Roman Republican Politics

Catalog description

The Romans referred to their political community by the Latin term res publica (“public matter”). But what did that mean, in theory and in practice? In what ways was Roman politics “public”? Who was involved and how? This course explores the political culture of the Roman res publica from the 5th to 1st centuries BCE. We’ll examine not only the institutions that shaped participation in political life, such as magistracies and legislative assemblies, but also the shared values, spaces, rituals, and discourse underpinning the res publica. We’ll tackle the long-standing question of whether the Roman republic was a democracy or an oligarchy, while also thinking more broadly about structural inequities in the Roman political system for different social groups. Finally, we’ll consider the long legacy of the Roman res publica from antiquity to the present, investigating how later political thinkers and actors have engaged with Roman republican political culture. Many readings will be drawn from primary texts, including the works of Polybius, Cicero, and Livy, and we will likewise study the rich body of material evidence from ancient Rome, such as architecture, sculpture, coins, and inscriptions. Over the course of the term, increasing attention will also be focused on secondary sources, as we analyze later scholars’ and politicians’ interpretations of the ancient evidence. Satisfies Classical Studies major and minor requirement. Satisfies Classical Languages and Literature major requirement. Satisfies a History major and minor requirement.