The history of the later Roman empire is marked by rapid and dramatic change: the revolution in the position of Christianity in the empire, from persecuted cult to state religion; the ‘barbarian invasions’ of the fourth and fifth centuries, and the establishment of barbarian kingdoms within the territory of the Roman empire; the decline of Rome, but the emergence of vibrant new power centres, such as Constantinople; the splitting of the empire into two halves (East and West), and the collapse of the latter. How to understand this period has been central to the academic debate about it. Does it mark the ‘the decline and fall of the Roman empire’, or is it a period of transformation, witnessing the metamorphosis of the world of antiquity into a new ‘late antique’ world? In addition to considering the political, social and cultural transformations of the period the module devotes attention to the famous architects of these transformations, such as Constantine the Great, Theodosius I, and Attila the Hun. The module draws on, and discusses the nature of, the rich source material for the period: classicising histories, church histories, chronicles, court panegyrics and polemics, letter collections, legislation, inscriptions, art, and archaeology.

• display a knowledge of the main events and developments of the period from the accession of Diocletian in AD 284 to the death of Julius Nepos in AD 480.
• analyse critically the historical sources for the period, such as the history of Ammianus Marcellinus, the letters of Sidonius Apollinaris, and other literary, visual, archaeological and documentary material.
• demonstrate a knowledge and critical understanding of modern debates about and interpretations of the period.
• discuss these issues in written work with coherent and logical arguments, clearly and correctly expressed.

20 lectures and 4 seminars; independent study; 1 coursework feedback tutorial

• assimilating and synthesising complex information and ideas
• critical thinking skills, such as analysing and evaluating evidence, critiquing interpretations or arguments, and challenging assumptions
• constructing and defending arguments based on evidence
• clear, accurate and effective communication of ideas and arguments in writing and in debate
• employing basic skills and conventions in the presentation and use of literary and material evidence
• bibliographic and referencing skills
• contributing to group discussions
• using IT resources effectively
• independent working and time management

The module will be assessed by a 2000-word essay, and a one and a half hour exam (answering 1 essay and 1 source criticism, weighted 70:30)

Essay questions will require knowledge and critical deployment of evidence and critical understanding of modern scholarship to answer questions and construct arguments relating to the later Roman empire.

In the source analysis exercises, specific written or material sources relating to the later Roman empire will be set, and students will be required to explain how they illuminate our understanding of the period, thus deploying their knowledge of later Roman history and interpretations of the material

• The sources for the period
• The revival of the empire under Diocletian
• The rise of Constantine and his policy towards Christianity
• The foundation and development of Constantinople
• The growth of Christianity and the Church in the fourth century
• The nature of later Roman society
• The rise and role of court eunuchs in the later Roman empire
• The cities of the later Roman empire
• The development of monasticism
• The dynasty of Valentinian
• The battle of Adrianople (378) and its consequences
• The Theodosian dynasty
• The division of the empire into East and West and the relations between the two
• The ‘barbarian invasions’ and the Roman response
• Alaric and the sack of Rome (410)
• The nature of the later Roman army
• The formation of the barbarian kingdoms
• Attila and the Huns
• The ‘fall’ of the western Roman empire (476)

Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae (Penguin, The Later Roman Empire)

P. Brown, The World of Late Antiquity, AD 150-750 (1971)

Cambridge Ancient History vol. 12, second edition, The Crisis of Empire, A.D. 193-337 (2005)

Cambridge Ancient History vol. 13, The Late Empire, A.D. 337-425 (1998)

Cambridge Ancient History vol. 14, Late Antiquity: Empire and Successors A.D. 425-600 (2000)

A. Cameron, The Later Roman Empire (1993)

A. Cameron, The Mediterranean World in Late Antiquity (1993) (second edition 2012)

J. Harries, Imperial Rome AD 284 to 363: The New Empire (2012)

P. Heather, Fall of the Roman Empire (2005)

A.H.M. Jones, The Later Roman Empire (1964)

A.D. Lee, From Rome to Byzantium AD 363 to 565. The Transformation of Ancient Rome (2013)

S. Mitchell, A History of the Later Roman Empire AD 284-641 (2007)

J. Moorhead, The Roman Empire Divided 400-700 (2001; second edition 2013)

B. Ward-Perkins, The Fall of Rome and the End of Civilization (2005)

See the module handout for the full reading list.