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The Severans (VS1) (U03391)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : HCA-3-U00005

This course will look at the reigns of the Severans: Septimius Severus and his son Caracalla and their successors, Elagabalus and Alexander Severus. Septimius hoped to bring renewed stablity to an Empire that had suffered since the death of Marcus Aurelius in 180, and we shall consider the success in the light of his own reign and that of his son. The situation deteriorated, however, under Elagabalus, and was stabilised briefly under the reign of Alexander, despite his youth. The course will consider the changes that occurred in this period, militarily, socially and politically. It will involve the inter-relation of a wide variety of different types of evidence, notably literary, epigraphic and archaeological, and the development of the skills required to interpret these in the construction of a history of the Severan age.

Entry Requirements

? This course is only available to part year visiting students.

? This course is a variant of the following course : U00005

? Pre-requisites : Experience in Ancient History, at the discretion of the course organiser.

? Special Arrangements for Entry : This course is only for visiting students in Edinburgh during the 1st Semester but NOT the 2nd Semester. In order for a student to be enrolled, contact must be made with a Course Secretary on 50 3580 in order for approval to be obtained.

? Costs : Approximately £20 for books.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Ancient History, (School of History, Classics and Archaeology, Schedule E)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Not being delivered

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	14:00	14:50	Central
Lecture	Thursday	14:00	14:50	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

- An understanding of the political and social context of the Severan emperors;
- an understanding of the changes to the Roman Empire brought about by challenges to imperial power both within and outside of Rome;
- an understanding of the interaction of various sources of evidence (literary, epigraphic and archaeological) in the construction of an historical understanding.