Barbarians at the Gate: Race and Ethnicity in Ancient Rome

Who is a Roman? Who is a barbarian? Why does it matter? This course explores how Roman material culture was utilized to create "otherness" between groups in the Roman world. This course introduces key theories about race and ethnicity and develops understanding through case studies from the ancient Roman world. Using archaeological evidence, students examine how group identities were presented across the Roman Empire. Students learn about current scholarly debates and consider the strengths and limits of different approaches. From victory monuments to household objects and ancient DNA, we will address the wide range of evidence available to archaeologists to reconstruct ancient categories of identity. Throughout the course, students learn how to analyze objects in their archaeological context and combine visual, material, and written evidence. By the end of the course, students will be able to explain major theories of race and ethnicity, apply them to the study of Roman material culture, and evaluate their usefulness. This course helps students understand how identities were created and represented in the past and how similar processes continue to influence societies today.