Syllabus

 

University of Texas – El Paso

University of Central Oklahoma

 

Kirkwood Community College

Team Taught Summer Intersession 2010

Layers of Rome:  From Classical to Christian Rome

23 May– 7 June 2010 – University of Texas, El Paso,

Kirkwood Community College

 and University of Central Oklahoma

Instructors:  Dr. J. A. Sheetz-Nguyen, Dr. Renee Schlueter and Dr. Ronald Weber

jsheetznguyen@ucok.edu – Office Phone: 405-974-5842  

RSCHLUE@KIRKWOOD.EDU – OFFICE PHONE: 319-398-4998, EXTENSION 5836

rweber@utep.edu – Office Phone – 915-747-6512

Course Description: This course will survey the history, art and religion of Rome from its founding into the modern era.  Classes convene in El Paso and on site in Rome. Instruction takes place amidst Rome’s archaeological remains, important churches, museums, and social spaces to foster a comprehension of Rome's historical realities through a direct personal dialogue with the places and artifacts of Rome, our historical laboratory.  The course will focus particularly on the rise of the Roman republic, the Roman empire, the rise of Christian Rome, Renaissance Rome and the Victorian era.  During the course, special efforts will be made to engage students and help them to recognize the continuity of artistic expression from antiquity through the Renaissance into the Victorian period. In the process students will encounter the works of Renaissance artists such as Bramante, Michelangelo and Raphael: Baroque artists like Bernini, and Caravaggio and the writings of Victorian travelers such as Keats and Hawthorne  who experienced and recorded the romance of historical Rome.  

 

Course Rationale:  This course will provide students with an overview of the history of Rome within the context of Western civilization, from the Classical to the Modern Age. Class objectives will be accomplished by dividing course requirements between on site classroom instruction, with Rome as our historical laboratory, and reading, writing, and presentation assignments. Beyond the classroom, Rome offers students an opportunity to explore a world-class city, replete with shops, posh stores, trattorias, parks, and museums.  While contemporary Rome is not ancient Rome, many significant sites are preserved and open to the public to engage the historical intellect and artistic imagination and inspire us to look back in time to the second cradle of Western civilization after Athens.Through their research and experiences students will encounter the historical layering that preserves the remembrance of human activity from ancient times to the Renaissance. Students will map human activity by identifying and photographing historical sites, developping a narrative of Rome's history through individual journal accounts.

Course Objectives:  To complete this course, students will                                                 

 

1.    Increase their awareness of the historical and geographical spaces of an ancient city 

       now functioning as a modern European tourist center.

 

2.    Explain the connection between classical, medieval, renaissance and modern

       Rome.

 

3.    Prepare and present on site in Rome an oral presentation on an historical site,

       event or person .

 

4.    Research and prepare a brochure to accompany the on-site presentation.

 

           a. A printed and revised version of the report must be included in the finished

               journal.

 

5.    Keep a daily experience journal recording notes from lectures, photographs and

       personal observations on life in a non-English speaking country.

 

            a. Revised and organized journals are due in the professor's office one week

                after returning to El Paso.

 

6.    Experience the world of travel, crossing international borders, using public 

       transportation and living in a foreign environment.

Course Expectations:   to complete the course with a high grade students should:

                                          

 

1. Complete all reading and homework assignments. 

 

2. Come to class prepared to participate in all class discussions. 

 

3. Bring a pen, notebook and the assigned reading to every class. 

 

4. Type all assignments in accordance with the MLS style sheet. 

 

5. Know that all assignments are linked to class discussions, readings and videos. 

 

6. Be prepared to present short historical reports on site in Rome.

 

7. Compile a collection of photos, as part of a journal recording historical discovery

    and travel experiences. 

 

8. Attend all meetings on site in Rome equipped with pen, paper and textbook. In 

    Rome meetings will be on site from approximately 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. 

