LFU:online

Methods of analyzing sources; overview over a special epoch of the history of the Roman Empire

The time of the Roman dynasty of the Severans provides various interesting aspects to discuss. The emperors waged war against Rome's great opponent in the East, the Parthian Empire. This influenced the way of their political self-fashioning. Two of the Severans, Caracalla and Elagabalus, were styled by the ancient literary sources as horrible tyrants. The reasons for this negativ view have to be discussed. Concerning religious history, the descent from a Syrian dynasty of priests in Emesa is of relevance. In the context of the seminar, different aspects of the political, social, cultural and religious history of the Severans will be discussed.

Introduction into the historical context; papers presented by the students; discussions; essays

Participation in the discussion; papers and essays

Handy, M., Die Severer und das Heer, Berlin 2009

For students of the Bachelor's Programme History equivalent for Seminar with Bachelor's Thesis Ancient History (mandatory module 1). Prerequisites for BA 603: positive completion of compulsory modules 1,2, 3 and 9