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2010/11 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

CLAS3920 Living the Religious Experience at Rome

20 creditsClass Size: 70

Module manager: Dr Steven Green
Email: S.J.Green@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2010/11

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module offers the student the opportunity to investigate - or rather 'personally experience' - Roman religion at a key point in its development. During the first century B.C., leading intellectuals were voicing a wide-ranging debate about their nation's religious tradition, which encompassed both philosophy and mythology. The reason for such a debate is not simply related to the polytheistic nature of Roman religion: in stark contrast to many other religions (e.g. Islam and the Koran), the Romans did not have any underlying, authoritative religious text to which to refer; it was, therefore, up to the individual to reach his/ her own conclusions concerning Roman religious tradition, amidst the maze of variant interpretations which had been generated over the years. Students will work on different projects (100% coursework) which will enable them to appreciate what religious actions Romans performed, and what the Romans actually understood by the actions they were performing.For further information, visit us at the Electives Fair or contact the Department of Classics, situated on the first floor of the Parkinson Building, south end (email: classics@leeds.ac.uk; website: www.leeds.ac.uk/classics/; telephone: 0113 343 3537).

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to:
- discuss, both orally and in writing, the development of Roman religion in the first century B.C. and A.D., taking into account the philosophical, mythological and political perspectives;
- select evidence for, and explore, the Romans' debate on the nature of their own religion with regard to the origins of festivals; the nature of the gods; key religious practices (e.g. live sacrifice); the relationship between state religion and the Emperor;
- select evidence appropriate to a chosen ancient character and empathise with this character to produce a credible personal account of a religious experience.

Skills outcomes
On successful completion of this module, students are expected to be able to:
- demonstrate a range of subject-specific skills, including an ability to analyse critically various forms of media (especially different genres of literature and iconography on architecture) and relate them to each other where appropriate;
- demonstrate a range of transferable skills, including written expression, the organisation of personal study, advanced IT skills and team-work.


Syllabus

This module offers the student the opportunity to investigate - or rather 'personally experience' - Roman religion at a key point in its development. During the first century B.C., leading intellectuals were voicing a wide-ranging debate about their nation's religious tradition, which encompassed both philosophy and mythology. The reason for such a debate is not simply related to the polytheistic nature of Roman religion: in stark contrast to many other religions (e.g. Islam and the Koran), the Romans did not have any underlying, authoritative religious text to which to refer; it was, therefore, up to the individual to reach his/ her own conclusions concerning Roman religious tradition, amidst the maze of variant interpretations which had been generated over the years.

The lectures for this module will seek both to build up knowledge of changing Roman religious practice in the first century B.C. and to establish a conceptual framework in which to understand how Roman 'felt' and 'thought' about their own religion.

As a key part of the formal assessment, students, working in groups, will be invited to take on the persona of a contemporary Roman participant at a Roman festival and compose a detailed, well-documented and visually-illustrated personal account of the event in the form of a website.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Lecture161.0016.00
Seminar41.004.00
Private study hours180.00
Total Contact hours20.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)200.00

Private study

4 hours reading per lecture = 4 x 16 = 64 hours
6 hours reading per seminar = 6 x 4 = 24 hours
(Group) wiki assignment (50%) = 30 hours
(Individual) exam preparation (50%) = 62 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student progress will be monitored:
- at an informal level, through lectures and seminar contributions;
- at a formal level, through the summatively-assessed group wiki assignment.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
AssignmentGroup Wiki Assignment 2,500-3,000 words50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated


Exams
Exam typeExam duration% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)2 hr 50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 04/05/2011

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