29750 - Roman Administrative History (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course unit the student will know the main evolution lines of the administrative history of the roman world, with a specific focus on mixed cultural contexts. The student will be able to reconstruct the original concepts of the roman administrative organization and their perrmanence during the centuries. Will be able to identify the specific contribution of the historical sciences in the development of Roman Public Law. The student will be able to use the specific juridical terminology necessary for a precise communication of the study area.

Course contents

The classes will be organized around three topics:

1. A general discussion of concepts, categories and topics related to the Roman administration.

2. The analysis of some case studies, with particular attention to heterogeneous cultural contexts in which Roman administrative models interact with local traditions; among the case studies that will be examined e.g.:

• The administration of the province of Arabia during the years of annexation, through the evidence of the archive of Babatha;
• The functions of the curatores operum publicorum in the cities of the Roman Empire.

3. A seminar aimed at research training, which will result in the preparation of a short paper (5-10 pages) on one of the topics covered in class or related to the history of roman administration, to be agreed with the teacher. The paper must be submitted at least one week before the examination. The seminar, that will be jointly organized with the course on History of the Roman Empire, will cover the following topics:

1. The main features of a paper in the history of roman administration.
2. Finding modern bibliography.
3. Finding ancient evidence.
4. The analysis of the modern bibliography.
5. Academic Writing.

The seminar will deal with the tools (both in the traditional format, and the new digital tools) for research in the history of roman administration.

Readings/Bibliography

For attending students

1. Individual study, on the development of roman administration:

1.1 The study of the following articles:

• E. Lo Cascio, Le tecniche dell'amministrazione, «Storia di Roma, II, L'impero mediterraneo, 2, I principi e il mondo», a cura di E. Gabba – A. Schiavone, Torino, Einaudi, 1991, pp. 119-192 [available at the Library of the Department of Storia Culture Civiltà – Sezione di Storia Antica, via Zamboni 38, 4th floor, under the signature CONS ENC].
• G.W. Bowersock, La Grecia e le province orientali, «Storia di Roma, II, L'impero mediterraneo, 2, I principi e il mondo», a cura di E. Gabba – A. Schiavone, Torino, Einaudi, 1991, pp. 409-432 [Library of the Department of Storia Culture Civiltà – Sezione di Storia Antica, via Zamboni 38, 4th floor, under the signature CONS ENC].
• F. De Martino, Il modello della città-stato, «Storia di Roma, IV, Caratteri e morfologie», a cura di E. Gabba – A. Schiavone, Torino, Einaudi, 1989, pp. 433-458 [Library of the Department of Storia Culture Civiltà – Sezione di Storia Antica, via Zamboni 38, 4th floor, under the signature CONS ENC].

1.2 For a closer look, at least one more further essay at student choice among:

• J. Richardson, The Administration of the empire, «The Cambridge Ancient History, IX: The Last Age of the Roman Republic, 146–43 BC», edited by J. A. Crook – A. Lintott – E. Rawson, Cambridge; Cambridge University Press, 1994², pp. 564-598 [Library of the Department of Storia Culture Civiltà – Sezione di Storia Antica, via Zamboni 38, 4th floor, under the signature CONS ENC].
• The Government and Administration of the Empire, «The Cambridge Ancient History, X: The Augustan Empire, 43 BC–AD 69», edited by A. K. Bowman – E. Champlin – A. Lintott, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2005², pp. 309-370 (articles by D.W. Rathbone, The Imperial Finances, R.J.A. Talbert, The Senate and Senatorial and Equestrian Posts, and di A.K. Bowman, Provincial Administration and Taxation) [Library of the Department of Storia Culture Civiltà – Sezione di Storia Antica, via Zamboni 38, 4th floor, under the signature CONS ENC].
• E. Lo Cascio, The Emperor and his Administration, «The Cambridge Ancient History, XII: The Crisis of Empire, AD 193-337», edited by A.K. Bowman – P. Garnsey – A. Cameron, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2005², pp. 131-183 [Library of the Department of Storia Culture Civiltà – Sezione di Storia Antica, via Zamboni 38, 4th floor, under the signature CONS ENC].

2. For the topics discussed in class, students will count, as well as on personal notes, on the slides projected during the lessons, which will be published on the website of the course.

3. For the seminar the students will be given specific task of bibliographic search and retrieval.

For non attending students

1. For the individual study on the development of roman administration, non-attending students will follow the same program as indicated in point 1 of the program for attending students.

2. For the specific part, non-attending students will replace the topics covered in lectures and seminars and the writing of the essay with the study of S. Segenni – C. Letta, Roma e le sue province, Roma, Carocci, 2015 [Library of the Department of Storia Culture Civiltà – Sezione di Storia Antica, via Zamboni 38, 4th floor, under the signature PROV. I. 28].

For an alternative program (particularly on item 1.2 of the program) contact me, by email too at alessandro.cristofori@unibo.it.

Teaching methods

Lectures on the general concepts of roman administration and on case studies related to roman administrative history, in which students will be actively engaged, particularly in reading and commenting ancient evidence.

Seminar lessons and group work for preparing the written essay.

Assessment methods

The assessment, through an oral examination (and, for attending students, in form of a discussion of a written essay), will test:

• a knowledge of the general devolpment of roman administration;
• a knowledge of case studies related to roman administrative history;
• a critical approach to ancient evidence and to modern historiographical interpretations;
• a good ability to communicate orally, in particular skills in synthesis and in logical organization of the topics and the mastery of an appropriate vocabulary;
• for attending students, the ability to use the main tools for research in history of the roman administration (both in the traditional format, and the new digital tools) and a good ability to communicate in written form; also for the written essay, in addition to the correctness and completeness of the contents, the logical organization of the arguments and the use of a personal vocabulary (including juridical terminolgy) and a style appropriate to the discipline will be evaluated.

For each of the criteria outlined above, the following assessment scale can be proposed:

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

Evaluation of the individual parameters will contribute to determine final vote. In the assessment of attending students, I will take into account constancy and active participation to the lectures.

In detail, oral examination tipically involves, for attending students:

• a question on the general development of roman administration (based on the articles indicated in point 1.1 of the program and on lectures on concepts, categories and topics of roman administratuve history);
• a question on one of essay of point 1.2 of the program;
• a question on one of the case studies analyzed in the lectures.
• a discussion of the paper.

For non attending students the examination will be in oral form too, and tipically involves:

• a question on the general development of roman administration (based on the articles indicated in point 1.1 of the program
• a question on one of essay of point 1.2 of the program;
• two questions on S. Segenni – C. Letta, Roma e le sue province, Roma, Carocci, 2015.

Teaching tools

In class we will use PowerPoint slide shows, which will be published on the website of the course. During the course students will receive a dossier of sources and bibliography for the group work and class discussion; students will be asked to further develop some research work with the support of the library of the Department of History, Cultures, Civilization, section of Ancient History.

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Cristofori