CLST 19 Spring 2010

In CLST 19, we will take a broad view of the career of Julius Caesar and think about how to evaluate a historical figure. Topics include Caesar's campaigns in Gaul and the civil wars, Caesar's building program in Rome, Caesar's legislation, Caesar's religious policies,Caesar's colonization, Caesar's women, especially his relationship with Cleopatra. The questions will allow us to examine how literary texts, inscriptions, coins, architecture, and art contribute to the study of history.

The big question: Did Caesar define his era or was he defined by it. From the literary texts, we will read his views (Bellum Gallicum, Bellum Civile) and the views of contemporaries (Cicero) or near contemporaries of Caesar (Lucan, Suetonius), to watch the growth of his reputation/hagiography. Finally, we will read one or two (I think) modern biographies of Caesar and consider how modern historians evaluate historical figures.

Course work will consist of the preparation of a major research paper and the steps that go into creating that paper: an annotated bibliography, a critical review of a preliminary article on the assigned topic (drawn from the syllabus), a first draft that will be subject to peer review, and finally a paper. Students will incorporate the material from their papers into a digital (museum) exhibit that may end up on display in the Hood museum.