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Appendix F
Common Comprehensive Exam in Greek and Roman History (= Qualifying Examination for students in the Ancient History Emphasis)
Form: half Greek, half Roman
- 1 hour 12 short identifications: 6/10 Greek, 6/10 Roman
- 1 hour (2/4 essays) on Greek history
- 1 hour (2/4 essays) on Roman history
Syllabus:
All books listed are available in the Library, either in the stacks or in the Reserve Room. Additional copies are available in the department.
The examiner (a) will choose all identification questions from the items listed under each topic and (b) specify the essay topics as given below.
Directions:
- For each identification, write a brief paragraph specifying the who, what, when, where, and why of the identification, including its broader historical significance. The purpose of the identifications is to help you gain narrative control over the main events of Greek history. Please note that preparing for the identifications is the best way to solidify your overview of the period for the essays.
- For the four required topics on the exam, write a brief essay (one-half hour) for each. Students are strongly encouraged to consult, become conversant with, and refer to primary sources that bear on each discussion.
GREEK HISTORY
Required Book:
- Ian Morris and Barry B. Powell, The Greeks: History, Culture, and Society (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2006).
The following source books (available in the department) contain translations of primary sources:
1. Michael Crawford and Davis Whitehead, Archaic and Classical Greece: A Selection of Ancient Sources in Translation (Cambridge: Cambridge University, 1983).
2. M. M. Austin, The Hellenistic World From Alexander to the Roman Conquest: A Selection of Ancient Sources in Translation (Cambridge: Cambridge University, 1983).
Topics:
1. Prehistoric, “Dark Age,” and Homeric Greece
Readings: Morris and Powell, chaps. 4-7 (pp. 42-147)
Identifications:
- House of Tiles
- Cycladic figures
- Knossos
- Minos
- Ugarit
- Crete
- Second Palace Period
- Linear A & Linear B
- Thalassocracy
- Akrotiri
- Mycenae
- Grave Circle A and B
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- Tholos tomb
- Megaron
- Euboea
- Dardanus
- Mythos
- Eleusinian Mysteries
- Miasma
- Mt. Helicon
- Chthonic cult
- Orphism
- Cronus
- Heinrich Schliemann
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2. Formation of City-States in Archaic Greece; Athens & Sparta
Readings: Morris and Powell, chaps. 8-10 (pp. 148-220)
Identifications:
- poleis
- colonization
- Pithekoussai
- Hoplites
- Olympic Festival
- Ostracism
- Delphic Oracle
- Hekatompeda
- Pythagoras
- Naucratis
- Messenian War(s)
- Theseus
- Demos
- Archonship
- Council of the Areopagus
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- Lycurgus
- Draco
- Solon
- Pisistratus
- Alcmaeonids
- Hippias
- Hipparchus
- Harmodius and Aristogeiton
- Council of 500
- Cleisthenes
- Perioikoi
- Peloponnesian League
- Ephors
- Spartiates
- Helots
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3. The Persian Wars
Readings: Morris and Powell, chaps. 11-12 (pp. 221-267)
Identifications:
- Croesus
- Cyrus
- Cambyses
- Darius
- Satraps
- Aristagoras
- Ionian Revolt
- Battle of Marathon
- Miltiades
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- Xerxes
- Mardonius
- Themistocles
- Battle of Thermopylae
- Leonidas
- Battle of Salamis
- Artemisia
- Battle of Plataea
- Battle of Mycale
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4. Rise of the Athenian Empire in the 5th Century; The Athenian Empire under Pericles
Readings: Morris and Powell, chaps. 13-15 (pp. 268-333)
Identifications:
- Cimon
- Delos
- Eurymedon
- First Peloponnesian War
- Pericles
- Ephialtes
- Peloponnesian League
- Thirty Years Peace
- Corcyra
- Megara
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- Heraclitus
- Democritus
- Sophists
- Gorgias
- Protagoras
- Socrates
- Phidias
- Parthenon
- Polygnotus
- City Dionysia
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5. The Peloponnesian War
Readings: Morris and Powell, chap. 16 (pp. 334-364)
Identifications:
- Archidamian War
- Battle of Pylos
- Sphacteria
- Brasidas
- Cleon
- Amphipolis
- Corcyra
- Peace of Nicias
- Alcibiades
- Melos
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- Sicilian Expedition
- Herms
- Gylippus
- Hermocrates
- The Four Hundred
- Arginusae
- Aegospotami
- Theramenes
- The Thirty
- Critias
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6. The Rise of Macedonia and Philip II in the Fourth Century; The Conquests of Alexander
Readings: Morris and Powell, chaps. 17-19 (pp. 365-437)
Identifications:
- Artaxerxes
- Agesilaos
- King’s Peace
- Common Peace
- Leuctra
- Sacred Band
- Demosthenes
- Pella
- Olynthus
- Olympias
- Sacred League
- Chaeronea
- Darius III
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- Parmenio
- League of Corinth
- Granicus
- Issus
- Tyre
- Amun
- Gaugamela
- Persepolis
- Ecbatana
- Philotas
- Roxane
- Proskynesis
- Porus
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7. The Hellenistic World; The Arrival of Rome
Readings: Morris and Powell, chaps. 20-22 (pp. 438-530)
Identifications:
- Perdiccas
- Antipater
- Ptolemy
- Antigonus
- Lysimachus
- Seleucus
- Cassander
- Demetrius of Phaleron
- Demetrius the Beseiger
- Rhodes
- Battle of Ipsus
- Antiochus I
- Pergamum
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- Ptolemy II
- Euergetists
- Aetolian League
- Achaean League
- Agis III
- Cleomenes
- Asclepius
- Serapis
- Ruler cult
- Mouseion
- Rosetta Stone
- Mithridates
- Cleopatra VII
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ROMAN HISTORY
Required Books:
- M. Cary and H. H. Scullard, A History of Rome, 3rd ed. (New York: St.
