DSMB31 Living like a Roman: Family and Everyday Life in Ancient Rome

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Synchronous online teaching
Teacher(s)
Dr. Silvia Tantimonaco (lecturer), Mgr. et Mgr. Markéta Melounová, Ph.D. (deputy)
Mgr. et Mgr. Markéta Melounová, Ph.D. (alternate examiner)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. et Mgr. Markéta Melounová, Ph.D.
Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Jitka Erlebachová
Supplier department: Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Fri 12:00–13:40 Virtuální místnost, except Mon 18. 11. to Fri 22. 11. ; and Fri 29. 11. 14:00–17:40 A21
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge in Roman History is recommended.
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
The course aims to provide a deeper understanding of Roman society by focusing on its private and everyday sphere. Each class will deal with elements such as family and personal relations, traditions, lifestyles, and mentalities of the time. The course focuses specifically on the most disadvantaged social groups which are usually less represented in ancient historiographical accounts, such as children, women, gladiators, soldiers, slaves, and freedmen. In this framework, inscriptions (particularly epitaphs) and other remains from the material culture will be used as a primary source of information, providing the occasion for digressions on specific aspects of life in ancient Rome. Serving as an example of ‘history from below’, this course is intended to complement the Roman History course.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, students will be able to:
– analyze and contextualize ancient inscriptional sources in a critical way,
– identify and describe important features of the Roman society
– compare the differences and similitudes between ancient Roman and modern society.
Syllabus
  • 20 September: Introduction on the course topics and schedule; sources, and first insight into the Roman society
  • 27 September: Roman children
  • 4 October: Roman children
  • 11 October: Roman women
  • 18 October: Roman women
  • 1 November: Roman soldiers
  • 8 November: Roman soldiers
  • 15 November: Games and gladiators
  • 29 November: Epigraphic storytelling
  • 6 December: Slaves and freedmen
  • 13 December: The disabled in the ancient world
  • 20 December: Animals & pets in the Roman world
Literature
    required literature
  • The Oxford handbook of Roman epigraphy. Edited by Christer Bruun - J. C. Edmondson. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015, xxxiv, 888. ISBN 9780190860301. info
  • COOLEY, Alison E. The Cambridge manual of Latin epigraphy. First published. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012, xxii, 531. ISBN 9780521840262. info
    recommended literature
  • ALFÖLDY, Géza. Römische Sozialgeschichte. 4., völlig überarbeitete u. Stuttgart: Franz Steiner, 2011, 399 stran. ISBN 9783515098410. info
  • CARUSO, Carlotta. 101 storie svelate : le iscrizioni del Museo nazionale Romano raccontano Roma. Prima edizione. Villafranca di Verona: Dielle Editore, 2022, 225 stran. ISBN 9788899398552. info
  • CASSON, Lionel. Everyday Life in Ancient Rome. Revised and Expanded Edition. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999.
Teaching methods
The course will be held online in MS Teams.
Latin texts will all be provided in English translation.
Assessment methods
Class attendance (80 % = 10 lessons).
Final online multiple-choice test, based on material discussed in classes.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught only once.
Teacher's information
There will be no recordings of the classes, unless absolutely necessary.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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