GLADIATORS AND EMPERORS: SPECTACLE AND SOCIETY IN IMPERIAL ROME
CAH2GAE
Not currently offered
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.
SchoolHumanities and Social Sciences
Credit points15
Subject Co-ordinatorSarah Midford
Available to Study Abroad/Exchange StudentsYes
Subject year levelYear Level 2 - UG
Available as ElectiveYes
Learning ActivitiesLectures, tutorials, quizzes, essays, workshops
Capstone subjectNo
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites Students must have completed 60 credit points of Level one subjects
Co-requisitesN/A
Incompatible subjectsMDS2GLA
Equivalent subjectsN/A
Quota Management StrategyN/A
Quota-conditions or rulesN/A
Special conditionsN/A
Minimum credit point requirementN/A
Assumed knowledgeN/A
Readings
Lives of the Caesars
Resource TypePrescribed
Resource RequirementN/A
AuthorSuetonius (translated by Catharine Edwards)
Year2008
Edition/VolumeN/A
PublisherOxford World Classics.
ISBNN/A
Chapter/article titleN/A
Chapter/issueN/A
URLN/A
Other descriptionN/A
Source locationN/A
Career Ready
Career-focusedNo
Work-based learningNo
Self sourced or Uni sourcedN/A
Entire subject or partial subjectN/A
Total hours/days requiredN/A
Location of WBL activity (region)N/A
WBL addtional requirementsN/A
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
Graduate Capabilities
Intended Learning Outcomes
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