Martin's, 1975 or later).
- N. Lewis and M. Reinhold,
Roman Civilization: Sourcebook, I: Republic, II:
Empire (New York: Columbia University, 1951). N.B: page refs.
are to first ed.
Topics:
1. Conflict of the Orders;
Early Wars of Rome
Readings:
- Cary-Scullard, chaps.
7-9 (pp. 62-83)
- Lewis-Reinhold I, chap.
2 (pp. 70-89), chap. 3 (pp. 89-126)
Identifications:
- patricii
- plebs
- Latin League
- foedus Cassianum
- Appius CLAUDIUS
- Appius HERDONIUS
- Law of the XII Tables
- Aequi
- L. Quinctius CINCINNATUS
- Volsci
- Cn. Marcius CORIOLANUS
- Veii
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- M. Furius CAMILLUS
- consules
- Ceres, Temple of
- secessions of the
plebs
- tribuni militares
consulari potestate
- tribuni plebis
- lex Canuleia
- Licinian-Sextian rogations
- lex Hortensia
- conflict of the orders
- Celtic Invasion
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2. Domestic Politics; Age
of the Gracchi; Marius and the Army
Readings:
- Cary-Scullard, chaps.
18-19 (pp. 177-185, 186-188), chaps. 20-21 (pp. 203-221)
- Lewis-Reinhold I, chap.
5 (pp. 223-264)
Identifications:
- nobiles
- M. PORCIUS Cato Censor
(Maior)
- P. Cornelius Scipio
Aemilianus Africanus Minor
- CORNELIA Scipio
- Tib. SEMPRONIUS Gracchus
- C. SEMPRONIUS Gracchus
- latifundia
- ager publicus
- Appius CLAUDIUS
- M. OCTAVIUS, tr. pl.
- P. CORNELIUS Scipio
Nasica (cos. 162 BC)
- novus homo
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- optimates
- populares
- Cn. DOMITIUS Ahenobarbus
- quaestio de rebus
repetundis
- ordo equester
- Junonia (Iunonia)
- senatus ultimum
consultum (= S.U.C.)
- L. OPIMIUS
- Jugurtha
- Q. CAECILIUS Metellus
- C. MARIUS
- M. FULVIUS Flaccus
- lex Oppia
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3. (So-called) "First" and
"Second" Triumvirates
Readings:
- Cary-Scullard, chaps.
26-28 (pp. 248-249, 258-298)
- Lewis-Reinhold I, chap.
5 (pp. 269-307)
Identifications:
- M. TULLIUS Cicero
- M. LICINIUS Crassus
- Cn. POMPEIUS Magnus
- M. PORCIUS Cato Uticensis
- "First" Triumvirate
- C. IULIUS Caesar
- Julia (IULIA Caesar)
- Gallic wars
- P. CLODIUS Pulcher
- Conference at Luca
- Battle of Carrhae
- law of the ten tribunes
- Pharsalus
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- clementia
- M. IUNIUS Brutus
- C. CASSIUS Longinus
(praet. 44 BCE)
- Egypt
- M. AEMILIUS Lepidus
(IIIvir)
- M. ANTONIUS (IIIvir)
- C. OCTAVIUS (IIIvir)
- battle of Philippi
- Donations of Alexandria
- battle of Actium
- "Second" Triumvirate
- OCTAVIA
- Cleopatra VII
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4. The Augustan Settlement
and the Julio-Claudian Emperors
Readings:
- Cary-Scullard, chaps.
