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Unit of study_

ANHS2610: The Roman Republic from Rise to Revolution

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

What kind of society produced the Roman Republic? How did its political institutions develop and to what extent were they unique? How did they stand up to the pressures of external threat, social change, internal dissention and the impact of empire? We will study the partnership of senate and people from 287 to 88BC and ask the Romans whether a society always gets the politicians it deserves.

Unit details and rules

Unit code ANHS2610
Academic unit Classics and Ancient History
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 1000 level from any combination of Ancient History, Latin, Ancient Greek, History, Philosophy, Archaeology
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator James Tan, james.t@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) James Tan, james.t@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Participation Participation
n/a
10% -
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Take-Home Exam
Exam
30% Formal exam period 1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Assignment Long Essay
Details on Canvas
40% Multiple weeks 2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Short Essay
Details on Canvas
20% Multiple weeks 800-1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Rome and the Mediterranean world Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
What was antiquity like? Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 02 What happened in 342? Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Unifying Italy Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Unifying Rome Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 03 How bellicose were the Romans? Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Roman Political Culture Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Punic Wars Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 04 Greece and Rome and Spain Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Polybius Book Six Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Polybius Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 05 Religion Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Burial of Greeks and Gauls Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Hellenism Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 06 Political Culture Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Democracy? Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Political Problems Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 07 Effects of empire: economics Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Empire: Demography Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Slavery Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 08 The City and the People I Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
No Tute Tutorial (1 hr)  
The city and the People II Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 09 Veteran settlement? Revisiting Tiberius Gracchus’ land program Tutorial (1 hr)  
Gracchi I Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Gracchi II Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 10 The Late Second Century in Rome Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
How Roman was Italy? Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
The Late Second Century in Italy Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 11 What did the Italians want? Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
The 90's and the coming of Social War Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Social War Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 12 Civil War II Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Rome and Italy Tutorial (1 hr)  
Civil War I Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 13 That 70's Lecture Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Was collapse inevitable? Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Settlement Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
  • Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.
  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.


 

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed on the Library eReserve link available on Canvas

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. demonstrate a body of knowledge that is central to your discipline
  • LO2. identify, define, investigate, and solve problems, particularly with reference to the sophisticated handling of ancient sources
  • LO3. evaluate contemporary scholarship and assess methodological practices
  • LO4. demonstrate development as independent learners
  • LO5. understand the anxieties and concerns of a culture separated from their own by time and place.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

More variety in assessment due dates.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.