29739 - Social History of the Ancient World (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student will have a sound knowledge of the social history of the ancient world. He/She can identify the different groups of classical societies, with special attention to the genesis and historical development of the social structure of the ancient world. He/She can define a research problem relevant for the historical reconstructon and he/she will be able to identify and use sources of information effectively. He/She can support accurately his conclusions and he/she is able communicate effectively in oral and written form.

Course contents

As this is a second-cycle degree course, students are expected to have already acquired a basic knowledge of the discipline through a previous course in the social history of the ancient world at first-cycle degree level. Students wishing to acquire or refresh this knowledge will find, among the suggested readings, the same textbooks required for non-attending students (see the Readings/Bibliography section).

The contents of the course differ for attending and non-attending students, although both are expected to achieve the same learning outcomes.

Non-attending students
The course requires a basic knowledge of the main problems and developments in the social history of the ancient world, from the Mycenaean age to Late Antiquity, based on the reading list provided in the Reading List/Bibliography section.

Attending students
The course is devoted to the theme The Middle Class and its Expression through Intermediate Bodies in Ancient Society. It addresses the question of whether a middle class actually existed in ancient societies, which were strongly polarised between rich and poor, powerful and powerless, and argues that such a middle class found expression and visibility through intermediate bodies — those social cells positioned between the family and the city, held together by ties of kinship, legal status, economic interest or religious affiliation. Members of intermediate bodies in antiquity were indeed drawn largely from what might be termed a middle class, while that same middle class found in intermediate bodies its principal form of social expression and visibility.

The course will therefore begin by defining intermediate bodies and discussing the question of a middle class in Greek and Roman society, before examining specific examples of such bodies in the Greek and Roman worlds as case studies.

Classes will open with an introductory part comprising a presentation of the course (approximately 1 hour); an introduction to writing the paper, including guidelines on the use of generative artificial intelligence in preparing the assignment (approximately 3 hours); and a short bridging lecture (approximately 1 hour) on the main methodological problems of the social history of antiquity and the types of ancient sources relevant to the discipline. This latter part of the syllabus is covered mainly through the handout Introduzione alla Storia sociale del mondo antico: l'oggetto della ricerca e le fonti [An Introduction to the Social History of the Ancient World: the Object of Research and the Sources].

Classes will then address the theme The Middle Class and its Expression through Intermediate Bodies in Ancient Society, focusing in particular on the following topics:

1. The definition of intermediate bodies and their social function (approximately 2 hours)
2. The middle class in the Greek world (approximately 2 hours)
3. The middle class in the Roman world (approximately 3 hours)
4. Intermediate bodies of a familial nature: the phratria, the gens (approximately 4 hours)
5. Intermediate bodies of a legal nature: metics, incolae (approximately 4 hours)
6. Intermediate bodies of an economic nature: the collegia (approximately 6 hours)
7. Intermediate bodies of a religious nature: the technitai of Dionysus, the Augustales (approximately 4 hours)

Attending students are also required to write a short paper or review (5–10 pages) on one of the topics covered in class, or otherwise related to the social history of the ancient world, to be agreed with the lecturer. The paper must be submitted at least one week before the exam session.

Work on the paper is carried out during the 3 introductory hours mentioned above, devoted to the general characteristics of a scholarly piece of writing and to reflections on the responsible use of generative artificial intelligence in preparing the assignment. The other aspects of the process — locating modern scholarship and ancient sources, through both traditional printed tools and digital resources, analysing modern scholarship, and writing up the paper — are covered in the handout Un saggio in Storia sociale del mondo antico: dalla scelta del tema alla redazione in forma scritta [Writing a Paper in the Social History of the Ancient World: From Choosing a Topic to the Final Draft]. These activities develop transferable skills in bibliographical research and academic writing, which are applicable beyond the specific disciplinary field.

Readings/Bibliography

For attending students:

1. On the specific theme of the course: the handout Introduzione alla Storia sociale del mondo antico: l'oggetto della ricerca e le fonti [An Introduction to the Social History of the Ancient World: the Object of Research and the Sources] and the lecture slides; both the handout and the slides will be made available on the Virtuale platform (the University's e-learning platform, https://virtuale.unibo.it). Specific further reading will be indicated during lectures or in individual meetings with students.
2. For a general overview of the course theme, students are advised to consult:
   • G. Alföldy, Storia sociale dell'antica Roma, Bologna, Il Mulino, 1984 (or later editions); available at the library of the Department of History and Cultures – Ancient History Section (Dipartimento di Storia Culture Civiltà – Sezione di Storia Antica, via Zamboni 38, 2nd floor), shelfmarks ESAMI CONS and ESAMI PRES.
   • F. Gschnitzer, Storia sociale dell'antica Grecia, Bologna, Il Mulino, 1988 (or later editions); available at the same library, shelfmarks ESAMI CONS and ESAMI PRES.
   This introductory reading is intended to help students better understand the topics covered in class, but will not be examined for attending students.
3. For writing the paper: the handout Un saggio in Storia sociale del mondo antico: dalla scelta del tema alla redazione in forma scritta [Writing a Paper in the Social History of the Ancient World: From Choosing a Topic to the Final Draft], available on the Virtuale platform; in addition, specific reading on the chosen topic, which will also include titles in the main foreign languages of the relevant scholarly community, to be identified by students themselves using the bibliographical tools discussed in the seminar.

