Postgraduate Course: The Fall of Rome (PGHC11055)
Course Outline
| School | School of History, Classics and Archaeology |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course explores the causes and consequences of the fall of the Roman Empire in the West, and historiographical interpretations of the event. It considers Late Roman society and government, the impact of Christianity, the causes and nature of Germanic and nomadic migrations, barbarian settlement, and the survival of Roman culture, law and traditions in successor kingdoms, with especial reference to Gaul in the period c. 250-750 |
| Course description |
This course concentrates on the political, economic, religious and cultural history of one Roman province, Gaul, over an extensive time span and compares developments there with developments elsewhere in the Western Empire and successor kingdoms. A number of issues will be explored, including: a) The extent to which a distinct identity and culture existed in Gaul. b) The question of whether there was socio-political decline or disruption in Gaul, with special emphasis on urban life. c) The nature and extent of the 'barbarian' settlements. d) Continuity and change in urban life e) Conversion and the role of bishops and monks.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate in a detailed and critical command of the body of knowledge concerning the 'decline and fall' of Roman government and social and cultural institutions and the manner in which this unfolded in the specific case of Gaul
- Demonstrate an ability to analyse and reflect critically upon relevant scholarship primary source materials concerning and conceptual discussions
- Demonstrate in [an ability to understand and apply specialised research or professional skills, techniques and practices considered in the course
- Demonstrate the ability to develop and sustain original scholarly arguments in oral and written form [in seminar discussions, presentations, and online forum posts] by independently formulating appropriate questions and utilising relevant evidence considered in the course
- Demonstrate in seminars and presentations originality and independence of mind and initiative; intellectual integrity and maturity; an ability to evaluate the work of others, including peers; and a considerable degree of autonomy
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Reading List
P. Brown, The World of Late Antiquity (London, 1971)
Averil Cameron, The Later Roman Empire AD 284-430 (London, 1993)
Averil Cameron, The Mediterranean World in Late Antiquity 395-700 AD (Abingdon, 2012)
E. Gibbon, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Penguin edition by D. Womersley. Harmondsworth, 2000)
W. Goffart, Barbarians and Romans: the techniques of accommodation (Princeton, 1980)
G. Halsall. Barbarian Migrations and the Roman West, 376-568 (Cambridge, 2007)
J. Harries, Sidonius Apollinaris and the fall of Rome (Oxford, 1994)
P. Heather, The Fall of the Roman Empire (London, 2005)
R. Mathisen, Roman aristocrats in barbarian Gaul: strategies for survival in an age of transition (Austin, TX, 1993)
J. Moorhead, The Roman Empire Divided 400-700 (Harlow, 2001)
R, Van Dam, Leadership in Late Antique Gaul (Berkeley, CA, 1985)
B. Ward-Perkins, The fall of Rome and the end of civilization (Oxford, 2005) |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | FallofRome Fall of Rome |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Tom Brown
Tel: (0131 6)50 3761
Email: |
Course secretary | Mrs Lindsay Scott
Tel: (0131 6)50 9948
Email: |
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