cah2gae gladiators and emperors
GLADIATORS AND EMPERORS: SPECTACLE AND SOCIETY IN IMPERIAL ROME
CAH2GAE
2019
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
Roman emperors are famous for their cruelty, extravagance and presiding over lavish spectacles such as the gladiatorial games. For example, in 107 CE, the emperor Trajan celebrated a military victory with 120 days of entertainment in the Colosseum, in which 11,000 gladiators fought and 10,000 wild animals were killed. This subject focuses on the emperors of Rome. It considers what makes a successful and popular emperor and what contributes to an emperor's failure. To do this we will examine imperial triumphs, as well as political coups and assassinations. The subject investigates the way that emperors manipulated events like the gladiatorial games for the sake of popularity; and the paradox that gladiators and other performers could be both glamorous celebrities and a despised rabble. The subject concludes with Commodus, an emperor-gladiator, and character in the films Gladiator (2000) and The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964), who tried unsuccessfully to link the highest and lowest roles of ancient Roman society.
SchoolSchool of Humanities & Social Sciences
Credit points15
Subject Co-ordinatorSarah Midford
Available to Study Abroad StudentsYes
Subject year levelYear Level 2 - UG
Exchange StudentsYes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
PrerequisitesN/A
Co-requisitesN/A
Incompatible subjects MDS2GLA
Equivalent subjectsN/A
Special conditionsN/A
Learning resources
Readings
| Resource Type | Title | Resource Requirement | Author and Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Readings | Lives of the Caesars | Prescribed | Suetonius (translated by Catharine Edwards) 2008. | Oxford World Classics. |
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Have key knowledge of the history, society and culture of Imperial Rome: namely the chronology, significant historical events and gradual social change of the period 14 CE-192 CE
- Activities:
- Lectures, tutorials, quizzes, essays
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills)
02. Be able to speak knowledgably and fluently about Roman society
- Activities:
- Tutorials, workshops
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills)
03. Critically analyse the evidence for a pre-modern imperial culture, particularly the ability to discuss social status and the precise forms of political power
- Activities:
- Tutorial, workshops, essays
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills)
04. Be able to write fluently about Roman society
- Activities:
- Essays
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
Subject options
Select to view your study options…
Albury-Wodonga, 2019, Semester 2, Blended
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Enrolment information
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorSarah Midford
Class requirements
LectureWeek: 31 - 43
One 1.5 hours lecture per week on any day including weekend during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via online.
"All lecture content is available through the LMS"
FilmWeek: 35 - 42
Two 3.0 hours film per study period on weekdays during the day from week 35 to week 42 and delivered via face-to-face.
"The films will be screened twice during semester in weeks 5 and 11. They will only be screened on the Melbourne campus. But they will be available to all regional students to watch in their own time."
SeminarWeek: 31 - 43
One 2.0 hours seminar per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.
"Seminars may only be available online on your campus, but they will still be scheduled and face to face"
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar Activities (1600 word equivalent) | 35 | 01 | |
| Critical Analyses (1400 word equivalent) | 25 | 01, 02, 03, 04 | |
| Research essay (2000 words) | 40 | 01, 02, 03, 04 |
Bendigo, 2019, Semester 2, Blended
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Enrolment information
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorSarah Midford
Class requirements
LectureWeek: 31 - 43
One 1.5 hours lecture per week on any day including weekend during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via online.
"All lecture content is available through the LMS"
FilmWeek: 35 - 42
Two 3.0 hours film per study period on weekdays during the day from week 35 to week 42 and delivered via face-to-face.
"The films will be screened twice during semester in weeks 5 and 11. They will only be screened on the Melbourne campus. But they will be available to all regional students to watch in their own time."
SeminarWeek: 31 - 43
One 2.0 hours seminar per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.
"Seminars may only be available online on your campus, but they will still be scheduled and face to face"
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar Activities (1600 word equivalent) | 35 | 01 | |
| Critical Analyses (1400 word equivalent) | 25 | 01, 02, 03, 04 | |
| Research essay (2000 words) | 40 | 01, 02, 03, 04 |
Melbourne, 2019, Semester 2, Blended
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Enrolment information
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorSarah Midford
Class requirements
LectureWeek: 31 - 43
One 1.5 hours lecture per week on any day including weekend during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via online.
"All lecture content is available through the LMS"
FilmWeek: 35 - 42
Two 3.0 hours film per study period on weekdays during the day from week 35 to week 42 and delivered via face-to-face.
"The films will be screened twice during semester in weeks 5 and 11. They will only be screened on the Melbourne campus. But they will be available to all regional students to watch in their own time."
SeminarWeek: 31 - 43
One 2.0 hours seminar per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.
"Seminars may only be available online on your campus, but they will still be scheduled and face to face"
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar Activities (1600 word equivalent) | 35 | 01 | |
| Critical Analyses (1400 word equivalent) | 25 | 01, 02, 03, 04 | |
| Research essay (2000 words) | 40 | 01, 02, 03, 04 |
Mildura, 2019, Semester 2, Blended
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Enrolment information
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorSarah Midford
Class requirements
LectureWeek: 31 - 43
One 1.5 hours lecture per week on any day including weekend during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via online.
"All lecture content is available through the LMS"
FilmWeek: 35 - 42
Two 3.0 hours film per study period on weekdays during the day from week 35 to week 42 and delivered via face-to-face.
"The films will be screened twice during semester in weeks 5 and 11. They will only be screened on the Melbourne campus. But they will be available to all regional students to watch in their own time."
SeminarWeek: 31 - 43
One 2.0 hours seminar per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.
"Seminars may only be available online on your campus, but they will still be scheduled and face to face"
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar Activities (1600 word equivalent) | 35 | 01 | |
| Critical Analyses (1400 word equivalent) | 25 | 01, 02, 03, 04 | |
| Research essay (2000 words) | 40 | 01, 02, 03, 04 |
Shepparton, 2019, Semester 2, Blended
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Enrolment information
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorSarah Midford
Class requirements
LectureWeek: 31 - 43
One 1.5 hours lecture per week on any day including weekend during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via online.
"All lecture content is available through the LMS"
FilmWeek: 35 - 42
Two 3.0 hours film per study period on weekdays during the day from week 35 to week 42 and delivered via face-to-face.
"The films will be screened twice during semester in weeks 5 and 11. They will only be screened on the Melbourne campus. But they will be available to all regional students to watch in their own time."
SeminarWeek: 31 - 43
One 2.0 hours seminar per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.
"Seminars may only be available online on your campus, but they will still be scheduled and face to face"
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar Activities (1600 word equivalent) | 35 | 01 | |
| Critical Analyses (1400 word equivalent) | 25 | 01, 02, 03, 04 | |
| Research essay (2000 words) | 40 | 01, 02, 03, 04 |