CLAS109 Roman Social History: Slaves, Gladiators, Prostitutes

A study of ancient Roman social life, with particular emphasis on the marginalised (or so-called ’invisible’) lower classes, including slaves, gladiators, prostitutes and bandits.

The vast and enduring empire of Rome was built upon the backs of men and women whose names never made it into the history books. This paper studies the lives of the marginalised (or so-called 'invisible') lower classes in ancient Rome, including slaves, gladiators, prostitutes and bandits. In doing so, it reveals a society that was often brutal and violent and based upon values very different from our own.

Paper title	Roman Social History: Slaves, Gladiators, Prostitutes
Paper code	CLAS109
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.

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Restriction

CLAS 224

Schedule C

Arts and Music

Contact

classics@otago.ac.nz

More information link

View more information on the Classics Programme website

Teaching staff

Lecturer: Professor Jon Hall

Paper Structure

Internal Assessment 50%

Textbooks

R. Knapp Invisible Romans (Harvard UP, 2011)

Course Reader: Greek and Roman Primary Sources

Graduate Attributes Emphasised

Communication, Critical thinking, Research.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.

Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this paper will have

• An understanding of ancient Roman society with particular reference to the lower classes including slaves and gladiators
• The ability to analyse critically the historical sources available on Roman society
• An appreciation of the ethical implications of Roman social attitudes and values and how they differ from those of modern New Zealand
• The skills of effective written communication

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