Novels and short stories set in ancient Rome; ancient sources for real-life mysteries. For example, Cicero and Sallust on Catalina's conspiracy, and modern reconstructions by John Maddux Roberts, Steve Saylor, and others. Mysteries presented will include Ovid's exile, the death in Asia of Scipio Nasica, cousin and assassin of Tiberius Gracchus, and the executions of Crispus (son of Constantine the Great) and Count Theodosius (father of Theodosius the Great). Fans of Marcus Didius Falco can supplement reading about his adventures with research into Flavian history. Alternative histories, laced with a bit of science fiction, are well represented by Harry Turtledove. The course has more than one focus depending upon interests of individual students: research of a particular historical problem, readings in social history, construction of a fictional narrative set in another time and place. Students may audit, which means they enjoy all of the reading and discussion but will receive no academic credit for the work. On the other hand, auditors don't have to write a paper.

Prerequisites:
None.

3 hours.

Barbara Saylor Rodgers

Summer 1997 Syllabus

Last updated: 23 June 1997 Send Comments to: Eleanor Rodgers, erodgers@uclink4.berkeley.edu Copyright © 1997 UVM Classics Department All Rights Reserved.