Guidelines for Written and Oral Reports

All reports should describe Who, What, When, Where, and Why the subject is important:

1.  When written be from 500 to 1000 words in length. 

2.  When delivered orally be a minimum of five minutes and no more than 6 minutes in length and should engage the whole student body. (Ask the students some questions.) 

3.  Students should provide a description of their chosen person, event or artifact, including what or who it is; and when and where it became important.

4.   Every student at the time of his/her report must provide a brochure to all the members of class summarizing the important elements of the report topic with a list of the sources of the report, (2 books & 1 website) a brief time line, at least one picture and a statement of the significance of the topic in illustrating the class theme.

5.  All reports must state why the subject is important for this class. That is how does it address the class theme, “The Layers of Rome.”

Guidelines for Journals:  all journals must

 

      (1) be typed with pictures and dated  

 

     (2) MOST IMPORTANTLY: give an account of site visits, side trips, personal 

          encounters. Each site account must answer the question: how did the

          experience provide deeper understanding of the class theme, "The Layers of

          Rome"? 

 

     (3) include elements of daily life in Rome, both inside and outside of class.  

 

          a. How did each experience provide deeper understanding of the class theme-

              "The Layers of Rome"?  

                           

     (4) analyze how class experiences contributed or related to class theme:  

 

     (5) include typed, and edited copies of assigned reports.

Required Textbooks:

Kebric, Robert. Roman People.  Mountain View, CA:  Mayfield Publishing, 2001.

Macadam, Alta. City Guide (Blue Guide) Rome.  New York: W.W. Norton, 2000.

Partridge, Loren.  The Art of Renaissance Rome: 1400-1600.  New York:  Harry N. Abrams, 1996.

City Map of Rome  

Recommended: 

Claridge, Amanda.  Rome: Oxford Archaeological Guide.  New York: Oxford, 1998.

Woodford, Susan. The Art of Greece and Rome. Edinburgh: Cambridge Univ. Pr. 2004

Syllabus   

   Layers of Rome: From the Classical to Christian Worlds  

Dates

Class Topic

In Class Activity

Text Assignment

May 13 – UTEP

Republican  Rome

Bring printout of syllabus to class.

Discussion of the Roman Republic 

 Kebric, Robert.  Roman People, pp. 1 to 56 

May 14– UTEP

Imperial Rome

Discussion of the Roman Empire 

Kebric, Robert.  Roman People, pp. 57 to 86  and 122 to 147. 

May 17 – UTEP

Transition to Christian Rome 

Draft of Report Due

The Attraction of Christianity 

Founding of Rome the Christian City. 

Kebric, Robert.  Roman People, pp. 209 to 275. 

 Partridge, Loren.  The Art of Renaissance Rome, pp.1 to 42.

May 18– UTEP

Renaissance Rome 

The Great Masters. Michelangelo: matter and spirit

 Partridge, Loren.  The Art of Renaissance Rome, pp. 43 to 60 and  79 to 108. .

 

May 19 – UTEP

 

Chapel Decoration 

Draft of Brochure Due

Use of art in worship

 Partridge, Loren.  The Art of Renaissance Rome, pp. 109 to 144.

 

May 15 – Dr. Weber's Home

Pizza Party:  6:30 pm 

 

Dates Class Topic

Readings and Class Activity

23 May- Sunday Departure. 24 May arrival in Rome, check in and recovery.

Depart El Paso via Houston for Rome.  Arrive in Rome at 7:45 a.m. Take shuttle  from Leonardo da Vinci Aeroporto to Villa Maria. Afternoon walking tour of  upper Trastevere neighborhood. Purchase weekly bus tickets for two weeks at cost of approximately 30 euros. Introduction to the city and dinner.

 

Read: T.W. Potter, “Ancient Rome: an introduction,” Blue Guide, 59–67.

25 May - Tuesday. 9:00 a.m. meet in lobby at Villa Maria (VM) for first-site departure.

Take Bus 44/75 to Via Trastevere and transfer to Tram 8 for Largo Argentina.