30-33 (pp. 315-376)
- Lewis-Reinhold II, chap.
1 (pp. 3-79), chap. 2 (pp. 80-98)
Identifications:
- Settlement of 27 B.C.
- Settlement of 23 B.C.
- tribunicia potestas
- imperium proconsulare
maius
- Parthia
- ludi Saeculares
- Augustan public works
- Augustus's Italian
policy
- Augustan social legislation
- Augustus' frontier
policies
- cult of Roma and Augustus
- M. VIPSANIUS Agrippa
- Iulia (d. of Augustus)
- P. QUINCTILIUS Varus
- Livia
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- gemma Augustea
- Tib. Claudius Nero
(TIBERIUS)
- AGRIPPINA Maior
- L. AELIUS Seianus
(Sejanus)
- C. Caesar (CALIGULA)
- CLAUDIUS
- Callistus, Narcissus,
Pallas
- AGRIPPINA Minor
- Claudius Caesar NERO
- L. ANNAEUS Seneca
Minor
- Boudicca
- Ostia
- concilium principis
- Ofonius Tigellinus
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5. The Five Good Emperors;
Commodus and the Severi
Readings:
- Cary-Scullard, chaps.
37-38, 40 (pp. 425-450, 489-503)
- Lewis-Reinhold II, chap.
2 (pp. 97-155, selectively), chap. 6 (pp. 419-455)
Identifications:
- M. Cocceius NERVA
- M. Ulpius TRAIANUS
- alimentary institutions
(= alimenta)
- religion and the Severi
- P. Aelius HADRIANUS
- Second Jewish War
- T. Aurelius ANTONINUS
PIUS
- L. VERUS
- M. AURELIUS Antoninus
- Parthian War
- Marcomannic wars
- L. Aurelius COMMODUS
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- res privata
- honestiores
and humiliores
- Iulia Domna
- Caracalla
- enfranchisement edict
(= constitutio antoniniana)
- Macrinus
- M. Aurelius Antoninus
ELAGABALUS
- M. Aurelius SEVERUS
ALEXANDER
- IULIA Maesa
- IULIA Mamaea
- L. SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS
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6. Diocletian and Constantine;
Transformation of Empire
Readings:
- Cary-Scullard, chaps.
42-44 (pp. 517-558)
- Lewis-Reinhold II, chap.
6 (pp. 455-489), chap. 9 (pp.552-610)
Identifications:
- C. Aurelius Valerius
DIOCLETIANUS
- M. Aurelius Valerius
MAXIMIANUS
- tetrarchy
- Valerius Maximianus
GALERIUS
- Edict of Wages and
Prices
- Flavius Valerius CONSTANTINUS
- Valerius Licinianus
LICINIUS
- rise of absolute monarchy
- Senatorial and Equestrian
Orders
- role of Latin and
Greek
- decline and fall of
the Empire
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- Constantinople
- sacrum consistorium
- comitatus
- curiales
- military defense
- latifundia
- religions
- Christianity
- Edict of Milan
- Donatists
- Council of Nicaea
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Next: Ph.D.
Students Wanting the M.A. (Archaeology)
INDEX
Preliminary Remarks
Sections:
- Requirements for Graduate Admission
- Advisement
- Emphasis in Classical Archaeology (includes information on all M.A. examinations)
- Emphasis in Classical Philology (includes information on all M.A. examinations)
- Emphasis in Ancient History (includes information on M.A. examinations)
- Emphasis in Latin Pedagogy (includes information on M.A. examinations)
- Satisfactory Academic Progress
- The M.A. Thesis
- Ph.D. Students Earning the M.A. in Classics
Appendices:
- Worksheet: Classical Archaeology Emphasis
- Worksheet: Classical Philology Emphasis
- Reading List: Comprehensive Examination (Archaeology)
- Reading List: Qualifying Examinations (Philology)
- Short Literary Identifications (Philology)
- Ancient History Comprehensive Examination
- Ph.D. Students Wanting the M.A. (Archaeology)
- Ph.D. Students Wanting the M.A. (Philology)
- Funding Opportunities for Graduate Students in Residence
- Thesis Worksheet
- Worksheet: Ancient History Emphasis
- Worksheet: Latin Pedagogy Emphasis
- Style Sheet for Graduate Seminar Papers and Theses
- Guide for Course Handouts and PowerPoint Presentations
- Check List for Submitting a Final Paper
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