Professor David Christenson (faculty webpage)
Modern Languages Building 326
christed@arizona.edu
Office Hours: Th 1-2:30, F 10-11:30, or by appointment
Course Description
Roman slavery was a brutal and dehumanizing institution normalized by tradition and enforced by violence. Roman law went so far as to codify the fiction that the enslaved had no parents or ancestry, but lived experience was more complicated. The proximity of slaves and free persons within Roman families and their intimate interactions complicated ideological assertions of “the natural slave”. In this course we begin with an overview of the Roman institution of slavery and the roles of slaves within families. We then focus on how Roman writers in various literary genres appropriate the social and legal categories “free” and “enslaved” to interrogate personal experience. We also examine other types of documentary evidence and the remains of material culture related to Roman slavery throughout the semester.
Course Objectives
Expected Course Outcomes
Required Texts
Christenson, D. 2008. Plautus: Casina, Amphitryon, Captivi, Pseudolus (Focus/Hackett)
Edwards, C. 2009. Suetonius: Lives of the Caesars (Oxford) [available as an electronic resource (with unlimited access) on D2L (“Library Tools”)]
Ruden, S. 2011. Apuleius: The Golden Ass. (Yale) [available as an electronic resource (with unlimited access) on D2L (“Library Tools”)]
Joshel, S. 2010. Slavery in the Roman World (Cambridge)
Widdows, P.F. 1992. The Fables of Phaedrus (Texas) [available as an electronic resource with unlimited access on D2L (“Library Tools”)]
All other required readings are posted as PDFs on D2L under “Content” or available online (see Course Schedule).
Course Requirements
1. Attendance and participation are expected.
2. There will be two (in-class) examinations.
3. Quizzes (i.e., unannounced, on assigned readings, for which you will always have reading/study questions in advance) will be given on a regular basis (ca. 15 total).
4. Three responses (2-3 pages each) are required; a guide to writing responses will be posted on the course website and on D2L under “Assignments”.
5. Two creative projects (a personal response to any course materials in a medium of your choice).
6. There will be a final examination.
N.B.: There will be no make-up quizzes or examinations, or extra-credit assignments; the final examination cannot be taken early; responses must be submitted on the due date (those submitted after the due date may be penalized).
Course Grade
1. 10% = attendance and class participation
2. 30% = two examinations
3. 10% = quizzes (ca. fifteen)
4. 30% = three responses
5. 5% = two creative projects
6. 15% = final examination
Grading Scale:
A = 90-100%
B = 80-89 %
C = 70-79%
D = 60-69%
E = 59% and below
[grades will be posted on the course’s D2L site]
Class Participation
You are expected to prepare and complete all assignments in a timely manner, attend each class, bring the relevant required text(s) to class, and to engage in creative discussion. The rich and provocative works that we are reading demand live analysis and fresh reinterpretation; please do not regard yourselves as passive consumers of them, or as consumers of neatly packaged “information” about them to be dispensed by me in class. Smart literature provokes and compels us to address important issues of human experience, none of which can be reduced to mere information bytes.
Attendance Policy
Behavior Policy
In class, please always be respectful of others and practice common courtesy: turn off phones and other digital devices, do not come to class late or leave early, or view online materials unrelated to the course. Students using any non-course related electronic media during class will be counted as absent.
Threatening Behavior Policy
The UA’s Threatening Behavior by Students Policy prohibits threats of physical harm to any member of the University community, including to oneself:
http://policy.arizona.edu/education-and-student-affairs/threatening-behavior-students.
Content Warning
Our course materials address topics such as sexual assault, slavery, torture, and violence that may pose personal challenges. Please be assured that these issues will always be treated with the utmost sensitivity and professionalism, and that their inclusion in the course is intended to generate productive and valuable discussion of our required texts. Course materials may also sometimes be sexually explicit. Please speak with me in advance to discuss any content related concerns, as alternative materials may be available.
Writing Requirement
This course is writing intensive (writing emphasis) and you are required to write at least 10 pages (on quizzes, exams, and responses). You will be asked to submit a draft of one response, and after receiving feedback, you will submit a final, revised version for grading.
Honors Credit
The course is available for honors credit on an individual, contractual basis. Honors students, in addition to completing the requirements for all enrolled students, usually write a research paper (12-15 pages) on a focused topic requiring extensive reading and synthesis of secondary sources, as negotiated in consultation with me. I will meet individually with Honors students to formulate, outline, develop, and discuss this project.
Accessibility and Accommodations
At the University of Arizona we strive to make learning experiences as accessible as possible. If you anticipate or experience barriers based on disability or pregnancy, please contact Disability Resources (520-621-3268, http://drc.arizona.edu) to establish reasonable accommodations.
Please be aware that the accessible table and chairs in this room should remain available for students who find that standard classroom seating is not usable.
UA Nondiscrimination and Anti-harassment Policy
The University of Arizona is committed to creating and maintaining an environment free of discrimination. In support of this commitment, the University prohibits discrimination, including harassment and retaliation, based on a protected classification, including race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or genetic information. The University encourages those who believe they have been the subject of discrimination to report the matter immediately as described in the section below, “Reporting Discrimination, Harassment, or Retaliation.” All members of the University community are responsible for participating in creating a campus environment free from all forms of prohibited discrimination and for cooperating with University officials who investigate allegations of policy violations. See further: http://policy.arizona.edu/human-resources/nondiscrimination-and-anti-harassment-policy
Life Challenges
If you are experiencing unexpected barriers to your success in your courses, please note that the Dean of Students Office is a central support resource for all students and may be helpful. The Dean of Students Office can be reached at 520-621-2057 or DOS-deanofstudents@email.arizona.edu.
Physical and Mental Health Challenges
If you are facing physical or mental health challenges this semester, please note that Campus Health provides quality medical and mental health care. For medical appointments, call 520-621-9202; for after hours care, call 520-570-7898. For the Counseling & Psych Services (CAPS) 24/7 hotline, call 520-621-3334.
UA Code of Academic Integrity
Each of you must adhere to the University of Arizona’s Code of Academic Integrity: https://deanofstudents.arizona.edu/policies/code-academic-integrity.You are encouraged to share your intellectual views and discuss freely the principles and applications of course materials, but graded work/exercises must be the product of independent effort unless otherwise instructed. The University Libraries offers advice on avoiding plagiarism: http://new.library.arizona.edu/research/citing/plagiarism.
The Classics Major and Minor
The University of Arizona’s interdisciplinary Department of Religious Studies and Classics offers a major (B.A.) and a minor in Classics, with options in Classical Civilization, Greek, or Latin. For more information on the Classics major and minor, see http://classics.arizona.edu. Classics majors have pursued careers in a wide variety of fields, including business, government, law, medicine, education, and social services. Many students have paired the Classics major with majors in a wide range of fields, earning a double major or dual degree. This provides a comprehensive undergraduate education and gives graduates a competitive edge when applying for jobs or graduate studies.
For questions about the Classics major or minors and/or to declare a major/minor, contact the Classics undergraduate faculty advisor, Dr. Robert Stephan, at classics-advising@email.arizona.edu or visit https://classics.arizona.edu/declare. You may also contact the College of Humanities Advising Office for any advising needs: http://advising.humanities.arizona.edu. For information about double majoring, visit this COH site: http://doubleup.humanities.arizona.edu.
The Department also offers a major (B.A.) and a minor in Religious Studies, as well as a minor in New Testament Language and Literature. For more information on these degree options: religion.arizona.edu and religion.arizona.edu/students/new-testament.
*The information contained in this syllabus, other than the grade and absence policies, may be subject to change with reasonable advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.