From Caesar’s rise in 49 BC to Nero’s death in 68 AD the Julio-Claudian family ruled Rome and expanded the Empire. However, the family itself was utterly dysfunctional, murdering each other, committing arson and incest, indulging in paedophilia and all manner of sexual perversions; manipulating the succession and even providing the first mushroom-murderer. The women were as notorious and depraved as the men. They are all there – Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Julia, Agrippina, Messalina and some great lovers and henchmen. Despite them, the Empire prospered, what was their contribution?

DELIVERY MODE:

• Face-to-Face

SUGGESTED READING

• Tom Holland: Dynasty (Doubleday, 2015, ISBN: 978-0-385-53874-1)
• Anthony Barrett: Agrippina (Batsford, 1996, ISBN: 0 7134 6854 8)
• H H Scullard: From the Gracchi to Nero (University Paperbacks, 1959. oi ISBN)

COURSE OUTLINE

• The expansion of the Roman Empire starting from Julius Caesar to Nero
• Murder, incest, arson, nymphomania, paedophilia and a great deal more
• How did the Julio-Claudian manage the empire while breaking every understood norm about “families” and their relationships?

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Gain an understanding of Roman history and politics from the beginning of the Empire to its near collapse but revival.