BASC61111 - Alumni Sequence: The Romans Year I

Course Description

The Romans first year courses will focus on the history and politics of Rome, delving into influences on our own history and institutions. The Autumn Quarter Seminar looks at Roman heroes and anti-heroes, while delving into issues of political and social inequality, honor, and liberty. In the Autumn Tutorial we will read the first five books of Livy’s history of Rome. These books deal with the semi-mythical founding of the Roman Republic and its early development. Livy’s narrative reflects his contemporary political and social influences at the beginnings of the Roman Empire, but it also has influenced modern ideas about government, war, liberty, and duty.

Course Outline

Course Syllabus

Seminar Readings:

1.    Plutarch, Plutarch’s Lives Vol. 1 (Modern Library Classics) ISBN: 978-0375756764

2.    Sallust, Catiline's Conspiracy, The Jugurthine War, Histories (Oxford World's Classics) ISBN 978-0192823458

3.    Niccolò Machiavelli, Discourses On Livy, Trans. Harvey Mansfield and Nathan Tarcov (University of Chicago Press) ISBN 978-0226500362

The Plutarch editions are the same ones used in the Basic Program Core Curriculum.

Plutarch's Lives are also available online.

Tutorial Readings:

1.    Livy History (The Rise of Rome) Books 1-5 (Oxford World’s Classics)

       ISBN: 978-0199540044

Notes