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Paper #1—submit as hard copy on Wednesday, 7 October, by 11:59pm [to classics enclave, First Floor, Porter Hall]. Assignment: This paper should be a close and critical analysis of one or two primary sources dealing with a specific issue in Roman history. This paper should be about 3–4pp in length (750– 1000 words). A. Possible topics: 1. The literary tradition of early (archaic) Rome. Choose a source or sources that deal directly with the history of the Regal period in Rome (e.g., Livy, Book 1) or the “Struggle of the Orders.” One possible approach is to discuss how this tradition of early Rome was an ideological construct. What did Romans wish to remember about this very remote past? What ideals or social values does this tradition express? 2. Rome’s acquisition of empire. Choose one or two sources that describe how Rome acquired its empire. What do these sources tell us about how Rome viewed its acquisition of empire? According to your source(s) what were the most important factors in this acquisition? What can your source(s) tell us about how Romans viewed their empire and the qualities needed to acquire it? B. Choosing a source. You should select with some care the source or sources that you wish to analyze, since they will be the basis of your paper. Be sure to know the basic information about each source (especially if this information is germane to your argument): 1. What type of source is it?

• an excerpt from a narrative history, an excerpt from biography (or another kind of literary source) • a treaty, law code, letter or other official government communication • decree of the Roman senate • decree of a Greek city-state • a text honoring an individual • other?

2. Who is the author (if known)? 3. What is the date of the source? 4. Be aware of any inherent biases in the sources you have chosen or other challenges of interpretation. C. Analyzing the sources. For each topic (above) I have offered one or two questions as a prompt to direct your thinking. In each case, the question is by no means the only question one could ask in connection to the topic. You may formulate different questions you would like to answer. D. Objectives of the assignment. I want you to be able to tease out as much information as possible from the sources you have chosen to analyze, but at the same time you must show that

you are aware of the complexities and nuances of the issues that these sources address. You should not be looking for the simplest answer to the question posed. You might even choose one source that gives one perspective on an issue and then a second source that contradicts the first source or at least complicates the picture. E. Other guidelines. I will be evaluating your paper on the strength of your argument, the clarity of expression, and the quality of your analysis—especially your ability to get as much information as possible from the sources you have chosen (as noted above). Again, I am looking for analysis, not just a summary of the content of the sources. As part of your analysis, you may also want to consider what is missing from the source. In other words, what information do you want to know about the issue in question that the source does not provide?