Afternoon walk to Victor Emmanuel Monument and Piazza Venezia

Piazza Navona: Fountain of the Four Rivers

 

 

 

Arrive at Crypta Balbi at 11:00 – 1:00 p.m. – directed tour and worksheet.

Foundations of Medieval Rome: Museo Crypta Balbi, via delle Botteghe Oscure, 31.  “Crypta Balbi” http://www.romeguide.it/FILES/visite/crypta_balbi_eng.htm

Lunch – Largo Argentina neighborhood.

2:00 – 5:00 p.m. – visit Saint Ignatius, Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Pantheon, and Piazza Navona

Visit Sant’ Ignazio – find the star and look up to the ceiling.  Set your cameras to no flash. Read "Saint Ignazio" Blue Guide, 148.

Visit "Santa Maria sopra Minerva" – Christian church built atop Roman temple dedicated to goddess Minerva. Inside Santa Maria, look for the painting in the Carafa Chapel, titled the Assumption of the Virgin, 1488-93 by Filippino Lippi, look for pieces by Michelangelo and Fra Angelico; and notice the ceiling frescoed in gold stars on a blue background. Read-Blue Guide, 178-80

Visit "Carafa Chapel" Assumption of the Virgin, 1488-93 by Filippino Lippi, pieces by Michelangelo and Fra Angelico, Blue Guide, 179.

Visit Pantheon – report on Agrippa, Hadrian, Raphael, and its architecture.  The Pantheon was consecrated as a Christian church in 608 by Pope Boniface IV. Read “The Pantheon,” Blue Guide, 174-78; Read Claridge, OAG, Rome; Read Partridge, Art, 118-9.

Visit Piazza Navona – report on three fountains, but especially the Bernini fountain of Four Rivers or Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi. “Piazza Navona,” Blue Guide, 182–86.

Read - “Vittorio Emmanuele” Blue Guide, 137-38.

Recommended dinner spot – Piazza Navona – we know this area is pricey, but look for places with “tourist menus” which include pasta, meat, and vegetable, on south side of Piazza.  We usually need to pay for bottled water and bread.  If you wish only tap water, request agua di Roma!  Bottled water is mineral water, with salts, and is generally carbonated.  If you do not want mineral water, but want bottled water, ask for still water.

The Forum

May 26 - Wednesday – depart VB at 9:00 a.m. –Bring bag lunch - When in Rome in Rome, do as the Romans, therefore we are going to have late lunches.  We expect to complete this day about 3:00 p.m.

To arrive at the Forum, take Bus 44 to Piazza Venezia.  Get off bus, cross street towards Victor Emmanuel Monument; turn right and walk up hill.  Take second set of steps to your left.  You will see the twin gods Castor and Pollux greeting you at the top of the steps.  We will meet in the Campidoglio – a space created by Michelangelo.

Going to the Heart of Ancient Rome -the Forum – while visiting these sites, students will offer an overview of the historical significance of identified sites.  Forum Scavenger Hunt.

While visiting the Forum, Students will visit the following sites:

1.      Altar of the Divine Julius Caesar and Temple of Castor and Pollux

2.      House of Vestal Virgins,

3.      Arches of Septimius Severus and Titus

4.      Basilicas Aemilia and Julia, Constantine and Maxentius

5.      Roster, Column of Phocus and Urbis Umbilicus.

Read: T.W. Potter, “Ancient Rome: an introduction,” Blue Guide, 60-69.

“The Roman Forum,” Blue Guide, 91–109; and “The Palatine Hill, Blue Guide, 109-23.

Afternoon side trip to – Saint Pietro in Vincolo – home to Michelangelo’s Moses.

Recommended place for dinner – Trastevere – Chinese, Greek, and Il Galleone in Trastevere is great for fish.  Il Vascello near Villa Maria is also fantastic for dinner – inexpensive – but plan to spend three hours for dinner there.  There are great take-away pizza places on Via Carini – one near the square offers vegetables and veal, beef, and fried chicken.  You can buy and take back to Villa Maria for dinner.

