The Roman World and its Legacy

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Leader

Mrs Howe

Cohort

Max 12 Students

Timing

Lent Term - Thursday 6-7pm

Course Overview

What is the essence of ancient Rome and why does it matter?

This course explores many aspects of the ancient Roman world, from art and architecture to literature, oratory and leadership, and in particular, how it developed from the Greek world and why it is still relevant to us today.  Since the classical world is the foundation of Western culture and thought, this course will be valuable for anyone considering degrees in humanities, law, social sciences and more.

Key Benefits

  • Develop analytical thinking
  • Explore new aspects of ancient civilisation across a range of disciplines
  • Explore what the ancient world can teach us about our world.

Course Structure

  • Week 1 w/c 11th January Taster session
  • Week 2 w/c 18th January Story-re-telling
  • Week 3 w/c 25th January Ovid
  • Week 4 w/c 1st February war
  • Week 5 w/c 8th Feburary Julius Caesar/Alexander the Great
  • HALF TERM
  • Week 6 w/c 22nd February Poetry focus
  • Week 7 w/c 1st March oratory
  • Week 8 w/c 8th March women
  • Week 9 w/c 15th March Guided independent research
  • Week 10 w/c 22nd March Presentations

Indicative Session Outline

Seminar 1: story re-telling Virgil & Homer. Focus on Aeneid 2, Laocoon Group sculpture; Aeneas vs Achilles/Odysseus

Seminar 2: Ovid and his influence Ovid and Greek myths – Metamorphoses. Bernini’s Rape of Proserpina; Bruegel’s Fall of Icarus; Auden’s Musee de Beaux Arts.

Seminar 3: the ancients at war Punic Wars vs Persian Wars. Presentation of the other/the enemy. Warfare now. How national identity is shaped by warfare.

Seminar 4: Julius Caesar/Alexander the Great What makes good leadership. Other ‘the Great’s. (BBC documentary - Trump comparison)

Seminar 5: Poetry focus Lyric poetry/symposia. Sappho to Catullus to Horace. English poetry as a reaction to classical works.

Seminar 6: the art of public speaking Ciceronian oratory (Pro Caelio focus); Greek oratory. Modern great speeches.

Seminar 7: women in charge Imperial women to the elegiac mistress. Livia, Julia, Clodia/Lesbia; Corinna.