Overview
In this discussion, we will be examining the rise and fall of Rome – both the Republic and the Empire. You will once again have an option – you can examine the rise of Rome to a powerhouse in the Western world, or the fall of the Western Empire through the eyes of a fictional Eastern (Byzantine) or Western emperor in the 5th Century CE.
Instructions
Select one (only one!) topic from the below and write a response to the prompt by the initial post due date.
Option 1: Using at least one primary and one secondary source (not your e-text), select one of the key personalities of Roman civilization (either the Republic or the Empire). This can be anyone from the Gracchi to Nero to Constantine, or Cicero, Brutus, etc.. You have a plethora from which to choose. Identify and evaluate your personality’s successes and failures. How did they help Rome succeed? What were their biggest failures? What parts of Roman culture shaped their worldview? If you select a character from the 1st century CE or later, you must touch upon the impact of Chrisitianity as well.
Option 2: Based on at least one primary or secondary source, assume the role of a fictional Western or Eastern Roman emperor in the 5th Century CE (401 – 500 CE), and explain for posterity:
- What role did Christianity play in the outcome of your empire?
- What factors led to the collapse or survival of your empire?
- What impact did things like geography, wars, religion and society play on the rise or fall of your empire.
- Use at least one specific example from your sources.
Make sure to incorporate historical evidence from the sources and source types noted in the prompt to support your points and use proper citations. You may use sources other than those found in the Recommended Resources, but you should write at least 300 words in your response.
Reply to at least two other students’ posts with substantive responses of at least 100 – 150 words, and be sure to reply briefly to your instructor as well.
Module 2: Web Resources Page
Suggested Readings and Resources:
The following are a list tertiary sources to assist you in our class. These sources may help you dive deeper into the content. Many of them contain links to primary and secondary sources that can help you answer the discussion questions. You do not have to read all the suggested readings, and you may search for other sources to help with your discussions, but always be sure to use a mix of sources to support your points.
General Resources
Díotima. Accessed March 12, 2020. https://diotima-doctafemina.org.
Fordham University. Internet Ancient History Sourcebook. Fordham University. Accessed November 25, 2019. https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/ancient/asbook.asp.
The Met. “Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History.” The Met. Accessed March 15, 2020. https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/chronology/.
Georgetown University. The Labyrinth: Resources for Medieval Studies. Accessed March 27, 2020. https://blogs.commons.georgetown.edu/labyrinth/.
Greece
“The Ancient City of Athens.” The Stoa: A Consortium for Electronic Publications in the Humanities. 2004. Accessed March 27, 2020. http://www.stoa.org/athens/ .
BBC. Greeks: History. BBC. Accessed March 27, 2020. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/greeks/ .
Lendering, Jona. “Alexander the Great: Chronology.” Livius.org. Last modified April 27, 2019. https://www.livius.org/articles/person/alexander-the-great/alexander-the-great-5/ .
PBS. The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization. PBS. Accessed March 27, 2020. http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/htmlver/ .
University Press, Inc. “Ancient Greece.” University Press, Inc. Accessed March 27, 2020. http://www.ancientgreece.com/s/Main_Page/.
US National Library of Medicine. Greek Medicine. History of Medicine Division. National Institute of Health. Last updated February 7, 2012. https://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/greek/index.html.
Rome
BBC. Romans: History. BBC. Accessed March 27, 2020. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/.
Camden, David. Forum Romanum. Accessed March 27, 2020. http://www.forumromanum.org .
Oxford University. “Byzantium & the Christian East.” Oxford Centre for Late Antiquity. Accessed May 18, 2020. https://www.ocla.ox.ac.uk/byzantium-and-the-christian-east.
Oxford University. “The Late Roman Empire.” Oxford Centre for Late Antiquity. Accessed May 18, 2020. https://www.ocla.ox.ac.uk/the-late-roman-empire.
PBS. The Roman Empire in the First Century. PBS. 2006. Accessed March 27, 2020. http://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/index.html .
Early Christianity
Library of Congress. Scrolls from the Dead Sea Exhibit. Accessed March 27, 2020. http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/deadsea.scrolls.exhibit/intro.html .
PBS. Frontline: From Jesus Christ to Christ: The First Christians. PBS. April 1998. Accessed March 27, 2020. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/ .
Provincial Museum of Alberta. Anno Domini: Jesus Through the Centuries. Canadian Heritage Information Network. Last modified December 31, 1999. Accessed March 27, 2020. http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/sgc-cms/expositions-exhibitions/annodomini/index-eng.html .
Russell, Rusty. Bible History Online. 2019. Accessed March 27, 2020. https://www.bible-history.com.
Image Galleries
BBC. “Hadrian’s Wall Gallery.” BBC. Accessed March 27, 2020. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/hadrian_gallery.shtml.
Berry, Joanne. “Pompeii Art and Architecture Gallery.” BBC. Last updated February 17, 2011. Accessed March 27, 2020. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/pompeii_art_gallery.shtml .
Berry, Joanne. “Work and Play in Everyday Rome.” BBC. Last updated March 29, 2011. Accessed March 27, 2020. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/daily_life_gallery.shtml.
Coulston, Jon. “Roman Army Gallery.” BBC. Last updated February 17, 2011. Accessed March 27, 2020. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/romanarmy_gallery.shtml .
Heather, Peter. “Rome’s Greatest Enemies Gallery.” BBC. Last updated February 17, 2011. Accessed March 27, 2020. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/enemiesrome_gallery.shtml .
Pollard, Nigel. “Mosaics of Roman Britain Gallery.” BBC. Last updated March 29, 2011. Accessed March 27, 2020. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/mosaics_gallery.shtml .
Pollard, Nigel. “Roman Religion Gallery.” BBC. Last updated March 29, 2011. Accessed March 27, 2020. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/roman_religion_gallery.shtml .
Southern, Pat. “Rome’s Pivotal Emperors.” BBC. Last updated March 29, 2011. Accessed March 27, 2020. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/romespivotalemperors_gallery.shtml .
Online Videos
Smarthistory. Alexander Mosaic from the House of the Faun, Pompeii. Khan Academy. YouTube. https://youtu.be/51UA1T89MzU. 5:53.
Smarthistory. Parthenon (Acropolis). Khan Academy. YouTube. https://youtu.be/tWDflkBZC6U. 16:08.
Games and Other Fun Stuff
BBC. Death in Rome. BBC. Accessed March 27, 2020. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/launch_gms_deathrome.shtml.
BBC. Gladiator: Dressed to Kill Game. BBC. Accessed March 27, 2020. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/launch_gms_gladiator.shtml.
DLTK. “Ancient Rome Coloring Pages.” Coloring.WS from DLTK. Accessed March 27, 2020. https://www.coloring.ws/rome.htm.
Faas, Patrick. “Around the Roman Table: Food and Feasting in Ancient Rome.” University of Chicago Press. 2003. Accessed March 27, 2020. https://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/233472.html.
Raimer, Carla. “Ancient Roman Recipes.” NOVA. PBS. October 31, 2000. Accessed March 27, 2020. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/roman-recipes/.
