History 393-03: Rome, the Barbarians, and the End of Civilization
Spring, 2011
TR, 12:45-2:00
Beracha Hall 116
Dr. David Parnell, Department of History
Office: Adorjan Hall 111
Office Hours: TR, 10:00-11:00 and 2:00-3:00, or by appointment
Contact: parnelld@slu.edu, 977-3493
Course Description: In the fourth and fifth centuries, the Western Roman Empire experienced
an invasion of Germanic barbarians that destroyed the empire and its advanced civilization. Or,
as some would suggest, in the fourth and fifth centuries, the Western Roman Empire negotiated
with Germanic peoples and its civilization transformed into something new, pushing Europe
toward the Middle Ages. Which of these two interpretations is closer to the truth? This course
will examine the context of these events, a period of time known as Late Antiquity (roughly 284650 AD), and will particularly analyze whether the world created by the Romans transformed or
was destroyed.
Course Objectives: Students in this course will learn the context of the fall of the Western
Roman Empire and how historians have interpreted this event. In the process, students will gain
experience with advanced critical analysis of both primary and secondary sources and will
formulate serious analytical arguments using historical writing skills.
Course Format: This course will consist of classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which will
mostly be lectures. Thursday classes will also usually contain a discussion of a primary source,
particularly around the time that the students are reading more substantial books for the course.
The lectures will provide the narrative necessary to tell the story of the collapse (or
transformation) of Roman civilization, and the discussions will provide time to analyze primary
sources and prepare for upcoming papers or examinations.
Required Texts:
The World of Late Antiquity, AD 150-750 (Norton and Company) – Peter Brown
The Fall of Rome and the End of Civilization (Oxford Press) – Bryan Ward-Perkins
Agricola and the Germania (Penguin Classics) – Tacitus
The Later Roman Empire: AD 354-378 (Penguin Classics) – Ammianus Marcellinus
History of the Wars, Books III and IV: The Vandalic War (Dodo Press) – Procopius
Grading:
The grade scale for the course will look like this: A=100-94, A-=93-90, B+=89-87, B=86-84, B=83-80, C+=79-77, C=76-74, C-=73-70, D=69-60, F=59-0.
Short paper: 15%
Research paper: 30%
Midterm examination: 20%
Final examination: 25%
Class participation: 10%
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Short paper: One short paper of about five pages will be assigned, due before the midterm. This
paper will be an analysis of a primary source. The paper will be graded for style, grammar and
content. Late papers will be docked one letter grade per day they are late, unless prior
arrangements have been made or documents are provided to prove a medical emergency or death
in the family.
Research Paper: One substantial research paper of 12-15 pages will be assigned, due near the
end of the course. The topic for this paper will be provided substantially in advance so that
students may begin early. The paper will be graded for style, grammar and content. Late papers
will be docked one letter grade per day they are late, unless prior arrangements have been made
or documents are provided to prove a medical emergency or death in the family.
Midterm: A midterm examination will take place on March 10th. The midterm may include
multiple choice, short answer questions, maps, and/or essays. Make-up exams are not permitted,
unless documents are provided to prove a medical emergency or death in the family.
Final: The final examination will take place on May 12th at noon. The final will concentrate on
the last part of the semester but will include at least one question covering the entire course. It
will consist of short answer questions and essays. A study guide will be provided.
Class Participation: As interaction is crucial to learning, students are highly encouraged to
participate in class by asking questions and joining in on discussion when appropriate.
Attendance is a basic prerequisite for such participation, so 5% of the student’s grade will be
based on attendance. After three unexcused absences, the attendance portion of the student’s
grade will drop by one letter grade. Another 5% of the student’s grade will be based on his or
her level of participation in classroom discussions.
