29714 - Roman Historiography (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

The student at the end of the course knows the development of historiography in Roman antiquity from its origins to the late Roman Empire. (S)he knows the heuristic techniques and edition of historical sources of textual character, and is able to apply critical analysis methodologies. (S)he also knows the methodologies used in the historical narrative historiographical approaches.

Course contents

Lives of emperors. From annalistic historiography to biography.

The course will focus on the historiography of the imperial age, with particular regard to the Historia Augusta: its history, the purpose of its unknown author, and the features of this enigmatic work, poised between history and literature.

The detailed programme, with the list of passages that will be read and commented upon, will be made available at the beginning of the course. All the support material for the course, in particular items 2-4 of the bibliography, is available online for UniBO students.

Readings/Bibliography

1. G. Zecchini, Storia della storiografia romana, Roma-Bari, Laterza 2016
2. T. Gnoli, Palmyrena, in V. Neri, B. Girotti, La storiografia tardoantica, Bilanci e prospettive, In memoria di Antonio Baldini, Milano 2017, 65-98
3. J. Stover, New Light on the Historia Augusta, «Journal of Roman Studies» 110, 2020, 167-198. doi: 10.1017/S0075435820001239
4. J. Stover, The Murbach Manuscript of the Historia Augusta, «Exemplaria Classica» 24, 2020, 115-150. doi: 10.33776/ec.v24i0.4971

NOTICE: Greek and Latin texts will be read and commented upon in detail in class. Non-attending students must take particular care of this part independently, drawing on the commentaries available in the critical editions of the various passages that will be read in class. For this reason, attendance of the course is strongly recommended.

Students with specific learning disorders (SLD) or temporary or permanent disabilities: it is advised to contact promptly the responsible University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it ) and the lecturer, in order to find together the most effective strategies for attending the lectures and/or preparing for the examination.

Teaching methods

During the lessons the ancient texts and documents will be contextualized, translated, discussed and commented.

Assessment methods

A student is considered attending if they take part in at least 75% of the lectures.

The assessment, through an oral interview, aims to ascertain:

• knowledge of the lines of development of Roman historiography, from its origins to Late Antiquity, and of the institutional aspects of the Roman world;
• knowledge of the methodology for analysing sources and ancient documentation, also on the basis of the interpretations of modern scholarship;
• the ability to use such knowledge to reconstruct critically events, problems and themes of Roman historiography, also in the light of the lines of enquiry developed in class or of materials prepared independently;
• the ability to present orally.

Use of generative Artificial Intelligence in the examination: As regards the assessment of learning, the use of AI is prohibited. Any use constitutes a violation of academic integrity. The examination consists, in fact, of an oral interview, whose purpose is to ascertain directly the outcome of the student's study and their personal command of the contents.

Grading criteria:

Excellent or very good mark:

• thorough and analytical presentation of the historical events and institutional themes in all three answers;
• specific and critical reference to the sources underlying the reconstruction and to the key issues of scholarly debate;
• an organic, synthetic view of cross-cutting themes;
• command of expression and of specific terminology.

Good/fair mark:

• concise presentation and comment on the events and themes proposed in all three answers;
• constant reference to the sources and to scholarly debate, albeit in an essential form;
• awareness of the lines of development of cross-cutting themes;
• correct language, even if not always appropriate.

Sufficient mark:

• presentation of the basic elements of the examination material with some limited gaps in one of the questions;
• critical analysis of the sources only when prompted by the examiner;
• uncertainty in the frame of reference when assessing the lines of historical development, or insecurity in correctly placing cross-cutting themes;
• partially inappropriate language – provided it is correct.

Insufficient mark:

• gaps in the knowledge of events and lines of historical development in more than one question;
• lack of ability in the critical analysis of sources, gaps in the knowledge of the sources and of the methods of analysis;
• poor orientation within the overall frame of reference and limited ability to place cross-cutting themes and problems; inappropriate or incorrect language.

Students with specific learning disorders (SLD) or temporary or permanent disabilities: they are advised to contact promptly the responsible University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it ): the office will propose to the students concerned any adjustments, which must in any case be submitted, 15 days in advance, for the approval of the lecturer, who will assess their appropriateness also in relation to the learning objectives of the course.

During the academic year, examination sessions are scheduled in the following months: [verify examination calendar 2026/2027]

• January

• February

• March

• April

• June

• July

• September

• October

• December

Teaching tools

The course will consist of lectures given directly by the lecturer and will occasionally make use of projections, presentations and slides, as well as of the distribution of photocopied texts. All material projected or otherwise distributed in class will be made available online through a link placed on the course web page at the end of the course.

In preparing for the examination, students are free to make use, responsibly and at their own initiative, of generative Artificial Intelligence tools as an aid to individual study (summaries, outlines, self-assessment paths). The oral interview ascertains the learning outcome and the effectiveness of the study method, regardless of the tools employed in preparation.

Office hours

See the website of Tommaso Gnoli