GRST 189 - The Lives of the Roman Emperors

Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)

Caesar. Caligula. Commodus. Constantine. These are names that conjure images of power and prestige, of decadence and deviance, of majesty and might. But they are only a few of the men to have held the office of emperor in the Roman world. In this class, students systematically study the lives of the men who served as Emperors of Rome in their historical contexts. Through close readings of extant imperial biographies and other historical texts (all in English translation), participants in this class seek to understand how Roman emperors—and those closest to them—lived their lives and exercised their power. We also consider how subsequent generations have remembered the emperors of Rome and their many exploits. Carl Rice.

Four 50-minute periods.

Course Format: CLS