Learning objectives

I MODULE
Aims of the course are an improvement of the knowledge of the Roman civic culture during the Imparial Age, of the extention of the Roman citizenship to Italy and then to the Roman Empire, and the understanding of the fundamental principles which the Roman society and its relationships with foreigners were based on. The study takes into account documents referring to the changes of the rights of Italian and provincial cities. Students will be encouraged to study documentary sources being either archaeological, literay or epigraphic. Their analysis will enable students to understand and distinguish the features pertaining to different kinds of documents and make a comparison between them. Students will single out the principles of the social cohesion of the Romans, their ability to integrate non-Romans into their society and politics, and their most important political enactements such as the Constitutio Antoniniana which deeply modified the social life and principles. Moreover, students will understand the reason why principles of the social life underwent crises during the 3rd century.
Students will learn how to evaluate autonomously documents of the Roman history by means of a comparison between different authors or between authors and different kind of sources, and deem their reliability. Students will improve their communication skill, will express their opinions and even their doubts concerning problems arising from the course and will receive answers and also directions on how to shape their exposition. Their learning skill will be improved and at the end of the course they should demonstrate to be able to analyse critically at least the sources and iconographies taken into account, to present in a logical sequence their discourses, clearly and on the basis of the most important documents.

II MODULE
The aim of the course is that of improving the knowledge of the relationships between politics and religion during the Imperial Age and of the basic principles which the Roman society and religion were based on. The study will take into account texts referring to the persecution and the triumph of Christianity. Students will be encouraged to study documentary sources being either archaeological, literay or epigraphic. Their analysis will enable students to understand and distinguish the features pertaining to different kinds of documents and make a comparison between them. Students will single out the principles of the social cohesion of the Romans, their attitude in their relationship with non-Roman cultures, the repression or approval of these latters during the 2nd to the 4rd century. Students will learn how to evaluate autonomously documents of the Roman history by means of a comparison between different authors or between authors and different kind of sources, and deem their reliability. Students will improve their communication skill, will express their opinions and even their doubts concerning problems arising from the course and will receive answers and also directions on how to shape their exposition. Their learning skill will be improved, as well, and at the end of the course they should demonstrate to be able to analyse critically at least the sources and iconographies taken into account, to present in a logical sequence their discourses, clearly and on the basis of the most important documents.