THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2022/2023

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.

University Homepage
DRPS Homepage
DRPS Search
DRPS Contact
DRPS : Course Catalogue : Centre for Open Learning : History, Classics and Archaeology

Undergraduate Course: From Commodus to Constantine: Collapse, Chaos and Recovery in the Third-Century Roman Empire (LLLE07033)

Course Outline
SchoolCentre for Open Learning CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 7 (Year 1 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryA survey of the Roman world between 180 and 325 CE, a time when through internal and external pressures the Augustan system of government, the Principate, collapsed and was eventually replaced by an entirely new form of government, the Dominate.
Course description 1. Introduction - Historical background; survey of sources; reign of Commodus (180-192 CE)
2. Septimius Severus - rise to power and rule (193-211 CE)
3. Later Severan rulers - Caracalla, Elagabalus; Alexander Severus
4. Overview of the Severan period (193-235 CE) - the importance of the women of the dynasty; the militarization of the state
5. The mid-century crisis (i) - barbarian invasions; the threat of Sassanid Persia; persecution of the Christians
6. The mid-century crisis (ii) - breakaway movements such as the Imperium Galliarum (Empire of the Gauls) and the Palmyrene empire of Zenobia and Vaballathus
7. Aurelian, "Restorer of the World" - the restoration of the empire between 270 and 275 CE
8. Diocletian (285-305 CE) - re-configuration of the Roman world; the Tetrarchy
9. Constantine - rise to power, completion of the reforms of Diocletian; foundation of Constantinople
10. Retrospective of the Third Century - examination of continuities and changes.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs None
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. demonstrate an understanding of the politics, government and society of this key period of Roman history
  2. handle challenging primary source material
  3. deal critically with primary and secondary source material.
Reading List
Barnes, T. D. (1982), The New Empire of Diocletian and Constantine (Cambridge, Mass.)
Hekster, O. (2008), Rome and its Empire AD 193-294 (Edinburgh)
MacMullen, R. (1976), Roman Government's Response to Crisis (New Haven, CT)
MacMullen, R. (1988), Corruption and the Decline of Rome (New Haven, CT and London)
Potter, D. S. (2004), The Roman Empire at Bay AD 180-395 (London and New York)
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills ¿ Critical thinking.
¿ Handling and analysis of sources.
¿ Oral discussion.
Study Abroad N/A
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserDr Sally Crumplin
Tel:
Email: Sally.Crumplin@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Kameliya Skerleva
Tel: (0131 6)51 1855
Email: Kameliya.Skerleva@ed.ac.uk
Navigation
Help & Information
Home
Introduction
Glossary
Search DPTs and Courses
Regulations
Regulations
Degree Programmes
Introduction
Browse DPTs
Courses
Introduction
Humanities and Social Science
Science and Engineering
Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Other Information
Combined Course Timetable
Prospectuses
Important Information