for the impressive literary and artistic legacy of the Augustan period.
Required texts:
- Coursepack (=C&F) with readings from K. Chisholm and J. Ferguson, edd. Rome. The Augustan Age. Oxford 1981. This will be available at Univ. Bookstore with other texts. But for your convenience, I am making available HERE a scanned version for your use (this is NOT meant to be a substitute for having the hardcopy!).
- A.H.M. Jones (=Jones). Augustus. New York and London 1970.
- P. Zanker (=Zanker). The Power of Images in the Age of Augustus. Alan Shapiro, trans. Michigan 1988.
- A. Wallace-Hadrill (=WH). Augustan Rome. Bristol Classical Press 2018 (2nd edition).
Requirements: 1) Regular class attendance is strongly urged (5%). PLEASE NOTE: I understand and appreciate that there are times when missing a class is unavoidable. If you do, however, please bear in mind that class is not recorded nor will I make available lecture notes etc. or repeat for you the substance of a given lecture. Your best bet is to obtain notes from someone in the class. Failing that, and unless you miss multiple classes, make sure that you have read carefully and thoroughly the assigned readings for the classes you miss.
- Midterm (25%) and Final Examination (30%) Both exams will consist of short answer and brief essay questions; both exams will be administered through Canvas with generous time frames for completion (at least a day). While the final exam will focus principally on material covered in the second half of the course, familiarity with the issues covered in the first half will be assumed. For a description of the Final Exam, click HERE (available on 3/9 after 12:30 PM).
- Two 3-5 page papers (40%, 20% each). Information including instructions and grading criteria are posted HERE. The principal aim of each paper is to have you compose something (for example, a letter, fragment of a history, etc.) addressing a particular topic from the perspective of a person living in the Augustan period. Unless previously cleared with me, late papers will be penalized.
Optional W-Course: You may elect to take this as a W-Course. This will entail EITHER writing an additional paper along the lines of the required two (this 3rd paper will be due on or before the day of the final exam) -- click HERE for information about this 3rd paper -- OR if you prefer, you may elect -- in lieu of 3 shorter papers -- to write a 12-15 page research paper on a topic of your choice and approved by me (you should let me know of your intention to this no later than the fourth week of the quarter) A draft of this will be due in Week 8; the final draft is due at the next-to-last class meeting.
IMPORTANT UW POLICIES: PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THESE IMPORTANT COURSE POLICIES ABOUT RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATIONS, THE STUDENT CONDUCT CODE, ACCESS AND ACCOMMODATIONS, and ACADEMIC INTEGRITY.
COVID Information: Please note that the UW advises wearing face masks during the first two weeks of class. For this and other information about UW Covid policies and guidelines, click HERE.
Schedule of readings and lectures:
This is a rough list of scheduled readings and lectures and may be emended. It is practically a certainty that I will get sightly off-track with this schedule, but I'll make sure you know where we are in the topics/readings.
☛NOTE: For a very select bibliography on Augustus, including some relevant websites, click HERE
Part I. History and Politics (Weeks 1-5)
Week 1
(Any 'overheads' or PPs used in Week 1 may be found HERE)
Jan. 3: Introduction; the breakdown of the Republic. Jones Chap. 1; C&F (=Coursepack) G2, G5. Optional: Zanker Chap. 1
Jan. 5: breakdown cont'd. Caesar's heir. Jones Chap. 2; C&F B2-B12
Week 2
(Any 'overheads' or PPs used in Week 2 may be found HERE)
Jan. 10: The triumvirate (formation down to 35 BC). Jones Chap. 3; C&F B13-B22, B50 and I39; The triumvirate cont'd. (35 to Battle of Actium in 31). C&F B24-B26
Jan. 12: Analysis: the myth of Actium. WH Chap. 1. Optional: Zanker Chap. 2; The 'restoration' of the Republic and the Augustan settlement. Jones Chap. 4; C&F B27-B29
Week 3
(Any 'overheads' or PPs used in Week 3 may be found HERE)
Jan. 17: restoration cont'd (down to 19 BC). C&F I39, B30-34; Zanker Chap. 3; the principate (19 BC - AD 14). Views of Augustus; his death. Jones Chap. 5; C&F A1, B35-49, B51-53
Jan. 19: Augustus’ ‘constitutional’ position. Jones Chap. 6; C&F C1; magistracies and the senate. Jones Chap. 7; C&F C5-6
Week 4
(Any 'overheads' or PPs used in Week 4 may be found HERE)
Jan. 24: magistracies and the senate cont'd.; the provinces. Jones Chap. 8. C&F C9-10, C13-32, L5, L7, L9, M6, M8, N8-9, O1, O10, O15
Jan. 26: the provinces cont'd.; the army and finance. Jones Chaps. 9 and 10; C&F C3-4; M5.
Week 5
(Any 'overheads' or PPs used in Week 5 may be found HERE)
Jan. 31: the army and finance cont'd.; Analysis: the Augustan reforms. WH Chap. 2. FIRST PAPER DUE.
Feb. 2: Review; MIDTERM EXAMINATION
Part II. Culture and Society (Weeks 6-10)
Week 6
(Any 'overheads' or PPs used in Week 6 may be found HERE)
Feb. 7: Overview. WH Chap. 3; Jones Chap. 14; Vergil. C&F B50, F1-3 [NB, if you're using the pdf of the course pack: the *first* page of F1 is on the *last* page of Parts D&E!]
Feb. 9: Vergil: C&F F4-6. Horace: C&F 7-17.
Week 7
(Any 'overheads' or PPs used in Week 7 may be found HERE)
Feb. 14: Horace. C&F F18-27, I2b; Ovid. C&F F28-30
Feb. 16: Ovid. C&F F31-43; Analysis: Augustan poetry. WH Chap. 5
Week 8
(Any 'overheads' or PPs used in Week 8 may be found HERE)
Feb. 21: Augustan art and architecture. Zanker Chap. 4; C&F E1-6, J6; Zanker Chap. 5; C&F E7-17
Feb. 23: Augustan art and architecture cont’d. Zanker Chap. 6; C&F E18-19
Week 9:
(Any 'overheads' or PPs used in Week 9 may be found HERE)
Feb. 28: Augustan art and architecture cont’d.; Analysis: The Augustan building program. WH Chap. 4.
March 2: religion. Jones Chap. 13; C&F D1-13, I3, I5-18, J1a-e; religion cont'd. Analysis: Augustus as god. WH Chap. 6; Zanker Chap. 8.
Week 10
March 7: judicial system. Jones Chaps. 11 & 12; C&F D15-32, I33, I50. SECOND PAPER DUE
March 9: What was it like to live in Augustan Rome? Jones Chap. 15; I1. Optional: Zanker Chap. 7; The legacy of Augustus. C&F K1-5 (missing from coursepack...but don't worry about these; all of them bear on the aftermath of Augustus' reign); WH Chap. 7 (=Postscript)
FINAL EXAMINATION: Will be administered on Canvas and will be made available on Thursday, March 9 after 12:30 PM and MUST BE SUBMITTED NO LATER THAN Monday, March 13 by 5:00 PM. Click HERE for a Description of the Final; and click HERE for the exam itself.