KLA_011 Frontiers of the Roman world

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Jan Jílek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Jan Jílek, Ph.D.
Department of Archaeology and Museology – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Jitka Šibíčková
Supplier department: Department of Archaeology and Museology – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of the Roman archeology in the extent of the courses KLA_001 - Introduction to Classical Archaeology is obligated.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Main objectives of the course can be summarized as follows: to learn the historical background of the Roman expansion and development of the Roman frontier on the European territory; to understand the mechanism of building and function of the Roman limes; to learn the basic forms of the Roman military architecture on the limites of the empire; to explore the most important Roman military camps on the frontiers of the provinces Germania Inferior and Superior, Britannia, Raetia, Noricum, Pannonia Superior and Inferior, Moesia and Dacia.
Learning outcomes
After successfull passing the course, students will be able to:
- explain the causes, main events and consequences of Roman expansion and the establishment of the Roman frontiers - so-called LIMES ROMANUS
- identify most notable examples of Roman limites, describe their specific features and developments
- orientate in the main types of Roman military architecture and describe its internal buildings
- recognize the different types of the fortifications and understand their construction techniques
- be familiar with the most important sites and military camps in the provinces of Germania Inferior and Superior, Britannia, Raetia, Noricum, Pannonia Superior and Inferior, Moesia and Dacia
- orientate in the organization and war strategy of the Roman army and to know the causes, events and consequences of the most important battles related to the topic
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction - definition of the topic
  • 2. Historical background and the course of the Roman expansion
  • 3. Causes, main events and consequences of Roman frontiers establishment and a structure of their defence
  • 4. Organization of the Roman army and Roman military strategy during the control of the different parts of the frontiers
  • 5. Types of the military fortification objects and internal buildings of the Roman camps
  • 6. Origin of the Roman military bases in Lower Rhine and along the river Lippe
  • 7. Cause, course and consequence of the battle in Teutoburg forest
  • 8. History of the limes establishment in Germania Inferior and Superior
  • 9. History of the limes establishment in Britannia, Raetia and Noricum
  • 10. History of the limes establishment in Pannonia Superior and Inferior, Moesia and Dacia.
  • 11. Development of so-called military settlements and associated infrastructure
  • 12. General knowledge of the material culture from the area of Roman limes.
Literature
  • Der römische Limes in Bayern. ed. Dannheimer, H. München, 1992. info
  • ERDRICH, Michael. Rom und die Barbaren. Mainz: P. von Zabern, 2001, 192 pp. ISBN 3-8053-2622-X. info
  • Der römische Limes in Österreich : Führer zu den archäologischen Denkmälern. Edited by Herwig Friesinger - Friedrich Krinzinger. Wien: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1997, 312 s. ISBN 3700126182. info
  • GÜNTHER, R. and H. KÖPSTEIN. Die Römer an Rhein und Donau. ed. J. Herrmann. Berlin, 1985. info
  • KEMKES, Martin, Jörg SCHEUERBRANDT and Nina WILLBURGER. Am Rande des Imperiums : der Limes, Grenze Roms zu den Barbaren. Stuttgart: Jan Thorbecke Verlag, 2002, 288 s. ISBN 3882943319. info
  • PENROSE, Jane. Řím a jeho nepřátelé : říše stvořená a zničená válkou. Translated by Lenka Adamcová. Praha: Fighters publications, 2007, 303 s. ISBN 9788086977102. info
  • SAKAŘ, Vladimír and Jan BOUZEK. Římské provincie a limes Romanus ve střední a západní Evropě. Vyd. 1. Praha: Státní pedagogické nakladatelství, 1990, 149 s. ISBN 80-7066-161-5. info
  • VISY, Z. Der pannonische Limes in Ungarn. Budapest-Stuttgart, 1988. info
  • Římané v Germánii. Edited by Reinhard Wolters, Translated by Vlastimil Drbal. Vyd. 1. Praha: Vyšehrad, 2002, 141 s. ISBN 8070215399. info
Teaching methods
lectures with images (PPT) presentation, class discussion about actual topics
Assessment methods
active participation, oral exam
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: 0.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2025/KLA_011