Module manager: Giacomo Savani
Email: G.Savani@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is approved as a discovery module
The module is intended as a foundation for further study in all aspects of Roman civilisation. It introduces the major periods in Roman history and the surviving ancient evidence which allows us to study them. Topics include: the development of the Roman political system; aspects of Roman social history such as patronage, family life and living conditions; and the cultural mindset of the Romans, including issues such as racism and attitudes towards animals. Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module.
The module is intended to introduce students to the major events of Roman political history and the social and cultural institutions of the Roman world. It will familiarise students with the evidence used to study this material, and demonstrate the issues and problems involved in handling it. Through seminars and assessed work, it will foster skills which include critical thinking, the ability to organise material and the ability to express and support ideas.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Identify and describe major Roman political institutions and events.
2. identify and describe major Roman social and cultural institutions.
3. Engage with primary evidence and recognise issues and problems involved in the use of that primary evidence.
4. Locate and engage critically with modern scholarship relating to Roman history.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
5. Evaluate, select and apply appropriate strategies for the analysis of primary evidence.
6. Communicate the results of your work effectively.
7. Synthesise and reflect on a large body of subject matter and select appropriately from it for particular purposes.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 21 | 1 | 21 |
| Seminar | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Private study hours | 174 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 26 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
As this is a core module for students on the Classical Civilisation and Ancient History programmes, student progress is monitored carefully and regularly in order to provide formative feedback and help students to adjust to working at University level. Formative feedback is provided by the seminar classes, where students articulate their ideas as part of discussion with their peers and the seminar tutor. The preparation for the seminars will be directly formative for the tasks that will be set in the coursework portfolio. This portfolio will respond to the full range of learning objectives for the module.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Written Portfolio | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 25/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team