300CR Roman Revolution: History And Culture From Gracci To Augustus (3)
The period of Roman history from the revolution initiated by the Gracchi to the
demise of the Republic and the establishment of the Principate under the
Augustus will be studied. The course begins with the Scipionic Circle under
whose leadership foreign imperialism, domestic factionalism, and the influx of
Greek culture increased. Political, social and cultural developments which
culminated in the violent death of the old system will be traced. We will also
show how Augustus kept the past alive to make his new government acceptable to
the tradition-loving Romans. Students will read the words of such writers as
Terence, Cato, Polybius, Cicero, Caesar, Sallust, Catullus, Horace, Virgil, and
Ovid, whose works cover the important genres of Roman literature-new comedy,
rhetoric, satire, history, epic, pastoral and lyric poetry.