An historical perspective on contemporary society is a cornerstone of a liberal education. This historical perspective must include familiarity with our society's origins and antecedents, an appreciation of the variety of historical experiences worldwide, and especially a comprehension of the background to key problems confronting humanity today.
For the student with a major interest in history, the department's program provides a strong grounding in the discipline of historical method, a familiarity with diverse epochs and national histories, and an introduction to the experience of original research.
Rome grew from a third-rate market town on the Tiber River to the center of a Mediterranean-spanning empire. How did this happen? And why should we care? This class seeks to answer these questions and others as we examine the political history of the ancient city, its institutions, and cultural achievements.
An examination of the ancient Mediterranean from prehistory to ~500CE.
