Undergraduate Course: The Dark Side of Empire: Conspiracy in Imperial Rome (ANHI10089)
Course Outline
| School | School of History, Classics and Archaeology |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Imperial Rome could be a treacherous place, especially for the emperor. Many conspiracies are recounted by the ancient sources, though details are often sketchy. This course will critically examine various conspiracy narratives in an effort to understand the motivation for these and their veracity. |
| Course description |
This course will look at conspiracies against the emperor from the beginning of the imperial period to the early second century. The ancient sources were fascinated by conspiracies but, as is the nature of such endeavours, it is difficult to know what exactly transpired. The purpose of the course will be to try and get behind the events themselves through a close reading of the literary sources, supplemented by other evidence (e.g. inscriptions), in an attempt to determine who was involved and why; we will also consider whether these conspiracies were real or fabricated. Conspiracies to be examined include both well-known plots, such as the Pisonian Conspiracy against Nero, and lesser known examples, such as that by Gaetulicus against Gaius.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should usually have at least 3 courses in Classics related subject matter (at least 2 of which should be in Ancient History) at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this) for entry to this course. We will only consider University/College level courses. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- demonstrate, by way of coursework and examination as required, command of the body of knowledge considered in the course;
- demonstrate, by way of coursework and examination as required, an ability to read, analyse and reflect critically upon relevant scholarship;
- demonstrate, by way of coursework and examination as required, an ability to understand, evaluate and utilise a variety of primary source material;
- demonstrate, by way of coursework and examination as required, the ability to develop and sustain scholarly arguments in oral and written form, by formulating appropriate questions and utilising relevant evidence;
- demonstrate independence of mind and initiative; intellectual integrity and maturity; an ability to evaluate the work of others, including peers.
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Reading List
Berriman, A. and Malcolm Todd 'A very Roman coup: the hidden war of imperial succession, AD 96-98', Historia 50.3 (2001), pp. 312-331
Bingham, Sandra (2013) The Praetorian Guard: A History of Rome's Elite Special Forces. London
Collins, A. W. (2013) 'Casperius Aelianus, Trajan and the mutiny of 97', Acta Classica: 55-61.
Fagan, G. (2002) 'Messalina's folly', CQ 52.2: 566-79
Lacey, W.K. (1980) '2 B.C. and Julia's adultery', Antichthon 14: 127-142
Nappa, C. (2010) 'The unfortunate marriage of Gaius Silius: Tacitus and Juvenal on the fall of Messalina' in J.F. Millar and A.J. Woodman (eds), Latin
Historiography and Poetry in the Early Empire: Generic Interactions. Leiden: 189-204
Pagàn, Victoria Emma (2012) Conspiracy Theory in Latin Literature. Austin
Pagàn, Victoria Emma (2004) Conspiracy Narratives in Roman History. Austin
Sheldon, Rose Mary (2005) Intelligence Activities in Ancient Rome. Oxford
Simpson, Chris (1980), 'The 'conspiracy' of A.D. 39' in C. Deroux (ed.), Studies in Latin Literature and Roman History 168: 347-366
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Sandra Bingham
Tel: (0131 6)50 6689
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr Henry Barnett
Tel: (0131 6)51 5002
Email: |
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