The student will acquire the cultural and methodological assumptions
of the study of Roman history and a solid knowledge of
its entire development (until the 6th century AD). It will also acquire
knowledge connected with the treatment in a monographic sense
of specific themes and problems of Roman history.
of the study of Roman history and a solid knowledge of
its entire development (until the 6th century AD). It will also acquire
knowledge connected with the treatment in a monographic sense
of specific themes and problems of Roman history.
teacher profile teaching materials
Bachelor course in Roman History (72 hours = 6+6 ECTS)
Lecturers: Prof. P. Porena [First Semester].
Premise:
the Roman History course (2 modules 6+6 = 12 ECTS) for the Bachelor’s degree may only be attended by students in the First Semester.
The first module of Roman History (I = 6 ECTS) takes place from the first week of October to the first week of November 2025, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, 1-3 p.m. (Classroom 15) and on Thursdays, 3-5 p.m. (Classroom A), and on the Teams platform. From the second week of November to the end of December 2025 the second module of Roman History (II = 6 ECTS) follows seamlessly in the same classroom and at the same times. You are advised to check whether 6 or 12 ECTS are to be acquired in your Curriculum and Study Plan. Students wishing to follow a course and take a 12 ECTS examination must follow the two 6 ECTS modules in their chronological order in the First Semester. There are two separate written examinations: one for the first module (6 ECTS) and one for the second module (6 ECTS). Examinations from the winter session begin on 12th January and end by 21st February. (see below).
The Roman History I module consists of 18 didactic units that illustrate in chronological order the history of ancient Rome from the origins of the city (8th-5th centuries BC - 3 units), to the construction of the Mediterranean hegemony (4th-1st centuries BC - 10 units), to the stability of the High Empire (1st-2nd centuries AD - 3 units), to the crisis of the system in the late empire (3rd-6th centuries AD - 2 units).
The Roman History II module is composed of 18 teaching units that explore the political, economic, social, and religious history from the establishment of the Mediterranean empire to the end of the stability of the Antonine age (3rd century B.C.-II century A.D. - 10 units), and then of the late Roman Empire (3rd- 6th century A.D. - 8 units).
Description of the First module of the course of ROMAN HISTORY: "Critical paths of Roman History"
It is hardly possible to summarize Roman history, since it extends along a long time frame and involves different and wide geographical and cultural spaces. Moreover Roma egemony has produced a variety of experiences and transformations. The course aims to underline, through the analysis of literary, epigraphic and artistics sources, the original characters of Roman history, in order also to neutralize some chichés and commonplaces about the ancient Rome, which depends on deeply rooted preconceptions. The module provides a critical understanding of the main events of the entire Roman history (8th century BC - 6th century AD), but also of the historical and cultural problems and processes affecting the transformation of Roman society, the evolution of its institutions, the formation the consolidation and deconstruction of its Mediterranean empire created at the crossroads of three continents. The first module focuses mainly on the history of Rome from its origins to the Augustan revolution (8th century B.C.- 1st century A.D.), but with a summary devoted to the Principate and the Late Empire (2nd-5th century A.D.), in order to enable students following only the first 6-CFU module to have a complete overview and understanding of Roman history.
▪ TEXTS for students who attend the course:
- G. GERACI, A. MARCONE, Storia romana, Le Monnier, (nuova edizione) Firenze 2011 (editio minor), then 4th ed. 2016;
- G. GERACI, A. MARCONE, Fonti per la storia romana, Le Monnier, Firenze 2006, then 2nd ed. 2019 ;
- Atlante Storico, De Agostini, Novara 2003 or another edition;
(further suggestions for optional in-depth bibliography will be provided by the teacher at the beginning of the course)
▪ ADDITIONAL TEXTs for students who do not attend the course:
- A. Giardina (a cura di), L’uomo romano, Roma-Bari (Laterza) (1989) 2008.
It is possible to ask for bibliography in English, French and German and take the exam in one of these three languages.
Mutuazione: 20702423-1 STORIA ROMANA I in Lettere L-10 R N0 PORENA PIERFRANCESCO
Programme
Roman History DISCIPLINARY FIELD: L-ANT/03 (Roman History), now STAN-01/B (Roman History)Bachelor course in Roman History (72 hours = 6+6 ECTS)
Lecturers: Prof. P. Porena [First Semester].
Premise:
the Roman History course (2 modules 6+6 = 12 ECTS) for the Bachelor’s degree may only be attended by students in the First Semester.
The first module of Roman History (I = 6 ECTS) takes place from the first week of October to the first week of November 2025, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, 1-3 p.m. (Classroom 15) and on Thursdays, 3-5 p.m. (Classroom A), and on the Teams platform. From the second week of November to the end of December 2025 the second module of Roman History (II = 6 ECTS) follows seamlessly in the same classroom and at the same times. You are advised to check whether 6 or 12 ECTS are to be acquired in your Curriculum and Study Plan. Students wishing to follow a course and take a 12 ECTS examination must follow the two 6 ECTS modules in their chronological order in the First Semester. There are two separate written examinations: one for the first module (6 ECTS) and one for the second module (6 ECTS). Examinations from the winter session begin on 12th January and end by 21st February. (see below).
The Roman History I module consists of 18 didactic units that illustrate in chronological order the history of ancient Rome from the origins of the city (8th-5th centuries BC - 3 units), to the construction of the Mediterranean hegemony (4th-1st centuries BC - 10 units), to the stability of the High Empire (1st-2nd centuries AD - 3 units), to the crisis of the system in the late empire (3rd-6th centuries AD - 2 units).