Colosseum to Palatine Hill

May 27, Thursday- Depart VM at 9:00 p.m. on Bus 75.  Get off bus after passing the Circus Maximus on your left and walk to the Arch of Constantine. 

 Take Bus 44 to Victor Emmanuel.

 Thomas Hardy, “Dying Gladiator.”

Lived Space of Ancient Rome: from the Colosseum to Palatine Hill - From pagan to Christian site - while visiting the Coliseum, students will provide mini-reports on architectural aspects of the exterior and interior of the Coliseum.

We will meet at the Arch of Constantine to move into Colosseum and then onto Palatine Hill.

While visiting Palatine Hill, students will provide mini-reports on: Caesar Augustus, and the Circus Maximus.

Biographies of important Palatine residents at the museum and these will include:

  • Julius Caesar and Pompey  

  • Livia 

  • Caesar Augustus

 Rome from a literary perspective will be presented on Palatine Hill by Kirkwood Students on a spot

 overlooking Circus Maximus. Topics are:

  • Hardy, “On Palatine Hill” and “On Building a New Street in the Ancient Quarter” -

  • Jessica Wharton, “Roman Fever” –

  • Candace Byron, “Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage,” - John

Recommended sites after the visit to the Colosseum and Palatine Hill is Nero’s Golden House or Saint Peter in Chains, home to Michelangelo’s “Moses.”  Hike with Dr. JSN to Baths of Caracalla.

Read - Valley of the Colosseum, Blue Guide, 117–32; and “The Palatine Hill, Blue Guide, 103–7.
 Friday--May 28---  Depart Villa Maria at 9:00 a.m. on bus 44 to Piazza Venizia.

 

 

 

After Keats/Shelly Museum

Recommendations – Piazza del Populo, Santa Maria Del Popolo and Spanish Steps

 Capitoline Museum plus Keats and Shelly Museum at the Spanish Steps for appointed

  tour.

 

 Read, Capitoline Museum, Blue Guide, 38 ff and Keats- Shelley Memorial, Blue Guide, 173.

 

 Recommended visit to Protestant Cemetery  

 Take bus 75 to Pyramide. Exit bus to the right and take first street to the left.

 Read, Protestant Cemetery, Blue Guide, 470-1;

 Saturday, May 29

 

 Ara Pacis and Palazzo Altemps museums

 

  Read, Ara Pacis, Blue Guide 158 7 455; Palazzo Altemps, Blue Guide 272-279.
 May 30, Sunday -- Ostia (optional)

Depart Villa Maria at 9:30 a.m.  on bus 75 to Pyramide. Go to the  Stazione Ostiense, board train in direction of Lido. Get off train at Ostia Antica.  Walk to site.

 

Prepare bag lunch.  Bring your swimming suits and a towel if you would like a late afternoon visit to beaches at Lido after Ostia archeological workshop.

   Ostia – Rome’s Ancient Seaport  Guided archeological workshop.  How do we read and

                understand the artifacts left for us at Ostia?

 

    Read, Ostia, Blue Guide,  

Monday – May 31  – Day off

 

Tuesday, June 1---Audience with the Pope and Saint Peter’s Basilica

Depart VM at 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

After the audience meet at Obelisk in Saint Peter’s Square at 1:00 p.m., after the papal audience, for Saint Peter’s Basilica visit.

Site reports will focus on the message of the Church: Early Christian Basilica, Renaissance rebuilding of Saint Peters’s and interior of the Basilica, including Michelangelo's and Bernini’s designs, the Pieta, sculpture, Baldichinno, Cathedra Petri (Throne of Saint Peter).

Eternal City

To get set for the public audience with the Pope on Saint Peter’s Square one needs to leave VM very early.

You can catch the bus (870) going north on Via Carini.

After the audience with the Pope, we will visit to Saint Peter’s Basilica. Walk to Dome is opitional – a place that provides one of the most spectacular views of Rome. There are certain features of the basilica that should draw your attention. Instructors will ask you to identify.

