Paper #1 topic
Due
Thursday, January 17
Directions:
*Primary sources are the passages that are by Roman sources (the things in quotes or indented in Kebric and the indented passages in Shelton) and are not commentary by Shelton or Kebric.
Paper #2 topic
Due
Thursday, January 24
Topic:Based on what you have learned about Roman religion in Shelton, Kebric, and the Roman Calendar Web-site , write on one of the two topics given below:post a copy in "submit papers to this folder" in the Roman Civilization discussion folder bring a paper copy to class on Thursday, January 24 length: 600-900 for more information about the format and about the writing intensive requirements, click here
1. Assume you are studying abroad this spring semester (Jan. 7 to May 3) in ancient Rome. Examine the impact Roman religion would have on your experience with regard to your class schedule for the semester (and the reasons it would be different). Make sure you give pertinent examples with citations from the primary* sources in our readings.
2. Examine how the Roman preoccupation
with omens and exact rituals affected their religious festivals and their
relationship to the "gods" especially as evidenced in verbal prayers. Make
sure you give pertinent examples with citations from the primary* sources
in our readings.
*Primary sources are the passages
that are by Roman sources (the things in quotes or indented in Kebric and
the indented passages in Shelton) and are not commentary by Shelton or
Kebric. For this paper, we will consider the Calendar and the information
about each day on the Roman Calendar Web-site as primary.
1. How is marriage similar to and different from marriage today from the point of view of either the bride/wife or from the point of view of the groom/husband? Use Shelton, chapter III for your source material. For your discussion include the important events/facts prior to the marriage itself. In your conclusion detail what we can learn from these similarities and differences. As always, make sure you make judicious use of primary source material. You may also consider the nature of that material in your discussion, i.e. biases in the evidence.2. How are praiseworthy and unacceptable behavior for Roman women similar to and different from those for women today? See Shelton, # 329-338 for the Roman view on praiseworthy and unacceptable behavior. In your conclusion detail what we can learn from these similarities and differences. As always, make sure you make judicious use of primary source material. You may also consider the nature of that material in your discussion, i.e. biases in the evidence.
1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of growing old in ancient Rome? Make sure you give good concrete examples from the primary evidence in Kebric, Ch. 7 to back up your theses and that you take into consideration and comment how reliable that evidence is.
2. Compare what you have learned about the women in Kebric, Ch. 7--Ummidia Quadratilla, the wife of Domitius Tullus, Claudia Severa, and Epicydilla--with your conclusions about Roman women. Does this new evidence require that you modify your views or does it confirm them? Make sure you consider the nature of the evidence at some point in your argumentation and that you consider evidence both pro and con.
2. Assume you are a Roman attorney
who is assisting in the defense of Vibia Perpetua. Prepare a brief for
the defense outlining the main points in her defense and critiquing the
main points that you anticipate the prosecution will bring up. As usual
make sure you cite specific examples to support your conclusions and that
you consider all of the evidence in Kebric's chapter.
1. Gore and death played a critical role in the arena games of ancient Rome and in the gladiatorial games in the movie Gladiator. Examine how and why this is so. As always, make sure you give specific examples, especially from the primary evidence, to back up your conclusions.2. Compare and contrast Lucilla, in the movie Gladiator, with Julia Domna, the wife of Septimius Severus. Also answer what the significance of the similarities and differences are. As always, make sure you give specific examples, especially from the primary evidence, to back up your conclusions.
1) At the beginning of the movie Gladiator, Maximus passes on the phrase "strength and honor" to his troops before they begin the battle with the German barbarians. In many ways the Roman equivalent would be virtus and pietas--the two key virtues that Augustus promulgated and that the gladiatorial games were supposed to instill as well. Examine in what ways both the movie and the actual games instilled or did not instill these two key virtues. [Use Shelton, Scarre, Kebric, and the McManus web site (click here) as the places to look for the Roman primary evidence. When citing the web site, give the author and the location where the original is, e.g. McManus, Verona Museum]2) It has often been stated that the aim of Hollywood is verisimiltude versus verity or strict historical accuracy. Examine the movie Gladiator with regard to this, using the images at the following link at VRoma by Barbara McManus (click here) as your historical source material. [When citing the web site, give the author and the location where the original is, e.g. McManus, Verona Museum]
1) In what ways are the gladiator Maximus, in the movie Gladiator, similar to and different from the genuine "stars" in the Roman arena and circus? In your essay make sure that you use good examples from the primary evidence in Shelton and Kebric.2) We have seen that Roman art is a valuable source of information about life and times during the Roman empire. Detail some of the ways the art at the web page on the circus at VRoma by Barbara McManus(click here) expands upon the documentary evidence with regard to the "Circus." [When citing the web site, give the author and the location where the original is, e.g. McManus, Verona Museum].