C9562 - STORIA AMBIENTALE E CLIMATICA DELL'ESPANSIONE ROMANA

Learning outcomes

This course studies Roman expansion from the 2nd century BCE to the 3rd century CE as a process of control, exploitation and human adaptation to the ecosystems of the conquered territories. At the end of the course, students will be able to understand the interplay between ecology and climate, and Roman imperialism, and how the relationship between humans and the environment is embedded in historical processes; will be able to autonomously analyse literary, archaeological and iconographic sources in their wider historical contexts; will be in command of Roman history (2nd century BCE –3rd century CE); will be able to select data and critically analyse academic bibliography on the course topics.

Course contents

This course studies Roman expansion from the 2nd century BCE to the 3rd century CE as a process of control, exploitation and human adaptation to the ecosystems of the conquered territories. Lectures will be organized along three main themes:

• Imperialism, economic and cultural growth, and ecological issues: ancient and modern theories and models.
• Case-studies: water control and administration at Rome and in the provinces.
• Religious and cultural discourses on human and non-human entanglements in the Roman period.

Readings/Bibliography

Students who are attending lectures must prepare on lecture notes and materials, including sources, maps, images, and weekly readings. Everything is uploaded on the course unit's virtual space.

Further instructions on mandatory bibliography, readings, sources and how to prepare for the exam are provided in lectures.

Students who are not attending lectures must contact the lecturer in advance to agree on an alternative programme, which can consist in personal research assignments or a series of mandatory readings.

Select bibliography

Erdkamp, Paul. 2019. “War, Food, Climate Change and the Decline of the Roman Empire” Journal of Late Antiquity 12.2: 422–65.

Erdkamp, P., Manning, J. G., & Verboven, K. (Eds.). (2021), Climate Change and Ancient Societies in Europe and the Near East : Diversity in Collapse and Resilience. Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-81103-7.

Faraguna M., Segenni S. (2020), Forme e modalità di gestione amministrativa nel mondo greco e romano: terra, cave, miniere, Milano 2020.

Fedeli, P. (1990), La natura violata. Ecologia e mondo romano, Palermo: Sellerio.

Foss, P.W. (2022), Pliny and the Eruption of Vesuvius: The Boy who Watched the End of the World, London-New York: Routledge.

Harris W.V. ed. (2013), The ancient Mediterranean environment between science and history Leiden: Brill.

Scheidel, W. (ed.) (2018), The science of roman history : biology, climate, and the future of the past, Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Shipley, G., & Salmon, J. B. (1996), Human landscapes in classical antiquity : environment and culture, London-New York: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203426906.

Schliephake, C. (2020), The Environmental Humanities and the Ancient World: Questions and Perspectives. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Anticipatory Environmental (Hi)Stories from Antiquity to the Anthropocene, edited by Christopher Schliephake and Evi Zemanek, Lanham, Lexington Books, 2023.

Solidoro M. (2009), La tutela dell'ambiente nella sua evoluzione storica. L'esperienza del mondo antico. Torino: Giappichelli.

Students without previous knowledge of Roman History are recommended to consult general introductions to the subject, e.g. G. Geraci, A. Marcone, Storia Romana (Editio Maior) Milano: Mondadori Education 2017 or F. Santangelo, G. Traina, Il mondo dei Romani, Torino: Einaudi 2024.

Teaching methods

Lectures and seminars in class with the use of Powerpoint presentations and other materials, which are uploaded weekly on the course unit virtual platform. Active participation to discussions in class is required: extensive time is dedicated to group analysis and discussion of ancient sources, key-issues and topics to facilitate the learning process.

Assessment methods

Oral examination, to evaluate the following:

• knowledge of ancient sources and bibliography studied for the course;
• understanding of the issues and problems analyzed in lectures and/or indipendently;
• ability to critically address topics, themes and issues considered in lectures and readings;
• ability to present an argument using appropriate terminology, including technical words.

The following criteria are applied:

• insufficient: very limited to no knowledge of the topics and sources studied in the course unit;
• sufficient (18-24): basic knowledge of topics, materials and sources of the course unit; notional and superficial understanding of the course contents and materials, with very limited ability to critical, independent analysis;
• good (25-27): good knowledge of the course contents and methods; correct interpretations and analyses, although not always fully developed and/or appropriately expressed;
• very good to excellent (28-30 cum laude): full command of the subject; interpretations of sources and issues according to correct methodology with high degree of critical, personal analysis. Excellent ability to develop arguments in oral form with use of technical, appropriate vocabulary.

Use of AI is forbidden and will be considered as violation of academic integrity.

Teaching tools

PowerPoint, PDF, images, maps and videos.

Everything will be uploaded on Unibo virtual platform (https://virtuale.unibo.it/ ).

Students with learning disorders and/or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the university office in charge of these issues (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. Agreed adjustments and adaptations must then be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam) to the lecturer, who checks that they are in line with the learning objectives of the course unit.

Office hours

See the website of Roberta Mazza