  • Porta Santa

  • Michelangelo’s Pieta

  • Bronze statue of Saint Peter

  • Cathedra of Saint Peter

  • the Baldachinno

  • Michelangelo’s Dome

  • Saint Helena

  • Bernini’s Dove

  • Bernini's Bees

Read: “Saint Peter’s at the Vatican,” Blue Guide, 339-56

Recommended site visit after the Vatican – Castel Sant' Angelo
Wednesday – June 2 – Italian National Holiday 

Parade in the morning. (optional)

Meet: 1:00 pm at Arch of Constantine; walk together to San Clemente, Santa Scala, Santa Croce, and San Giovanni Laterano.

Take bus 75 to Arch of Constantine.

Read: Blue Guide, 104-05; 347-353; 358-367; 16, 21, 

   

Thursday - June 3--Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums

 

Depart VM at 9:00  a.m.- meet at Vatican Museum Entrance at 11:00 am..

 

To get there, take Bus 870 to Piazza delle Rovere and walk across Tiber to Lungo Teverre de Sangallo and turn to right and go to bus stop and take bus 98 to Piazza del Risorgimento.

 

Michelangelo versus Raphael? A Day at the Sistine

Sistine Chapel – This day we will set out earlier in order to beat the long lines at the Vatican Museum.

Students should be prepared to identify the following large rooms: Gallery of Maps, Gallery of Tapestries, Stanze di Raffaello, including Sala di Constantino, the Loggia of Raphael, Stanza de’Eliodoro, and especially the Stanza della Segnatura (School of Athens and Disputa – Disputation on the Holy Sacrament).

In the Sistine Chapel, students should observe the Sibyls, Isaiah, Zacharia, Ezekiel, and Joel.  They should outline in their mind the entire Creation panel, and the magnificent Last Judgment.

Take note of the Cortile della Pigna, near the Egyptian Museum.  You will find this open garden space as you emerge from the Sistine Chapel. 

Read “Saint Peter’s at the Vatican,” Blue Guide, 339-56

Reports in the Villa Maria Gardens

 

Raphael

Raphael Stanze in Vatican Palace

    Stanza della Signatura

    Stanza de "elliodoro

    Salla di Constantino

Sistine Chapel – Last Judgment

Sistine Chapel – Ceiling

Sistine Chapel – Registers

  

Friday, June 4 – Villa Borghese

 

Depart VM at 9:00 A.M.  Bring a bag lunch. 

 

We will have reservations for admission to Villa Borghese. 

 

We are admitted only by appointment; therefore, it is essential that you pay attention to announcements regarding our admission time.

 

It is most efficient to take  Bus 75 to Termini Station. Transfer to Bus 910 to Via Pinciana (6 stops).

 

Take Bus 44/75 to Trastevere.  Take Tram 30/3b to Villa Borghese.

 

 

From Satyrs to Unicorns or from Hadrian to Cardinal Scippione Borghese: the Villa Borghese

 

Visit to Villa Borghese, an important palace open to the public with an art collection that includes Raphael, Bernini, and Caravaggio.

 

Pay attention to statues from antiquity in large reception room as you enter Villa.  Note Roman mosaics of gladiators on floor.  Bernini may steal the show here in his beautiful sculpted pieces, Truth, David, and Apollo and Daphne.  There are more – be on the look-out.

 

Caravaggio also has a special showing here, including his Boy Crowned with Ivy, and David with head of Goliath.

 

Make sure you identify Raphael’s portrait of his patron, Julius II.

 

Site reports will be presented in gardens in front of Villa Borghese:

 

Read: Santa Maria del Popola and Spagna, Blue Guide, 150-6;

“From the fall of the Roman Empire to the present,” Blue Guide, 68–71;

Renaissance to Twentieth Century Rome, Blue Guide, 71–3.
Saturday, June 5--Pompeii and National Archeological Museum  Depart at 6:00 a.m. and return after  9:00 p.m. by train.

 

Sunday, June 6 –  Day Off

 

  
 Monday, June 7 -- Return to El Paso