For non-attending students:

Students unable to attend classes may prepare for the exam through careful study of the texts already listed under point 2 above (G. Alföldy, Storia sociale dell'antica Roma; F. Gschnitzer, Storia sociale dell'antica Grecia), available at the library of the Department of History and Cultures – Ancient History Section, at the shelfmarks indicated there.

Teaching methods

Lectures on the question of identifying a middle class in the ancient world and on the role of intermediate bodies in Greek and Roman society, in which students will be actively encouraged to participate, in particular through the reading of the numerous ancient sources referred to in class.

The 3 introductory hours devoted to planning the paper (see the Contents section) will also take the form of lectures, covering the general characteristics of a scholarly piece of writing and the responsible use of generative artificial intelligence.

Part of the syllabus (the methodological problems of the social history of antiquity and the types of ancient sources) is covered through independent study of the handout Introduzione alla Storia sociale del mondo antico: l'oggetto della ricerca e le fonti [An Introduction to the Social History of the Ancient World: the Object of Research and the Sources], supported by a short bridging lecture in class. Similarly, the practical aspects of writing the paper (locating and analysing scholarship, drafting the text) are covered through independent study of the handout Un saggio in Storia sociale del mondo antico: dalla scelta del tema alla redazione in forma scritta [Writing a Paper in the Social History of the Ancient World: From Choosing a Topic to the Final Draft].

Assessment methods

Students are considered "attending" if they take part in at least 75% of classes.

The examination, in the traditional form of an oral interview, is designed to assess:

• A good ability to discuss the topics of the social history of the ancient world orally, in particular the ability to summarise and logically organise arguments, and command of appropriate terminology.
• For attending students, a thorough knowledge of the topic covered in class, The Middle Class and its Expression through Intermediate Bodies in Ancient Society, within the broader framework of the problems of the discipline.
• Also for attending students, a critical approach to ancient sources and to the interpretations given of them in modern scholarship.
• Again for attending students, the ability to use the main research tools (both traditional printed tools and new digital tools) and the ability to write clearly and effectively; for the written paper, in addition to the accuracy and completeness of its content, assessment will also take into account the logical organisation of the argument and the use of vocabulary and style appropriate to the discipline.
• For non-attending students, a thorough knowledge of the main problems of the social history of the ancient world.

For each of the criteria set out above, the following assessment scale may be used, with the corresponding mark out of thirty:

• Excellent (30 cum laude)
• Very Good (28-30)
• Good (25-27)
• Fairly Good (22-24)
• Sufficient (18-21)

The assessment of each individual parameter will contribute to the final mark. In assessing attending students, regular and active participation in class will also be taken into account.

The examination, lasting 25–30 minutes, generally consists, for attending students, of:

• one question on the general aspects of the discipline (its subject matter, the sources), based on the handout Introduzione alla Storia sociale del mondo antico: l'oggetto della ricerca e le fonti [An Introduction to the Social History of the Ancient World: the Object of Research and the Sources];
• one question on one of the topics covered in class on the theme The Middle Class and its Expression through Intermediate Bodies in Ancient Society, based on the notes and slides accompanying the lectures;
• a discussion of the paper or review, including the critical appendix on the use of AI.

For non-attending students, the examination, also in the form of an oral interview lasting approximately 25–30 minutes, generally consists of three questions in total, aiming to cover the subject matter in a balanced way; specifically, one or two questions will concern Greek society (based on F. Gschnitzer, Storia sociale dell'antica Grecia, Bologna, Il Mulino, 1988), with the remaining question(s) concerning Roman society (based on G. Alföldy, Storia sociale dell'antica Roma, Bologna, Il Mulino, 1984).

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

Generative artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support independent study, offering further insights, summaries and self-assessment exercises; its use is therefore permitted and encouraged, provided it is conscious and responsible. As regards the assessment of learning, writing the paper or review requires substantial use of generative AI. Guidelines on the use of this tool will be presented during the introductory lectures devoted to this activity. The paper must be accompanied by a short compulsory written appendix providing a critical analysis, in which the student will indicate: the tools used, the purpose for which they were used, the strengths and limitations identified, any errors detected, the checks carried out on the reliability of the content produced, and their own original contribution. These aspects will also be discussed during the oral examination and will carry significant weight in the final assessment. During the oral examination, students may make use of their own notes, any concept maps, and, above all, the ancient sources discussed in class; the use of artificial intelligence tools or other electronic devices is not permitted.

Ten examination sessions are scheduled during the academic year, open to all students, in November, December, January, February, March, May, June, July, September and October — in short, one session per month except in April and August. Examination sessions are generally held around the middle of the month; for exact dates, times and locations, please consult the calendar at https://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/alessandro.cristofori/didattica?tab=appelli.

Teaching tools

In lectures we will use PowerPoint slides, which will be made available on the Virtuale platform (https://virtuale.unibo.it/).

Bibliographic materials for the paper or review will be identified by students themselves, with the help of the bibliographical tools presented in the handout Un saggio in Storia sociale del mondo antico: dalla scelta del tema alla redazione in forma scritta [Writing a Paper in the Social History of the Ancient World: From Choosing a Topic to the Final Draft], and may be further refined in individual meetings with the lecturer; these materials are mainly available in digital format, or from the library of the Department of History and Cultures – Ancient History Section (Dipartimento di Storia Culture Civiltà – Sezione di Storia Antica, via Zamboni 38, 2nd floor).

Generative AI can be a useful tool to support individual study, for example through further reading, summaries and self-assessment exercises, and it may play a particularly relevant role in preparing the paper or review. Guidelines on the appropriate use of AI in exam preparation will be presented and discussed in class.

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Cristofori