Studying online (if an online offering is shown below)
There are now 2 possible online modes for units:
Units with modes Online timetabled and Online flexible are available for any student to self-enrol and study online.
Click on an offering mode for more details.
Unit Overview
- Description
This unit studies the period 146 BC to 44 BC: from the destruction of Corinth and Carthage down to the assassination of Julius Caesar. The unit is concerned with the final generations of the Roman Republic, during which the four centuries of political and social stability gradually evaporated in political murder, civil war, the collapse of moderation and consensus and the transformation of society, all happening against a backcloth of dramatic conquests and imperial expansion that took Roman armies as far as Britain and Iraq. The period saw the transformation of the institutions of the state and the emergence of powerful military men who dominated the Roman political scene. But it was a period which also witnessed the first real flourishing of Latin literature.
The unit aims to impart knowledge about one of the most significant periods in ancient Mediterranean history, the transition of Rome from a republic to an empire. Students are introduced to both the political and social history of the period and develop an appreciation of the importance of the relationship between the social and political mechanisms in the ancient Roman world. Students are encouraged to make independent analysis and criticism of such fundamental aspects as political alliances, personal alliances, the stratification of society, the division of wealth, etc. The unit emphasises the importance of the ancient written evidence, such as the personal correspondence and forensic speeches of M. Tullius Cicero, the personal accounts of the Gallic and Civil wars by C. Julius Caesar, and the historical monographs of Sallust, and the later accounts of Plutarch, Appian and Cassius Dio. As a result, students develop critical abilities in the process of reading and evaluating these literary sources.
- Credit
- 6 points
- Offering
Availability Location Mode Not available in 2025 UWA (Perth) Face to face - Details for undergraduate courses
- Level 3 option in the Classics and Ancient History major sequence
- Level 3 elective
- Outcomes
Students are able to (1) identify, interpret and describe key events from the period under study; (2) identify, interpret and describe the development of major social and political events and processes of a key period in history; (3) identify, interpret, describe and evaluate different types of evidence that contribute to our understanding of the period; (4) read, comprehend, analyse and critique the primary and secondary written sources; (5) research using print and electronic resources; and (6) develop reasoning and analytical skills.
- Assessment
Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) sources tests; (2) a major essay; and (3) tutorial performance. Further information is available in the unit outline.
Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.
- Unit Coordinator(s)
- Associate Professor Christopher Mallan
- Unit rules
- Prerequisites
- any Level 2 CLAN unit
- Incompatibility
- CLAH2222 The Foundation of the Roman Empire
- Contact hours
- lectures: 10 x 1 hour
tutorials: 12 x 2 hour
- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
- All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
- Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
- Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.
Face to face
Predominantly face-to-face. On campus attendance required to complete this unit. May have accompanying resources online.
Online flexible
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit is asynchronous delivery, with NO requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online timetabled
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit includes some synchronous components, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online Restricted
Not available for self-enrolment. Students access this mode by contacting their student office through AskUWA. 100% Online Unit.
NO campus face-to-face attendance. All study and assessment requirements are online only. Unit includes some timetabled activities, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times. In exceptional cases (noted in the Handbook) students may be required to participate in face-to-face laboratory classes when a return to UWA’s Crawley campus becomes possible in order to be awarded a final grade.
External
No attendance or regular contact is required, and all study requirements are completed either via correspondence and/or online submission.
Off-campus
Regular attendance is not required, but student attends the institution face to face on an agreed schedule for purposes of supervision and/or instruction.
Multi-mode
Multiple modes of delivery. Unit includes a mix of online and on-campus study requirements. On campus attendance for some activities is required to complete this unit.