01009 - Roman History (A-C)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students know the issues and the most important events in Roman history (about politics, institutions, mindset, religion, economics) and can frame them critically as well. Students know the basic methodology of historical research and analysis of literary and documentary sources, with particular focus on historiography and epigraphy. They can address the main historical questions with awareness of their transformation over time and of the main scientific approaches.

Course contents

Semester course (first semester).

Lecture course
The history of Rome from its origins to the end of Late Antiquity is retraced in broad outline and according to defined thematic perspectives, in support of the individual study of one of the two handbooks chosen by the students.

Readings/Bibliography

1. Teaching materials presented during the classes and progressively available on the online page of the course unit
2. Autonomous study on one of the following textbooks:

• Giovanni Alberto Cecconi, La città e l'impero, Una storia del mondo romano dalle origini a Teodosio il Grande, Roma, Carocci editore 2021.
• Antonio Baldini, Luigi Bessone, Rita Scuderi, Manuale di Storia romana, Milano: Cisalpino Goliardica 2011 (5. edizione).
  

and, furthermore,

2a. Rene Pfeilschifter, Il tardoantico, Il Dio unico e i molti sovrani (Piccola Biblioteca Einaudi, Mappe), Torino: Einaudi 2015, chap. 4-6.

3. Autonomous study of one of these essays:

 

• N. Terrenato, La grande trattativa, L'espansione di Roma in Italia tra storia e archeologia, Roma: Carocci, 2022
• T. Gnoli, Le guerre dell'imperatore Giuliano, Bologna, Il Mulino 2015.
  

Non-attending students shall study the whole textbook by Pfeilschifter, not only Chap. 4-6.
Non-attending students will prepare an additional reading:

- F. Carlà/A. Marcone, Economia e finanza a Roma, Bologna, Il Mulino 2011.

Erasmus or International students who have difficulties with scientific essays, manuals or materials in Italian, can agree with the teacher a special reading list in other languages.

Everyone is recommended to use a historical atlas among the many available in the library of the Department of History Culture Civilization - Section of Ancient History, via Zamboni 38, 4th floor, under CONS ATL.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is suggested that they get in touch as soon as possible with the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) and with the lecturer in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

Teaching methods

Lectures focusing on the analysis of textual documentary and literary sources with specific attention on epigraphic sources. Students interaction will be welcomed.

Assessment methods

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

The assessment, which will take place exclusively through an oral interview, aims to ascertain:

knowledge of the lines of development of Roman history, 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 history, 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

Any PowerPoint presentations or copies of texts analysed and discussed in class may be published on the course website.

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