Colossal head of Constantine, Capitoline Museum, Rome
The Emperor Constantine I (306-337) came to be understood as the founder of a new entity, a Roman Empire which was both Christian and Eastern. The different requirements of succeeding generations ensured that a variety of interpretations developed, and have continued to evolve until the modern day.
The aim of this course is to look firstly at the contemporary interpretations, and the relevant evidence, and then at later understanding of Constantine. Students will be expected to write short essays, and to give presentations.
Assessment will be
I (50%) by two essays (3,000 words): see coursework guidelines
Essay I, due in on 30 January
In what ways does the history of the tetrarchy influence the contemporary historians who wrote about Constantine?
or
What models were available to Constatnine's historians, and how did they use them?
Essay 2, due in on 30 April
To what extent can we determine the characteristics of a historical Constantine?
or
How has the story of Constantine been used in later centuries? Discuss with reference to two examples, drawn from different periods..
II An unseen examination in May; students will be expected to write a close commentary on selections (gobbets) taken from:
Eusebius, Life of Constantine, translation and commentary by Averil Cameron and Stuart Hall (Oxford 1999): NPNF tranlation online
Lactantius, On the Deaths of the Persecutors: ed. and trans. J. L. Creed (Oxford, 1984); ANF translation online
Zosimus, New History (the pagan viewpoint) trans. R. Ridley, (Melbourne, 1982): 1814 translation online
Optatus, Against the donatists. Trans. and ed. Mark Edwards, TTH 27 ( Liverpool University Press, 1997): 1917 translation online
See the timetable and pages for Z306
Week 1
Week 2
What is a panegyric? Read at least one of the texts
What is rhetoric?
Week 3
Read
Optatus, Against the donatists. Trans. and ed. Mark Edwards, TTH 27 ( Liverpool University Press, 1997)
1917 translation online
Week 4
Look carefully at at least one of the monuments attributed to Constantine in Rome
Week 5
The legislation
Week 6
Read Zosimus, Book 2
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
New Constantines: mediaeval
Week 10
New Constantines: modern
Page last modified October 8, 2009