HIST 104B: The Later Roman Empire, 193 A.D.-378 A.D.

Richard Talbert

The aim of the course is to consider the nature and development of the Roman empire during the third and fourth centuries A.D., with special reference to social, administrative and economic change. The course opens with a survey of the Roman world under the Severan emperors, and the significance of their impact upon it. The nature of the third-century crises is analysed next, with some evaluation of the efforts made by successive emperors to surmount them, in particular Gallienus and Diocletian. Among fourth-century rulers, marked attention is paid to the crucial reigns of Constantine, Constantius, Julian and Valentinian. One major development of the period which receives close examination is the emergence of Christianity from a position of persecuted sect to that of officially recognized religion despite an attempted pagan revival on the part of Julian. The growing complexity of the state's relationship with the church is traced principally through documents relating to Donatism in North Africa. Among other important trends discussed are major changes in taxation and in the army, as well as the growth of compulsory direction of labour, both in agriculture and elsewhere. The course ends with an overall assessment of the factors serving alternately to divide and unify the empire in a formative era when it was subject to intense pressures. Throughout, stress is laid upon use of source material (all in translation), most notably legal texts and the greatest historian of the period, Ammianus Marcellinus. While plenty of guidance will be given, students are expected to read widely for themselves among ancient and modern authors, as well as to take an informed part in class discussion. They must be willing to present their own findings to the class, and to respond to those of others. Great significance is attached to students' contributions.