Roman History: Relations with Greece and the Barbarians

Pre-requisites: No prerequisites

Course objectives: The objective of this course is to provide students with a review of Rome and its interactions with non-italic people groups, both in the East and West.

Course description: Romans and Gauls from the sack of Rome (390 B.C.) until the fall of the Empire; Romans and Carthaginians, from collaboration to war. Carthaginians and Gauls as fated Roman enemies in roman literature. Rome and Macedonia. Roman and Greek freedom. Rome and Jews from Pompeii to the victory of Christianity. Rome and Great Eastern Monarchies/Empires.

Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to independently construct a picture of the long lasting conflicts, but also cultural and political discourse between Rome, one one side, and the Barbarians or Greece on the other side.

Literature/Reading:

• E. Badian, Roman Imperialism in the Late Republic, Oxford 1967.
• R. Bernhardt, Polis und roemische Herrschaft in der spaeten Republik (149-31 v. Chr.) Berlin 1985.
• W.V. Harris, War and Imperialism in Republican Rome 327-70 B.C., Oxford 1979.
• E.S. Gruen, The Hellenistic World and Coming of Rome, I-II, Berkeley 1984.
• P.A. Brunt, Roman Imperial Themes, Oxford 1990
• A. Lintott, Imperium Romanum. Politics and Administration, London and New York 1993.
• F. Millar, Das Roemische Reich und seine Nachbarn, Frankfurt am Main 1966.
• F. Millar, The Roman Near East, 31 BC - AD 337, Cambridge-Mass. 1993.
• M. Sartre, The Middle East under Rome, Cambridge-Mass/London 2005.
• R. Stoneman, Palmyra and its Empire, Ann Arbor-Michigan 1992.
• K. Strobel, Das Imperium Romanum im "3. Jahrhundert". Modell einer historischen Krise?, Stuttgart 1993.
• K.-H. Ziegler, Die Beziehungen zwischen Rom und dem Partherreich, Wiesbaden 1964.