AH/HS 236 - Empire Building: History and Myth of Ancient Rome

The course is intended as a general overview on Roman history and will take into consideration the history of the city of Rome and the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. The first part of the course will focus on the founding of the city and the birth of the Republic with a special attention to cultural, political and artistic achievements, which will be examined also through readings from Latin authors. From the early Empire to its collapse, the second part of the course will analyze the political expansion of the Empire with a more detailed look at the most significant emperors. Moreover, the army organization, the limes and the religious institutions will be also examined as fundamental elements of Roman history and culture.