Athens has held a continuous fascination for scholars and laymen alike. However, the interest has usually focused on the classical period, the heyday of Athenian democracy. Increasingly, researchers have come to realise that Roman Athens is equally worthy of attention. The way in which, under Roman rule, the Greeks defined their own identity with reference to their past, their ambiguous position in relation to the Romans, as well as the attitude of the Romans towards the Greek past – all these aspects can be seen in the Roman city of Athens.
During this course, an overview is offered of the Roman history of the city. The following subjects will be discussed: Pausanias’ description of Athens, Hadrian’s building programme and his creation of a new city, the Panhellenion of which Athens was the centre, the position of the local elites, Athens’ position in the ancient urban network, and the way the city functioned as academic centre.
Time Table
Semester II, see timetables.
Method of Instruction
Research seminar; attendance is compulsory (see the rules and regulations of the Department of History, art. 2).
Course objectives
Knowledge of the society of Roman Athens
Insight into the major debates on acculturation and cultural identity in the Roman empire.
Required reading
For the entry test, students should write a 1000 word (excl. footnotes) essay on the basis of the following literature. The essay should be send in by e-mail 48 hours before the first session of the course.
S.E. Alcock, Graecia capta. The landscapes of Roman Greece (Cambridge 1993).
with the following reviews and review articles:D.J. Mattingly, ‘The landscape of imperialism’, Antiquity 68 (1994) 162-165.
G. Woolf, ‘Town, country and imperialism in Roman Greece’, Journal of Roman Archaeology 7 (1994) 417-420.
O.M. van Nijf, Mnemosyne 49 (1996) 114-118.
D. Rousset, ‘La cité et son territoire dans la province d-Achaïe et la notion de “Grèce romaine“’, Annales HSC 59 (2004) 363-383.
If the history of Roman Athens should be studied in the context of that of Roman Greece as a whole, how should that history be written? In your essay, a summary should be given of Alcock’s argumentation, methodology and sources, and possible problems with her approach should be discussed.
Examination
The final grade will be composed as follows:
Entrance exam: 10%
Participation: 5%
Presentation introduction (incl. written work): 5%
Presentation first chapter (incl. written work): 5 %
Final paper (max. 7.500 words): 75%
Information
With the tutor: dr. L.E. Tacoma
Blackboard/website
0910 MA Res Sem Roman Athens. Please enrol yourself before the start of the course.
Remarks
A visit to Athens forms part of the course (though participation is recommended, not obligatory). The excursion of ca 6 days will take place in March 2010, in the week in which no courses take place (exact dates to be confirmed). We will use the facilities of the Dutch Institute at Athens (for which see http://www.nia.gr/). Participants are expected to pay the fare of the trip themselves (ca 350,- euro’s); other costs might be (partially) refunded. More information follows.
Students who are interested in participating are asked to send an e-mail to dr. L.E. Tacoma well before the deadline for admission to the course.
Enrolment
Please use this form to apply for MA courses.