OU on the BBC: Romans in Britain - Taking it further: Courses

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If the series has sparked you interest in Roman culture and history, there are a number of relevant courses on offer from the Open University to let you to take your interest to the next level.

Level 1 courses

A103 An Introduction to the Humanities
You will get from this course a lively and varied grounding in the eight disciplines in the Arts Faculty: art history, literature, music, philosophy, classical studies, history, religious studies, and history of science. The subjects are introduced in attractive case studies combined with multidisciplinary sections on the French Revolution and the 1960s.

The course will help you to express yourself more clearly and develop the reading, analysis and interpretation skills you need before moving on to more specialised courses at Level 2. It is not necessary to have studied in this area before.

Level 2 Courses

A219 Exploring the Classical World
This interdisciplinary course will give you a broad introduction to studying classical Greece and Rome. You will work in depth on a wide range of topics, such as: the world of Homer; the political uses of theatre; art and rhetoric in Athens; the origins of Rome and the history of the Republican period; Latin poetry; and Roman social history.

You will be able to develop your skills in analysis and evaluation across a wide range of ancient sources. Whether you have had a long-standing interest in the classical world or are new to it, this course will give you both a fresh perspective and a firm foundation for further exploration.

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Level 2 Courses (cont'd)

A297 Reading Classical Latin
This course is suitable for anyone with an interest in Classics or Ancient History. The course is based on 'Reading Latin' by Sidwell and Jones, with a course guide that takes you through the text and grammar exercises, and suggests strategies for survival, pacing and progress in the study of this stimulating and rich ancient language.

In the reading practice you will become acquainted with Roman drama, and then go onto a selection of texts which reveal the thinking and culture behind the language. The grammar book not only has a variety of exercises to reinforce an understanding and familiarity with the language, but also introduces pieces of Latin from a wide chronological span, including inscriptions, mottoes and Medieval and Renaissance extracts.

Level 3 Courses

AA309 Culture, Identity and Power in the Roman Empire
This interdisciplinary course encourages students to analyse the power and influence of the Romans across the Empire, by using a wide range of ancient evidence. The course addreses the following questions:

What did it mean to be 'Roman' in the Roman Empire? How did Roman culture work within the Empire? Is it possible to speak of a single ‘Roman’ culture imposed or maintained through imperial power? What can we learn from comparing the Roman Empire with more recent colonial powers?

It investigates how culture, identity and power were shaped in particular contexts by social factors such as religion, gender, the economy and status by presenting case studies of the Emperor, Roman Italy, Greece and Asia Minor, Britain, North Africa and certain groups in Roman Judaea.

Romans in Britain in more depth: