University Course Planner The University of Adelaide Australia

CLAS 2008 - True Lies in the Roman Empire: Science and Fiction

Career: Undergraduate
Units: 3
Term: 4010
Campus: North Terrace
Contact: Up to 3 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange: Yes
Available for Non-Award Study: Yes
Pre-Requisite: At least 12 units of Level I undergraduate study including at least 3 units of Level I Classics courses
Incompatible: CLAS 2036
Assessment: Tutorial summary (500 words) 10%, Tutorial paper (1200 words) 20%, Research essay (2250 words) 30%, Exam 40%
Biennial Course: Course offered in even years
Syllabus:

In this course we will examine the history of key features of Roman cultural and social life during the 'golden age' of imperial Rome in the second century AD. We begin with a review of imperial expansion in the later first century AD, using the historian Tacitus both as a source for Roman views on their own imperialism and as an example of an historical genre that emphasised empirical data rather than overt political glorification of empire. We will then explore select intellectual and literary contributions of the late first and second centuries AD through the filter of 'fact and fiction'. This is the century of a developed interest in the application of empiricism to medicine and industry; an intense interest in the surrounding (conquered) natural world. It is also the century of the first 'science fiction' novel and more broadly of fiction-writing as a fully-developed and highly-prized literary genre. The contributions of Roman provincials to this impressive and popular cultural flowering will be discussed by detailed studies of works in the tutorial programme. Lastly, we will look at the social fabric of mainstream Roman society during this period: the nature of the Roman household, including marriage, romance and divorce. Using both legal texts and a selection of the literary texts already studied, we will also consider the position and role of slaves in the domestic life of Romans.

Course Fees

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Student Status

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Commonwealth supported
Full fee paying

Study Level

Undergraduate
Postgraduate Coursework
Non Award

Program of Study

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Units
EFTSL
Amount
3
0.125
          
  


Course Outline

A Course Outline which includes Learning Outcomes, Learning Resources, Learning & Teaching for this course may be accessed here


Critical Dates

Term Last Day to Add Online Census Date Last Day to WNF Last Day to WF
4010 Mon 16/03/2020 Thu 26/03/2020 Fri 12/06/2020 Not Available


Class Details

Enrolment Class: Lecture
Class Nbr Section Size Available Dates Days Time Location
13408 LE01 75 39 2 Mar - 6 Apr Monday 10am - 11am Engineering Sth, S112, Teaching Room
5 Mar - 9 Apr Thursday 10am - 11am Lower Napier, LG28, Lecture Theatre
27 Apr - 1 Jun Monday 10am - 11am Engineering Sth, S112, Teaching Room
30 Apr - 4 Jun Thursday 10am - 11am Lower Napier, LG28, Lecture Theatre
Related Class: Tutorial
Class Nbr Section Size Available Dates Days Time Location
13409 TU03 25 8 2 Mar - 6 Apr Monday 4pm - 5pm Benham, G25, Peter Martin Room
27 Apr - 1 Jun Monday 4pm - 5pm Benham, G25, Peter Martin Room
13411 TU01 25 6 5 Mar - 9 Apr Thursday 4pm - 5pm Ligertwood, 111, Teaching Room
30 Apr - 4 Jun Thursday 4pm - 5pm Ligertwood, 111, Teaching Room