ROMAN ROADS, ITINERARIES AND LAND TRAVEL

An undergraduate research seminar in geographic history

History 99.1, Spring 2004

Image of a Vicarello Cup recording an itinerary from Gades (mod. Cadiz) to Rome, possibly dating to the early years of the Roman Empire. Image: J.M. Roldan Hervas, Itineraria Hispana, Madrid, 1975, Pl. XVIII.

Instructor:

Dr. Tom Elliott, Director, Ancient World Mapping Center

Office: 5011 Davis Library

(tel. 962-0502; tom_elliott@unc.edu)

Office hours:

Mondays (4:00 - 5:00 p.m., Davis 5011), Wednesdays (10:00 - 11:00 a.m., Caribou Coffee on W. Franklin St.) and by appointment.

Class schedule:

All sessions meet in 222 Murphey Hall

Lecture/Discussion: Tuesdays, 3:30 - 4:45 p.m.

Lab: Thursdays, 3:30 - 4:45 p.m.

Final Exam: Thursday, 29 April, 4:00 p.m.

Goals:

  1. to acquire an in-depth understanding of the political, economic, military, social and ideological functions of roads and written itineraries in the Roman empire;
  2. to develop skills and experience in collaborative research, historical inquiry and geographic analysis (including applied Geographic Information Systems); and
  3. to jointly develop and publish a fully-documented geographic dataset to facilitate future research on these topics.

Organization and assignments

Schedule of lectures and readings

Assignment details (will be added here)

Requirements and grading

Note: the provisions of the UNC-CH Honor System apply to all aspects of this course and will be strictly enforced.

  1. Individual work: appropriate preparation for, and active participation in, all class sessions to include completion of assigned readings, submission of reading outlines (as required), courteous and thoughtful participation in discussion, execution of laboratory assignments, and composition of 5-minute "flash papers" at the beginning or end of a session. Students will also take turns serving as the class note-taker. [ see note on absences and disabilities ]
  2. Pairs work: students will complete a series of three related assignments working in pairs assigned by the instructor: preparation of a bibliography on a special study topic, followed by a 10-minute verbal presentation to the class and a written report, both on the topic selected for the bibliography. Possible topics, assignment schedule and pair selection will occur during lab on Thursday, 29 January. Each student will submit two short, anonymous evaluation forms addressing performance and cooperation on this project: one for their partner and one for themselves (these forms will be kept confidential, and used only by the instructor).
  3. Group work: students will work collaboratively during lab sessions and outside of class on a project that they will design together with their instructor. The goal is to take one of the existing written road itineraries of the Roman period and turn it into a reliable, documented geographic dataset that can be shared with other researchers and compared with other data. Students will participate actively in all aspects of the design and execution of this project, and will receive joint authorial credit on the result. Individual, pair and group assignments may be made as the needs of the project dictate.
  4. Final exam: students will complete a final, written exam consisting of a single interpretative essay addressing the overall topic of the course. The requirements for the essay will be discussed in advance.
  5. Computers: all students are required to bring their CCI-compliant laptop computer to class on lab days. Students are encouraged to bring these computers on lecture days as well, and to use them then for note-taking.
  6. Individual grades will be computed on the following basis: individual work (35%), pairs work (20%), group work (20%), final (20%).

Note on absences and disabilities: Absences from class, not approved in advance by your instructor, will lower your final grade. Timely requests for absences must be made in accordance with the procedures of your college or program, and must be accompanied by appropriate documentation. Learning or physical disabilities that affect your course work will be addressed, but they must first be confirmed in advance by the Learning Disabilities Services Office or the Department of Disability Services as appropriate. The staff of these organizations will specify the appropriate accommodation in accordance with university policy. Accommodations will not be made for already past assignments if these procedures were not followed in advance.