Archaeology of the Roman Empire

(ARC 161)

From the fabulously preserved cities of north Africa to the landscapes of Hadrian’s Wall, from the wall paintings of Pompeii to the glassware of the east, this course offers a tour of the most important and striking archaeological remains of the Roman empire. Join Michael Shanks, one of archaeology’s leading thinkers, and Gary Devore, as we explore the latest understanding of life in the Republic, the diversity of provincial culture, and the spectacle of urban architecture. Together, we will move from the height of Roman power through the Empire’s decline and fall, and end with the eventual rise of feudalism.

Michael Shanks, The Omar and Althea Hoskins Professor of Classical Archaeology

Michael Shanks focuses on antiquarian collection and travel in the 18th century as well as the Roman borders around Hadrian’s Wall in the UK. His books include Re-Constructing Archaeology, Classical Archaeology of Greece: Experiences of the Discipline, Experiencing the Past: On the Character of Archaeology, and Theatre/Archaeology. He received a PhD from Cambridge University.

Gary Devore, Fellow, Introduction to the Humanities Program

Gary Devore is an archaeologist with fourteen years of experience excavating in Pompeii. His research includes Greek and Roman archaeology, history, and cultural studies. He is the director of an archaeological project digging in Pompeii that is affiliated with Stanford and the University of Cincinnati. He received a PhD from the University of Bradford (UK) and an MA from SUNY Buffalo.