CLU44561: Roman Republican Debates: freedom, power, and popular rule
What is Roman Republicanism? Is it a set of values (liberty and the rule of law), a package of institutions (magistrates, senate, and assemblies), a canon of virtues (honour and service to the state), or a narrative (how political freedom is created and breaks down)? Since antiquity, interpreters have been using the Roman Republic to debate what it means to be truly free, the role of the people in decision-making, what ethical and responsible leadership looks like, the limits of free speech, and whether humans can reach their full potential only in political societies.
In this module we will grapple with these Roman Republican debates by reading the key texts of Cicero and Livy, and tracing the reception of this body of thought in the writings of political philosophers and statesmen, such as Machiavelli and the American Founding Fathers.
- Module Organiser:
- Dr Hannah Mitchell
- Duration:
- Semester 1
- Contact Hours:
- 22 (one 2hr seminar per week)
- Weighting:
- 10 ECTS
- Assessment:
- 50% coursework, 50% exam
- Course Open To:
- Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology; JH Classical Civilisation; JH Ancient History and Archaeology; JH Classical Languages.
Learning Outcomes
On successful conclusion of this module, students should be able to:
- Critically evaluate the theories and practices of Roman Republicanism.
- Critique modern historical and contemporary conceptions of Republicanism against their ancient antecedents.
- Analyse the key primary texts in their historical contexts.
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of the major theoretical approaches, debates, and scholarship relevant to the module topics.
- Discuss the above critically and independently, and express themselves both orally and in written form in a clear and scholarly manner.
- Work collaboratively and effectively in small groups.