CLAS3342 · Classical Studies
Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences
In the last two decades, the study of the Augustan historian Livy has undergone a renaissance. Once scorned as a dull compiler and apologist for the Augustan regime, Livy is now recognized not only as a masterful stylist but also as a subtle and challenging thinker. In this class, we will focus on his history of early Rome, reading portions of books 1 and 5 in Latin, and other selections from the first pentad in English. Major themes will include women, religion, and political power in the <i>Ab Urbe Condita,</i> the relationship between Livy’s work and the Augustan principate, Livy’s methods as a historian, and the larger, related problems of the character of ancient historiography and our knowledge of early Roman history generally.
Course experience
Averages use the original five-point historical evaluation scale.
Organization
4.9 / 5
How well the course was organized
Challenge
4.9 / 5
How intellectually challenging students found it
Attendance
4.8 / 5
How necessary attendance was
Assignments
4.8 / 5
How helpful assignments were
Weekly effort
~7
hours per week
Estimated from the original workload response buckets. Individual sections may differ.
Instructor options
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Across time
Section-level results available in the recovered archive.
Spring 2025
1 sectionSpring 2023
1 section