CLST 272 (AICE) THE ROMAN EMPIRE: ARCHITECTURE AND IDEOLOGY

This summer study abroad course offers students an introduction to ancient Roman architecture in its original cultural context with special emphasis on the most iconic monuments of the Roman empire. Pre-departure lectures and readings provide the background necessary for understanding Roman architecture in its sociopolitical, historical, and cultural contexts. The study abroad experience begins in Paestum, an ancient Greek town in southern Italy, where students will examine the architectural styles that served as models for the Romans. Naples, Pompeii and Herculaneum offer unique opportunities to experience first-hand public and private life in an ancient Roman city, where students learn about urban planning, public and private spaces and their uses, and the formal elements of public and private architecture and decoration. Building on this foundation, the course then moves to Rome and environs, where students will examine how the political and military ambitions of the Roman elite, coupled with innovations in engineering, contributed to the development of the city and its architecture. The course concludes with the Age of Constantine, when Rome begins its cultural transformation from a seat of pagan imperial power to St. Augustine's City of God.