1. Myths of Rome: Using Book I of Livy’s History as well as the readings for Week 2 explain how the Romans understood their greatness. What do these stories reveal about the Roman character? What American comparisons do you see as parallel to this phenomena?

http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/txt/ah/Livy/Livy01.html

2. Roman Imperialism: Using Book 3 of Polybius’ History discuss how the author portrays the Romans and the “inevitability” of its Empire. Why did the Romans go to war with the Carthaginians and the Greeks? Was Roman victory assured? What proof in the texts can you find to support a position?

Polybius, "On the Destruction of Corinth"

http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/ancient/polybius-corinth146.asp

Polybius, History Book 3

http://penelope.uchicago.edu/thayer/e/roman/texts/polybius/3*.html

Various Roman authors on the Wars in the East:

http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/ancient/mithradates1.asp

Tacitus, On the Rebellion of Boudicca:

http://www.athenapub.com/tacitus1.htm

3. Roman Morality: Using Book 1 of De Officiis discuss how Cicero’s concept of Roman morality. What does Cicero believe in innate “moral goodness” and what roles do “fate” or “nature” play into this discussion. Do you see any parallels to modern American ideas of morality? Explain

4. Women’s Status in Ancient Rome: Using one or more of the texts below discuss the place of women in ancient Rome. What do Roman law, the court speeches, and the poetry concerning women tell us about their status? How do modern American opinions differ from these comments?

Diotima Anthology:

http://www.stoa.org/diotima/anthology/wlgr/wlgr-romanlegal.shtml

Laudatio Turiae (grave stele praising the "good wife")

http://www.stoa.org/diotima/anthology/wlgr/wlgr-publiclife168.shtml

Various Roman Sources from the sourcebook, As the Romans Did:

Romanwomensources

5. Ideal Emperor: Using Augustus’ Res Gestae, discuss how Octavian turned Augustus portrays himself as a great ruler. What accomplishments does he brad about? What does this catalog of “humility” tell us about politics of ancient Rome

6. Corrupt Emperors: Using Suetonius’ Life of Nero, discuss the author’s ideas of corruption of the imperial household. What signs were there early in Nero’s career that might have foretold of his poor leadership? What does this story tell us about the “ideal” emperor? Compare this account with the Res Gestae of Augustus. How are they different?

Suetonius, Life of Gaius Caligula:

http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/ancient/suetonius-caligula.asp

Suetonius, Life of Nero:

http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/ancient/suet-nero-rolfe.asp

Dio Cassius, "On the Fire of Rome":

http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/ancient/diocassius-nero1.asp

Suetonius, Life of Domitian:

http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/ancient/suetonius-domitian4.asp

7. Roman Administration and Letter Writing: Using letters between Pliny the Younger’s Letter to Trajan, discuss how a provincial governor in a distant territory controlled by Rome. What types of questions does Pliny ask of the Emperor? How does this personal correspondence mimic official reports and what can we learn about taxation, funding of construction projects, justice,  and religion from this back and forth?

Selected Letters of Pliny the Younger:

http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/ancient/pliny-letters.asp

Book 10 of Pliny's Letters

http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/bl/bl_text_plinyltrstrajan.htm

8. Romans and Barbarians: Using Tacitus’ Germania discuss how Romans perceived the barbarian “Other.” What is unique about the Germans as compared to the Romans? Is the picture black and white or does Tacitus find things respectable about the Germans? Who is his audience and what message do you think he is trying to convey?

Roman poet Martial on Foreigners:

http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/ancient/martial9-3.asp

Polybius: On the Character of Hannibal/Carthaginians:

http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/ancient/polybius-hannibal.asp

Various Authors on Nubia:

http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/ancient/nubia1.asp

Roman Sources on Jews/Judaism:

http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/ancient/roman-jews.asp

Legal Status of Egyptians during Roman Empire:

http://www.stoa.org/diotima/anthology/wlgr/wlgr-romanlegal148.shtml

Julius Caesar on the Germans:

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/51caesar-germans.asp

Tacitus, Germania

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/tacitus1.asp

 Tacitus on the Brittons:

http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/ancient/tacitus-galgacus.asp