The Roman History II module is composed of 18 teaching units that explore the political, economic, social, and religious history from the establishment of the Mediterranean empire to the end of the stability of the Antonine age (3rd century B.C.-II century A.D. - 10 units), and then of the late Roman Empire (3rd- 6th century A.D. - 8 units).
Description of the First module of the course of ROMAN HISTORY: "Critical paths of Roman History"
It is hardly possible to summarize Roman history, since it extends along a long time frame and involves different and wide geographical and cultural spaces. Moreover Roma egemony has produced a variety of experiences and transformations. The course aims to underline, through the analysis of literary, epigraphic and artistics sources, the original characters of Roman history, in order also to neutralize some chichés and commonplaces about the ancient Rome, which depends on deeply rooted preconceptions. The module provides a critical understanding of the main events of the entire Roman history (8th century BC - 6th century AD), but also of the historical and cultural problems and processes affecting the transformation of Roman society, the evolution of its institutions, the formation the consolidation and deconstruction of its Mediterranean empire created at the crossroads of three continents. The first module focuses mainly on the history of Rome from its origins to the Augustan revolution (8th century B.C.- 1st century A.D.), but with a summary devoted to the Principate and the Late Empire (2nd-5th century A.D.), in order to enable students following only the first 6-CFU module to have a complete overview and understanding of Roman history.
Core Documentation
▪ Teaching materials (PDF) prepared by the professor and available on the Team online platform of the Roman History I course. It is not possible to insert and register students in the distance learning Teams platforms if they do not have the @stud.uniroma3.it domain. The teaching materials will always be available in the Team and the examination schedule and materials will not expire, even in subsequent academic years.▪ TEXTS for students who attend the course:
- G. GERACI, A. MARCONE, Storia romana, Le Monnier, (nuova edizione) Firenze 2011 (editio minor), then 4th ed. 2016;
- G. GERACI, A. MARCONE, Fonti per la storia romana, Le Monnier, Firenze 2006, then 2nd ed. 2019 ;
- Atlante Storico, De Agostini, Novara 2003 or another edition;
(further suggestions for optional in-depth bibliography will be provided by the teacher at the beginning of the course)
▪ ADDITIONAL TEXTs for students who do not attend the course:
- A. Giardina (a cura di), L’uomo romano, Roma-Bari (Laterza) (1989) 2008.
It is possible to ask for bibliography in English, French and German and take the exam in one of these three languages.
Attendance
Attendance is not compulsory, but it is advisable to attend at least half of the lessons. In the case of overlaps with other lessons, it is advisable to share notes with other students attending.Type of evaluation
Learning is tested by means of a written examination, which is held in a classroom in the Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici (via Ostiense, 234 - Rome). The calendar of examinations and the exam room will be indicated in the GOMP, on the websites of Roma Tre Univ., in the Team (of Storia Romana), on the teacher's notice board in the DSU Area Mondo Antico. Students must always book their examination through the GOMP digital platform. It is possible to take the examination of the first module (Roman History I) in one call and the examination of the second module (Roman History II) in the same call or in the following call or in a later session (the latter solution is not recommended). For each individual examination (first or second module) to be taken on different dates, it is necessary to book on the GOMP each time (otherwise the 6 or 12 CFUs of the course cannot be recorded). There are no pre-appeals or in-progress tests. The written examination of Roman History I consists of three parts: 1) twenty closed questions on chronology; 2) three texts to be completed on three episodes of Roman history; 3) five open-ended questions on eventual, institutional, political and social history (for non-attending students this third part includes questions on texts from their specific programme). The written examination may be written in Italian or in a language of your choice from English, French, German or Spanish. In parts 1 and 2 of the written examination the teacher asks the candidate questions to assess his knowledge of the main events in Roman history, his ability to place them chronologically and to periodise Roman history. In part 3 of the written examination, the teacher assesses: (a) the candidate's ability to move through the evolution of the society, economy, culture, and administrative, civil, and military structures of the Romans; (b) the candidate's knowledge concerning the most important personalities, institutions, ideology, and key concepts of the political, cultural, and religious thought of Hellenistic-Roman society; c) the teacher assesses the candidate's ability to navigate through the most relevant themes of Roman history and to link historical processes to ancient sources (literary, epigraphical, papyrological, normative); d) the teacher also assesses the candidate's expressive competence and the use of appropriate historical language. In order to take the written examination, the student must be in front of the classroom at roll-call time: congregations in the corridors and in the classroom must be avoided. The student must bring one or more protocol sheets and a pen, which he/she may not exchange with other students. After receiving the outline of the assignment, he/she will complete it within a maximum of two hours, hand the paper to the teacher, leaving the sheets of paper on which he/she has written his/her name and surname on the desk, and immediately leave the classroom without stopping in the corridors. The results of the written test (from 0 to 30/30) are communicated to the individual examinee by a single institutional e-mail within 72 hours. In the case of silence-consent, the grade is recorded electronically within seven days from the date of notification of the grade. Students with 'DSA', 'BES', differently abled, etc. are requested to contact Prof. Antonella Ballardini Referent of the Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici for disabilities and DSA (tel. 06.57338473; email: antonella.ballardini@uniroma3.it) to forward the medical certification, and then the teacher (pierfrancesco.porena@uniroma3.it) to fix the arrangements for the written or oral examination. Assessment criteria and grading: exhaustive knowledge of evenemmental history, the level of critical elaboration of the contents and themes dealt with in the course and set out in the study texts, awareness of the dynamics of historical processes and their concise and punctual illustration, exposition in appropriate language, reference to the sources of Roman history contribute to grading the mark from insufficient (<18/30) to excellent (30/30) or top-ranking (30/30 cum laude).