Rome: From a Small Village to an International Metropolis



Overview

The path of Rome from a small village in Latium vetus, to an emerging power in Italy during the first millennium BC, and finally the heart of an empire that sprawled throughout the Mediterranean and much of Europe until the 5th century CE is well known.

Its rise is often presented as inevitable and unstoppable. Yet the factors that contributed to Rome’s rise to power are not well understood. By illustrating domestic, funerary, religious, and ideological dimensions of the different urbanscapes and rural landscapes of Rome, we will follow the dominance of the city within regional and peninsular networks  up to the pinnacle of Roman imperialism.

We will also discuss and consider if it was ecological factors, such as the key position on the Tiber ford at the middle way of the Italian Peninsula in the centre of the Mediterranean, or rather political and ideological factors such as the capacity of integrating foreign citizens, or more likely a combination there of, that determined such an incredible and formidable trajectory.

This course is part of the Oxford University Summer School for Adults (OUSSA) programme.

Programme details

Seminars

Participants are taught in small seminar groups of up to 10 students, and receive two one-on-one tutorials with their tutor. 

Sunday

Seminar 1: Introduction to the Archaeology of Rome and the Classical World: We will discuss key chronology and concepts for the development of the classical world such as what does it mean to be Roman, Romanization, Colonization etc.

Seminar 2: The Mediterranean and Rome: Setting the Scene: This seminar will briefly introduce to the history and development of the Mediterranean and the place of Rome in this development.

Monday

Seminar 3: Italy before Rome: You will learn to know the Etruscans and the other italic Iron Age Populations, than inhabited the Italian Peninsula before the expansion and dominance of rising Rome.

Seminar 4: Rome the Eternal city from the origin to the end of the regal period (1700-509 BC): We will investigate the very beginning of Rome, as a small village among others in central Italy, the foundation as a “city” by Romulus, to the vast emerging power, under the Etruscan rule of the Tarquins.

Tuesday

Seminar 5: The rise of Rome in Italy during the Republican Period: we will assess the clash of the dominant power with local indigenous populations and the degree of agency of the latter and to what extent it is still reasonable to talk about “Romanization”.

Seminar 6: Republican and Imperial Rome: We will visit monuments and urbanscapes of the Eternal city at the peak of its glory, during the golden age of the late Republican Period and the early Imperial time.

Wednesday

Seminar 7: Religion, cult activity and Sanctuaries from Pre-Roman Italy to the peripheries of the Roman Empire.

Seminar 8: Burials and funerary rituals from Pre-Roman Italy to the peripheries of the Roman Empire.

Ashmolean Museum: We will visit the Ashmolean Museum and discuss the two seminars of this week, taking inspiration from finds and artifacts at the Museum.

Thursday

Seminar 9: Urbanscapes from the East to the West peripheries in the Roman world

Seminar 10: Villas, villages, and farms: landscapes of the Roman world. We will ‘travel’ across urban and rural landscapes from the centre of the empire to the east and West peripheries and compare living in the city or in the countryside and ask ourselves if they are opposite ways of life, as traditionally assumed, or closer than previously thought? 

Friday

Seminar 11: Households, families, women and children: the study of Roman domestic life: We will investigate more intimate aspects of Roman life such as family relations, births, marriages, motherhood, children’s developments and sadly child mortality

Seminar 12: The end of Rome and the fall of classical civilizations: we will discuss the potential contributing factors to the fall of Rome and classical civilizations, whether internal factors or external invasions or a combination thereof were more determinant in the collapse of such a long-lasting Empire.

Programme timetable

The daily timetable will normally be as follows:

Saturday

14.00–16.30 - Registration

16.30–17.00 - Orientation meeting

17.00–17.30 - Classroom orientation for tutor and students

17.30–18.00 - Drinks reception

18.00–20.00 - Welcome dinner

Sunday – Friday

09.00–10.30 - Seminar

10.30–11.00 - Tea/coffee break

11.00–12.30 - Seminar

12.30–13.30 - Lunch

13.30–18.00 - Afternoons are free for tutorials, individual study, course-related field trips or exploring the many places of interest in and around Oxford.

