Overview of History
- The Early Empire (13–69 CE)
- Imperial Succession:
- key requirements for succession;
- what happened to bad emperors
- Determination of Policy:
- role of senate,
- amici,
- emperor
- Machinery of governance:
- at local level
- at provincial level
- Army:
- size (see Augustan lecture)
- terms of service: length, pay, restrictions
- retirement: bonus, position in society
- duties of service: peacetime; wartime
- The Flavian Dynasty (69-96)
- Who were they?
- What are some of the things each accomplished or were known for, if applicable:
- economic
- social
- political
- militarily
- Architecture/Art: Colosseum (why built, where located & why), Arch of Titus (2 interior panels and apotheosis at top of arch)
- How did each die, i.e. natural or not?
- The Five Good Emperors & Commodus (96-192)
- Who were they?
- Where are some from?
- What are some of the things each accomplished or were known for, if applicable:
- the economy
- social changes
- political changes
- military changes
- Art/Architecture:
- Nerva: coin
- Trajan: Baths (location & why), Forum (temple, libraries, statue, basilica), Marketplace, Column (themes on its art, celebrated victories over ...), Arch at Benevento (theme on 2 interior panels)
- Hadrian: Mausoleum, Pantheon (construction, combination of ...), Villa at Tivoli
- Antoninus Pius: Base of Column (apotheosis of ...)
- Marcus Aurelius: Column (themes on its art vs Trajan's column)
- How did each die, i.e. natural or not?
- How were things beginning to deteriorate during the reign of Marcus Aurelius?
- The Severan Dynasty (193-235)
- Who were the two emperors just prior to Septimius Severus?
- What external enemy did Severus fight? What title did he take as a result of his final victory?
- What 3 changes did he make to the army?
- Role of Julia Domna?
- God that Severus favored? Goddess that Julia worshipped
- Severus' philosophy of rule?
- What happened to Geta?
- Significance of Caracalla's edit about Roman citizenship?
- Details and significance of Caracalla's coinage change?
- God that Elagabalus worshipped
- Severus Alexander-role of Julia Mammaea
- which of the above died a natural death, which did not?
- Art & Architecture:
- Septimius Severus: image of family, Argentarii Arch (what missing; what imperial family doing); main arch (quality of art vs earlier; victories over ..., similar to ...)
- Caracalla: baths & art (Hercules, Punishment of Dirce, Tyrannicides)
Pompeii and Herculaneum
- Who later wrote an eye witness account of the eruption?
- Why are these cities important for our understanding of Roman culture and life?
- What were the roads like?
- What was the water supply like? (aquaduct, distribution tank, water towers, fountains, cisterns, sewers {or not)})
- Name four public buildings at Pompeii that are typical of Roman towns, like amphitheater, baths, temples, ...
- Name four private businesses at Pompeii that are typical of Roman towns, like fullery (cleaning/dying clothing), bar/inn, bakery, ...
- What were the two key exports of Pompeii?
- Know the function of the: atrium, triclinium, lararium, peristyle.
- Omit this question: Know these places: popina, caupona, hospitia--what were they, how did they differ, what could one get at them?
- What were some of the general themes depicted on the art in the houses at Pompeii and Herculaneum?
Mystery Religions
- What are some of the elements most mystery religions had in common?
- Why are they called 'mystery' religions?
- Hallmarks for worship of Isis, Cybele, & Mithras
- What did these new foreign gods and their worship have in common with Christianity?
Christianity
- Why were the Christians mistrusted? Considered atheists?
- What is the Roman view of Christians and Christianity as revealed by the selections from Tacitus (Nero & the great fire), Pliny, Trajan, Minucius Felix, and by the story of Vibia Perpetua?
- What was the Christian (i.e. Tertullian’s) response to the Roman charges , esp. those of Trajan and Minucius Felix?
- Know the story of Vibia Perpetua
Possible Essay Questions
- Women: From Petronia Vitalis in Kebric’s chapter 6 through Vibia Perpetua in chapter 9, Kebric has given us information about some very remarkable women. Examine in what ways 2–4 of these women took actual control over their lives, contrary to what they were “supposed” to do. Also discuss how “modern” (or not) these women seemed to be and what this can tell us in general. Pick no more than one good representative per chapter, from chapters 6–9 of Kebric’s book, i.e. Petronia Vitalis in Ch 6, Ummidia Quadratilla in Ch 7, Julia Domna in Ch 8, and Vibia Perpetua in Ch 9.
- Daily Life: The letters of Pliny the Younger and the graffiti found at Pompeii and Herculaneum provide important sources for what life was like in the Early Empire. In your essay look at how the graffiti complements and/or contrasts the view presented by Pliny. For Pliny’s letters, use Shelton #325, 328, 331, 332, & 447; for the graffiti, see Shelton, #28, 84–85, 89, 94, 123, 131–133. Make sure you support your conclusions with good concrete examples (and tell whether the source is Pliny or the graffiti) from the evidence presented in Shelton (you don't need to use all of the evidence, but good representative examples).
- Politics: Compare/contrast President Trump’s approach to the Middle East with the approaches to Parthia of 2 of the following 3 emperors — Trajan, Hadrian, and Septimius Severus. Conclusions?
- Note: restrict your evidence for Trajan, Hadrian, and Septimius Severus to that in your texts and links from the assignments for the unit and class discussion/lecture
- Note well: For “Daily Life” and “Politics” don’t start with a description of each, but organize your discussion based on points of comparison/contrast.
