History 4260.001: Roman Warfare (Group B or C)

University of North Texas, Summer 2017

Department of History

Instructor: Dr. Walter Roberts

Office: Wooten Hall 227

Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8 AM-10 AM; or by appointment

Office Phone: 940-565-2489

E-Mail:

Course Description and Objectives

This course is a survey of the development of Roman warfare (in both its theory and practice) from the early Republican period (ca. 500 BCE) to the fourth century CE. Specifically, by reading primary and secondary sources and discussing them we will examine how Roman military history was inexorably intertwined with Roman notions of empire and leadership and community, and how these Roman ideals have affected modern thinking on these issues. In addition, students will be introduced to the notions and problems of imperialism and state formation in the tradition of "Western" thought. This course will be heavily based on reading primary sources and some of the more influential secondary scholarship on warfare in the ancient Roman world.

Student Learning Outcomes

1)  Show an understanding of the basic developments in ancient Roman warfare from ca. 500 BCE-ca. 400 CE.

2)  Place ancient Roman warfare in a wider historical context; that is, how do the developments of ancient Roman warfare inform our understanding of modern notions of topics such as imperialism and state formation.

3)  Identify primary and secondary historical sources concerning Roman warfare.

4)  Be able to formulate an analytical argument about historical issues in Roman warfare using analysis of primary and secondary sources.

5)  Be able to assess critically primary sources on ancient Roman warfare.

Required Texts

The following are available at any of the bookstores affiliated with the University of North Texas:

Caesar, The Gallic War: Seven Commentaries on The Gallic War with an Eighth Commentary by Aulus Hirtius (Oxford, 2008) ISBN: 9780199540266

Adrian Goldsworthy, Roman Warfare (Harper, 2005) ISBN: 9780060838522

Adrian Goldsworthy, The Complete Roman Army (Thames and Hudson, 2011) ISBN: 9780500288993

Livy, Hannibal’s War (Oxford, 2009) ISBN: 9780199555970

Edward Luttwak, The Grand Strategy of the Roman Empire: From the First Century A.D. to the Third (Johns Hopkins, 1979) ISBN: 9780801821585

Polybius, The Histories (Oxford, 2010) ISBN: 9780199534708

Sallust, Catiline's War, The Jugurthine War, Histories (Oxford, 2010) ISBN: 9780192823458

Tacitus, The Agricola and Germany (Oxford, 2009) ISBN: 9780199539260

There will be additional readings put as PDF files on the course website.

Grading and Evaluation

My overall evaluation of each student in this course will be broken down as follows:

Two Examinations: 25% each (50% total)

Two Book Reviews: 25% each (50% total)

The value for all grades in this course will be based on a standard collegiate scale: A=90-100%; B=80-89%; C=70-79%; D=60-69%; F=59% or lower

Examinations: The 2 exams will be in-class green book exams consisting of identifications and essay questions. The exams are non-cumulative and each is worth 25% of your final grade, so the 2 exams combined will be 50% of your total grade.

Book Reviews: You will write 2 short papers reviewing the Goldsworthy Complete Roman Army and Luttwak books. At the dates noted under the class schedule, each student will turn in a 3-5 page typed, single or double-spaced essay in Courier or Times New Roman 10 or 12-point font. Further details on these writing assignments are available on the course website. Each paper will be worth 25% of your final grade, so the 2 papers combined will be 50% of your total grade.
Attendance and Participation: A crucial aspect of your learning in this course is attending class and participating. It is imperative that you do the readings, come to class, and participate in our discussions. Much on the exams comes from the lectures, discussion, and the readings. You cannot simply skim the required readings while skipping class and hope to do well. If you do not come to class and participate in the discussions, you will do poorly in this course. With that being said, there is no formal attendance requirement. There will, however, normally be no allowance for late assignments. If missing an assignment deadline is unavoidable due to extenuating circumstances (judgment made by me, not you!), you must give reasonable prior notification and documentation for the reason you are missing the deadline. In such cases you must arrange with me to make up the work in question within 1 week of the original due date of the assignment. There will be no extensions given for the final exam.
University of North Texas Code of Student Conduct

This code is in effect for all aspects of this course. Cheating, including plagiarism, will not be tolerated, and will be dealt with according to University policy. If you are unclear about the Code of Student Conduct, please refer to section 18.1.16 of the University Policy Manual found on the University’s website (below) or come see me. (http://policy.unt.edu/sites/default/files/untpolicy/pdf/7-Student_Affairs-Academic_Integrity.pdf)

Accommodation for Students with Disabilities

The University of North Texas is committed to giving equal access to its programs, services, and activities to students with disabilities. If you need accommodations in this class due to a disability, you must register with the Office of Disability Accommodation and request that they send me official notification of your accommodation needs as soon as possible, and you can then meet with me in private to make arrangements for accommodating your disability. If you have any questions regarding the University’s policy on this issue please refer to the ODA web page, which can be accessed through the University’s main website (http://disability.unt.edu/), or come see me.

Course Web Page

This course has its own Web page on the Blackboard site. This web page will contain the syllabus, assignment guidelines, and other supplemental course materials. It is important that you check the Web page on a regular basis to get your assignments and access material that will make this course more manageable.

Class Schedule (Order of topics and assignments subject to change)

Week 1 (June 5-June 9)

Warfare in Early Republican Rome, the Punic Wars, and Roman Expansion into the Mediterranean

Readings: Goldsworthy, Roman Warfare, Chapters 1-2; Livy, Book 2 (PDF File), Book 22 and Book 30; Polybius, Books 3 and 6

Week 2 (June 12-15)

The Late Republic

Readings: Goldsworthy, Roman Warfare, Chapter 3; Sallust, The Jugurthine War; Plutarch, “Life of Marius” and “Life of Sulla” (PDF Files)

Week 3 (June 19-22)

Caesar and Augustus

Readings: Goldsworthy, Roman Warfare, Chapter 4; Caesar, The Conquest of Gaul, Books 1 and 7; Caesar, The Civil War, Part 1 (PDF File); Suetonius, “Life of Caesar” (PDF File); Augustus, Res Gestae (PDF File); Suetonius, “Life of Augustus” (PDF File)

Week 4 (June 26-June 29)

The High Empire and the Third Century Crisis

Readings: Tacitus, The Agricola; “Life of Marcus Antoninus” (PDF File); “Life of Severus” (PDF File); Eutropius, Breviarum, Books 8-10 (PDF File)

Week 5 (July 3-July 6)

The Tetrarchy and the Fourth Century

Readings: Goldsworthy, Roman Warfare, Chapter 5; Eusebius, Life of Constantine (PDF File); Ammianus Marcellinus, Book 31 (PDF File)

Assignment Due Dates (Subject to change)

Goldsworthy, The Complete Roman Army Book Review due at the beginning of class on Thursday, June 15

MID-TERM EXAM: Thursday, June 22 at our usual time in our usual classroom

Luttwak Book Review due at the beginning of class on Thursday, June 29

FINAL EXAM: Friday, July 7 from 10 AM-Noon in our usual classroom

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