Modules
Domination and Resistance in Roman Britain (CLA3054)
| Staff | Professor Martin Pitts - Convenor |
|---|---|
| Credit Value | 30 |
| ECTS Value | 15 |
| NQF Level | 6 |
| Pre-requisites | The successful completion of at least 90 credits at Level 2. |
| Co-requisites | None |
| Duration of Module | Term 1: 11 weeks; Term 2: 11 weeks; |
Module aims
This module aims to:
- Examine the effects of Roman imperialism using a combination of archaeological and textual approaches, in order to illuminate the varying experiences of human life on the island from Caesar's incursions of the first century BC to the cessation of Roman control in AD 410.
- Encourage critical thinking on the role of material culture in understanding an ancient society for which comparatively little written evidence survives.
- Cover topics that include the impact of the Augustan cultural revolution in pre-conquest Britain, invasion and revolt, the spread of literacy and civilised life, urban hinterlands, architecture and the social use of space, frontier policy and Hadrian’s Wall, eating and drinking, dress and identity, death and burial, and Christianity and paganism.
ILO: Module-specific skills
- 1. Demonstrate a knowledge of a wide selection of relevant primary material from Roman Britain and the ancient world (particularly material culture in excavation reports and secondary literature)
- 2. Use, analyse and critically evaluate material evidence as a major source for understanding Roman Britain
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
- 3. Explain the role material culture plays in understanding an ancient society for which comparatively little written evidence survives
- 4. Demonstrate advanced academic and library skills specific to Classics and Ancient History
ILO: Personal and key skills
- 5. Demonstrate independent and study skills in research and the presentation of findings
- 6. Select and organise relevant material and present it in a strong argument
- 7. Demonstrate confidence and clarity in the communication of ideas
- 8. Work and discuss issues in a peer group
Syllabus plan
Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:
Term 1:
- Introduction
- Caesar and pre-Roman Britain
- Clientage and the age of Augustus
- Invasion and revolt: historical events
- Britain's first urban landscapes
- Connectivity and regionality
- Developed urban landscapes
- Domestic space and architecture
- The early Romano-British economy
- Roman frontier policy and Hadrian's Wall
- Town and country
Term 2:
- The rural economy
- Eating and drinking
- Ritual and religion
- Death and burial
- Provincial identities 1: dress and cultural practice
- Provincial identities 2: migration and inequality
- The late Romano-British economy
- Late Romano-British art and architecture
- Christianity in late Roman Britain
- The End of Roman Britain
- Revision
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | 256 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 44 | 1 x 2 hour seminar per week |
| Guided Independent Study | 256 | Private study |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral presentation (Powerpoint file with recorded voiceover, shared with class on ELE, accompanied by handout) | 15 minutes | 1-7 | Mark and written comments |
| Close study of key primary texts, objects, and scholarship in class, with broader discussions of issues | In class | 1-8 | Oral feedback from lecturer and peers |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 30 | 20 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay 1 | 25 | 2000 words | 1-7 | Mark and written comments |
| Essay 2 | 25 | 2000 words | 1-7 | Mark and written comments |
| Examination | 30 | Take home 24 hour paper | 1-7 | Mark and written comments |
| Oral presentation (Powerpoint file with recorded voiceover, shared with class on ELE, accompanied by handout) | 20 | 20 minutes | 1-7 | Mark and written comments |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay | 1-7 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Essay | Essay | 1-7 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Examination | Examination | 1-7 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Oral presentation | (Powerpoint file with recorded voiceover, accompanied by handout) | 1-7 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading:
- Braund, D. 1996. Ruling Roman Britain. Kings, Queens, Governors and Emperors from Julius Caesar to Agricola. London: Routledge.
- Creighton, J. 2000. Coins and power in late Iron Age Britain. CUP.
- Creighton, J. 2006. Britannia. Routledge.
- Ireland, S. 1996. Roman Britain. A sourcebook. Routledge.
- James, S, and M. Millett, eds. 2001. Britons and Romans: advancing an archaeological agenda. York: Council for British Archaeology Research Report 125.
- Jones, B, and D.J Mattingly. 1990. An atlas of Roman Britain. Oxford: Oxbow.
- Mattingly, D.J. 2006. An imperial possession. Britain in the Roman empire. London: Penguin.
- Millett, M. 1990. The Romanization of Britain. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Reece, R. 1988. My Roman Britain. Cirencester: Cotswold Studies
Module has an active ELE page?
Yes
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=11140
Available as distance learning?
No
Origin date
2011
Last revision date
06/07/2020
Key words search
Roman, Britain, domination, resistance, material culture