18.00–19.00 - Dinner (there is a formal gala dinner every Friday to close each week of the programme).

A range of optional social events will be offered throughout the summer school. These are likely to include: a quiz night, visit to historic pubs in Oxford, visit to Christ Church for Evensong and after-dinner talks and discussions.

Fees

Description Costs
Fee Option 1 (Single en suite - inc. Tuition and Meals) £2050.00
Fee Option 2 (Double en suite - inc. Tuition and Meals) 1 person £2100.00
Fee Option 3 (Twin en suite - inc. Tuition and Meals) per person £1680.00
Fee Option 4 (No Accommodation - inc. Tuition, Lunch & Dinner) £1250.00

Funding

Concessionary rates are available on a non-residential basis for those that qualify, more information can be found here.

Unfortunately we do not offer any specific scholarships or funding opportunities for OUSSA programme, but you can visit our departmental funding webpage, where you may be able to find a particular source of funding that matches your requirements alongside meeting the funding criteria.

Payment

All fees are charged on a per week, per person basis.

Please be aware that all payments made via non-UK credit/debit cards and bank accounts are subject to the exchange rate on the day they are processed.

Tuition and meals are included in the programme fee, with both residential and non-residential options available.

Course change administration fee: Please note that course transfers may be permitted in exceptional circumstances; however, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions, an administration fee of £50 will be charged.

Payment terms

  • If enrolling online: full payment by credit/debit card at the time of booking
  • If submitting an application form: full payment online by credit/debit card or via bank transfer within 30 days of invoice date

Cancellations and Refunds

1. Cancellation by you

Participants who wish to cancel must inform the Programme Administrator in writing: by email to oussa@conted.ox.ac.uk or by post to OUSSA, OUDCE, 1 Wellington Square, OXFORD, OX1 2JA, UK.

The following cancellation and refund policy applies in all cases:

  • Cancellation within 14 days of online enrolment / payment of fees – full refund of all fees paid.
  • Cancellations received up to and including 30 April 2025 – OUDCE will retain an administration fee of £100 per week booked; all other fees paid will be refunded.
  • Cancellations received between 1-31 May 2025 – OUDCE will retain 60% of the fees paid; the remaining 40% of fees paid will be refunded.
  • Cancellations received on and after 1 June 2025 - no refunds will be made.

2. Cancellation by us

Where there is good reason, OUDCE reserves the right to cancel a course by giving you notice in writing at any time before the course is due to start. In these cases, we will endeavour to offer a transfer to another available course if practical and acceptable to you, subject to payment or refund of any difference in the course fees. Alternatively, we will refund the course fees that you have already paid. If we cancel a course, our liability is limited to the fees that we have received from you; this means that we will not compensate you for any pre-booked travel costs or any other expenses incurred. The status of this course will be reviewed on 1 May 2025. If it is likely that the course may be cancelled, anyone affected will be notified by email within 7 days; if you have not heard from OUDCE by 8 May 2025, you should assume that your course will be running. You may wish to delay finalising your travel arrangements until after this date.

OUDCE reserves the right to cancel a course at short notice in exceptional circumstances that would prevent the course from being delivered e.g. tutor illness. In these rare instances, we will notify you as soon as possible and arrange a transfer to another available Oxford Experience course. If we cancel a course, our liability is limited to the fees that we have received from you; this means that we will not compensate you for any pre-booked travel costs or any other expenses incurred.

Where course fees have been paid in currencies other than pounds sterling, refunds will be subject to the exchange rate on the day they are processed.

3. Travel insurance 

The Department cannot be held responsible for any costs you may incur in relation to travel or accommodation bookings as a result of a course cancellation, or if you are unable to attend the course for any other reason. You are advised to check cancellation policies carefully and to purchase travel insurance.

