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Modules

Ancient Sources (Written Evidence): Roman Historical Writing (CLA2303)

StaffDr Irene Salvo - Convenor
Credit Value15
ECTS Value7.5
NQF Level5
Pre-requisitesNone
Co-requisitesNone
Duration of Module Term 2: 11 weeks;

Module aims

  • To study selections from the historiographical works of Sallust, Livy and Tacitus in detail, exploring the various literary techniques they used to write about the past.
  • To familiarise you with the variety of different modes of writing about the past that were used in ancient Rome (including annalistic history, ethnography, geography, and biography) on subjects from ancient legends to contemporary history.
  • To reflect on the distinctions between ancient and modern historiography, and to explore the aims, sources and historical methods of the ancient writers.
  • To consider how writers used the past to explore moral, political, and ideological issues.
  • To think about the usefulness and the limitations of these texts as source material: how should we use them as evidence about Roman history? 

ILO: Module-specific skills

  • 1. Describe and evaluate the rhetoric and politics of historical narrative by Livy, Sallust, and Tacitus
  • 2. Demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the history of Rome from its beginnings up to the end of the Julio-Claudian dynasty
  • 3. Demonstrate advanced skills in the literary and textual interpretation of historiographical texts through close reading

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

  • 4. Use, analyse and evaluate ancient texts as a major source for understanding the ancient world
  • 5. Develop academic and library skills specific to Classics and Ancient History, as well as a critical ability in evaluating published literature

ILO: Personal and key skills

  • 6. Demonstrate independent and group study skills in guided research and the presentation of findings
  • 7. Select and organise relevant material and present this in a coherent argument
  • 8. Manage your own time and meet deadlines

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:

Topics may include:

  • Sallust
  • Livy
  • Tacitus

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
261240

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching2211 x 2 hour lectures
Scheduled Learning and Teaching44 x 1 hour seminars
Guided Independent Study124Independent study

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Oral contribution in seminarsIn-class1-8Oral feedback

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
40600

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Examination6024 hour take home paper1-8Written and oral
Source analysis401500 words1-8Written and oral

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
ExaminationExamination1-8Referral/Deferral period
Source analysisSource analysis1-8Referral/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

Core set texts:

Kraus, C.S., Woodman, A.J. (1997) Latin Historians (Greece and Rome: New Surveys in the Classics 27), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-19-922293-2.

  • Sallust, Catiline's War: With The Jugurthine War (Penguin Classics) (Paperback), Penguin, 2007, 978-0140449488.
  • Livy, The Early History of Rome: Bks. 1-5 (Penguin Classics) (Paperback), Penguin, 2002, 978-0140448092
  • Tacitus, The Annals (Paperback), Hackett Publishing, 2004, 978-0872205581.

Other recommended reading:

  • Marincola, J. (1997) Authority and Tradition in Ancient Historiography. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Wiseman, P. (1994) Historiography and Imagination (ch. 1-3). Exeter: University of Exeter Press.
  • Woodman, A.J. (1988) Rhetoric in Ancient Historiography. London/New York: Routledge. 

Module has an active ELE page?

No

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

  • ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=11494
  • Feldherr, A. (ed.) (2009) The Cambridge Companion to the Roman Historians. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI:10.1017/CCOL9780521854535
  • Marincola, J. (ed.) (2007) A Companion to Greek and Roman Historiography.Malden, MA/Oxford: Blackwell (selected chapters: 5, 21, 22, 23, 24, 35, 36, 37, 38, 43, 44, 50). DOI:10.1002/9781405185110

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

03/03/2016

Last revision date

10/07/2020

Key words search

Ancient Sources, Livy, Tacitus