01009 - Roman History

Learning outcomes

This program aims at the study in an historical perspective of a region of great importance for the Roman Empire. The Near East has an impressive artistic and cultural heritage, nowadays in danger because of the difficult political situation in this area. A basic knowledge of Roman History and of Latin and Greek is taken for granted.

Course contents

Title: The Roman Near East: the oriental limes.
The course will deal with the history of the Roman Near Eastern provinces during the imperial age (c. I-III A. D.), and particularly with problems pertaining to the boundaries.
Part of the lessons will be dedicated to the study of the triumphal inscription by Shabuhr at the Ka'ba of Zoroaster.

Readings/Bibliography

All following works can be found at the Faculty Library:
1) G. W. Bowersock, La Grecia e le province orientali, in Storia di Roma II. L'impero mediterraneo, t. 2: I principi e il mondo, Torino: Einaudi, 1991, pp. 409-432.
2) F. Millar, The Roman Near East, Part I: Empire, Cambridge, Mass. - London: Cambridge University Press, 1993, pp. 27-222.
3) T. Gnoli, Roma, Edessa e Palmira nel III sec. d. C. Problemi istituzionali, Uno studio sui papiri dell'Eufrate, Pisa - Roma 2000: Istituti Editoriali e Poligrafici Internazionali: Cap. V: «L'ascesa di Odainat» pp. 125-153.
4) All related texts will be distributed during the seminar.

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons

Assessment methods

Oral examination

Teaching tools

Lessons will be completely held on texts that will be distributed before the lessons start, and also by means of the overhead-projector and presentations by means of the computer. All these materials will be on-line at the end of the course with a link set on the web-page of the teacher.

Office hours

See the website of Tommaso Gnoli