Tutor

Dr Francesca Fulminante

Tutor

After a PhD from Cambridge University and post-doctoral positions at excellent Universities and Institutes across Europe, Francesca Fulminante is now Senior Researcher and Lecturer both in the UK (University of Bristol and Cambridge and Oxford University, Continuing Education) and Italy (University Roma Tre). She has recently obtained prestigious funding such as Max Weber Kollegium, Erfurt (2020-21) and Hanse-Wissenschaft Kollegium, Delmenhorst (2022-23) Fellowships and a Small British Academy/Leverhulme trust Grant (2024-25). Her research investigates through interdisciplinary approaches Mediterranean urbanization during the first Millennium BCE with a focus on central Italy. She is interested in varied topics ranging from settlement distribution and social hierarchy to transportation systems networks to religion and also gender and infancy studies.

Course aims

This course aims to:

  • Introduce the study of Roman civilization since the origin of Rome as a small village to the head of an Empire and its subsequent collapse.
  • Provide a general overview of the most important developments of Roman civilization from the Etruscan origin of Rome, its emergence in Italy, the conquest of the Mediterranean and most of continental Europe and the collapse of the empire.
  • Understand day to day life in Pre-Roman Italy and the Roman Empire by closely examining themes such as landscapes, burial, religion, household, gender and infancy.
  • Discuss and understand the ecological and environmental factors and the socio-political contingencies that underpin the rise and fall of Rome
  • Show how we can understand the ancient world practices through their manifestation in the archaeological record (material culture remains).

Teaching methods

The teaching methods used during this course may include:

  • Short lectures/presentations
  • Physical handouts
  • Seminars/group discussions

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be expected to understand:

  • Demonstrate the ability to analyse material culture and associate it with major ideas and principles of the ancient Roman society;
  • Show, through written work, how archaeological material is used to suggest interpretations about the ancient past;
  • Develop, through written work, how and why the classical world has contributed to ideas, perceptions, and aesthetics in the modern (western) world;
  • Demonstrate an understanding of change over time, the characteristics and development of aesthetic, chronological, socio-political phases, and daily practices of the ancient world.

Assessment methods

Participants are required to undertake preparatory reading and complete a pre-course assignment of 1,500 words. Although this does not count towards credit, it is seen as an important way of developing your ideas and is mandatory. The pre-course assignment is typically due in the first week of June.

You will be assessed during the summer school by either a 1,000 word written assignment or a presentation supported by individual documentation. To successfully gain credit (10 CATS points) students should attend all classes and complete the on-course assignment. Participants will attend two one-on-one tutorials with their tutor during the week.

OUSSA is an accredited summer school taught at undergraduate level; each one-week course carries 10 CATS (Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme) points at FHEQ (Framework for Higher Education Qualification) Level 4. Learn more about CATS points.

Certificate of Higher Education

Credit earned from OUSSA can be transferred towards our flexible Certificate of Higher Education.

Study when and where it suits you by gaining credit from short courses, including short online courses, weekly classes and OUSSA, and build your way to an Oxford University award. This part-time undergraduate programme lasts between two and four years depending on how intensively you want to study.  

Find out more about the Certificate of Higher Education.

Application

Most courses fill quickly so early registration is strongly recommended. If your preferred course is fully booked, you may wish to add yourself to the waiting list and the Programme Administrator will contact you should a place become available.

Please note, the programme is only open to those over the age of 18.

Single accommodation, double room for 1 person and non-residential places may be booked online by clicking on the “Book now” button in the “Course details” box at the top right-hand side of the course page.

Those requiring twin, double or accessible accommodation should complete an enrolment form as these rooms cannot be booked online. Please send the completed enrolment form to the email address below. Both the PDF and Word option of the form below are editable, so you can complete them online before saving and sending to us as an email attachment. You do not need to print and scan them. (Please use these forms only if you are making a twin or double booking for two people.)

Online enrolments require payment in full at the time of registering.

Those who do not wish to register online or who have specific requirements (eg an accessible bedroom) should contact the Programme Administrator directly at oussa@conted.ox.ac.uk or OUSSA, OUDCE, 1 Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JA, UK.

Accommodation

More information about our accommodation can be found here.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support