Lecturer: Professor Jon Hall
A 'new man' in Roman politics, Marcus Tullius Cicero won fame and respect with the power of his oratory. He lived during a period of tremendous political crises for Rome, which ultimately led to the death of the Republic and the death of Cicero himself. This paper examines several speeches of Cicero delivered in the law court, with a view to understanding their rhetorical finesse as well as exploring their historical context.
Internal Assessment
40%
Details
Exploration of the violent and corrupt politics of the Late Roman Republic through an examination of Cicero's speeches in the senate and law courts.
A 'new man' in Roman politics, Marcus Tullius Cicero made his name as an advocate in the Roman law courts. His defence speeches on behalf of politicians accused of murder and bribery give us fascinating insights into the violence and corruption of ancient Rome, as well as Cicero's oratorical skill as a lawyer.
| Paper title | Murder and Corruption in Ciceronian Rome |
|---|---|
| Paper code | CLAS337 |
| Subject | Classical Studies |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees (NZD) | $929.55 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- 18 200-level CLAS, GREK or LATN points
- Restriction
- CLAS 437
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music
- Notes
- Students who have not passed the normal prerequisite may be admitted with approval from the Head of Department.
- Contact
- classics@otago.ac.nz
- More information link
- Teaching staff
- Lecturer: Professor Jon Hall
- Paper Structure
- Internal Assessment 40%
- Textbooks
- Cicero Defence Speeches trans. D. H. Berry (Oxford UP, 2008)
Course reader - Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Scholarship, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Research.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this paper will have
- A knowledge of six of Cicero's speeches
- An understanding of the political violence and corruption that lies behind these speeches
- The ability to analyse the persuasive strategies in Cicero's speeches
- The skills of effective written communication
