This single exam covers both Greek and Roman history for students in Classical Studies and the Interdepartmental Program in Classical Art and Archaeology (IPCAA).
The exam takes 4 hours and could be taken over two days or all at once. Students will be required to answer two of the shared topics and one of the topics in Greek History and one in Roman History (4 essays x 45 minutes = 3 hours). There will also be a section of the exam devoted to identifications. (2 sets of IDs = 2 x 30 minutes = 1 hour).
The exam will be given once per year in September with a possible re-take in May after classes are over. (The May date can also be used by IPCAA students wishing to take the exam for the first time). Philology students will be expected to take the exam in September of their second year.
At the beginning of each summer, the faculty member in charge of setting the exam will announce the bibliography for all of the essay topics, so that the students will have the summer to prepare for a fall exam. Updates to the bibliography will thus be possible (but not required) each year. Arrangements will be made to assure that the items on the bibliography are as accessible as possible over the summer.
This is a serious exam that requires a substantial amount of reading and studying. Students should prepare for the exam over the course of many months in order to gain the maximum benefit. Remember, the goal is not simply to pass the exam, but to gain a broad and deep understanding of Greek and Roman history and the approaches currently being used to interpret it.
IDENTIFICATIONS
Students will be required to identify thirty out of forty provided historical terms. The terms for identification will be equally divided between “Greek” and “Roman” terms. Students should identify 15 “Greek” terms and 15 “Roman” terms. (Time allocation: 1 hour).
In some cases, terms may have more than one possible referent. In such cases, students should identify the most significant referent. When in doubt, identify all possible referents. It is difficult to generalize about the content of a good answer to an identification question, since the terms vary in nature (e.g., people, places, battles, concepts, political institutions, laws). Most answers will, however, indicate the date(s), geographical location, and historical significance of the term. Usually 4-5 sentences will suffice.
A list of terms for identification is appended to the end of this document. Terms for identification will be drawn from this list. In order to prepare for the identifications, students should read a good narrative overview of Greek and Roman history, for example I. Morris and B. Powell The Greeks and D. Potter Ancient Rome: A New History.
See links at bottom of page for Greek and Roman History IDs.
Click here for a PDF of Greek History IDs
Click here for a PDF of Roman History IDs
TOPICS
Below is a list of topics with suggested bibliography. The list aims to avoid being overly long or too specialized while at the same time providing a good overview of each topic.
Click here for a PDF of the History Reading List