Academic Honesty: The instructor strictly enforces the college’s policy on academic honesty. It
states, "Students are expected to be honest in their academic work. The University reserves the
right to penalize any student whose academic conduct is, in its judgment, detrimental to the
University. Such conduct shall include cases of plagiarism, collusion, cheating, giving or
receiving or offering or soliciting information on examinations, or the use of previously prepared
material in examinations or quizzes. Violations should be reported to your course instructor,
who will investigate and adjudicate them according the Policy on Academic Honesty of the
College of Arts and Sciences. If the charges are found to be true, the student may be liable for
academic or disciplinary probation, suspension, or expulsion from the University." Promoting
Academic Honesty (College of Arts and Sciences Handbook, Saint Louis University)
All students will turn in their papers to turnitin.com. Plagiarism, which is the representation of
another person’s work as your own, will not be tolerated. Plagiarism on a paper or examination
will result in a score of zero!
ADA Statement: “Saint Louis University opens its programs and educational services to all
qualified candidates without regard to their disability. All programs and services provided for
students are done in a manner that does not discriminate based on disability. Inaccessible
programs will be made accessible either directly or through relocation. Individuals requiring
accommodations for student programs should contact the Director of Student Life.” (College of
Arts and Sciences Handbook, Saint Louis University).
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I reserve the right to adjust the syllabus, particularly the lecture dates/topics, as I deem
necessary.
Schedule of Classes and Readings:
Week 1: January 18, 20 Course Introduction: What is the “Fall of Rome?”
Reading: Peter Brown, The World of Late Antiquity, 7-9
Bryan Ward-Perkins, The Fall of Rome, 1-10
Week 2: January 25, 27 The Early Roman Empire
Reading: Tacitus, Germania, xiv-xliv, 35-57
Peter Brown, The World of Late Antiquity, 11-21
Week 3: February 1, 3 The Roman Empire’s Third Century Crisis and Recovery
Reading: Peter Brown, The World of Late Antiquity, 22-33
Warren Treadgold, The Byzantine State and Society (handout)
A.H.M. Jones, The Later Roman Empire (handout)
Week 4: February 8, 10 The Early Barbarians
Reading: Ammianus Marcellinus, The Later Roman Empire, 13-35, 80-147
February 10: Short Paper Due
Week 5: February 15, 17 The Barbarian Invasions
Reading: Bryan Ward-Perkins, The Fall of Rome, 13-31
Ammianus Marcellinus, The Later Roman Empire, 382-443
Procopius, Vandalic War, 1-18
Week 6: February 22, 24 The Eastern Roman Response
Reading: Procopius, Vandalic War, 19-27
Warren Treadgold, The Byzantine State and Society (handout)
Week 7: March 1, 3 The Western Roman Response
Reading: Bryan Ward-Perkins, The Fall of Rome, 32-62
Peter Heather, The Fall of the Roman Empire (handout)
Week 8: March 8, 10 The Last Years of the Western Roman Empire
March 10: Midterm Exam
Week 9: March 15, 17 SPRING BREAK!
Week 10: March 22, 24 Post 476: The New Western World
Reading: Gregory of Tours, A History of the Franks (website)
Week 11: March 29, 31 What did the fall of the WRE mean? “Late Antiquity”
Reading: Peter Brown, The World of Late Antiquity, 34-187
Week 12: April 5, 7 What did the fall of the WRE mean? “The Catastrophe Approach”
Reading: Bryan Ward-Perkins, The Fall of Rome, 63-183
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Week 13: April 12, 14 Roman Survivals: The Byzantines
Reading: Procopius, Vandalic War, 28-131
Week 14: April 19 (NO CLASS ON APRIL 21) Roman Survivals: The Byzantines, part 2
Reading: Procopius, Vandalic War, 132-175
Week 15: April 26, 28 Roman Survivals: The Arabs
Reading: Peter Brown, The World of Late Antiquity, 189-203
April 28: Research Paper Due
Week 16: May 3, 5 Course Review: A composite history of the Fall of Rome
Reading: Peter Heather, The Fall of the Roman Empire (handout)
A.H.M. Jones, The Later Roman Empire (handout)
Week 17: May 12 @ 12:00 Final Exam
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