Romanisation: Interaction, Conquest and Change in Late Iron Age and Roman Dacia
| Module title | Romanisation: Interaction, Conquest and Change in Late Iron Age and Roman Dacia |
|---|---|
| Module code | ARC3408 |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Professor Ioana Oltean (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 10 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 15 |
|---|
Module description
The module assesses the archaeological impact of the Roman conquest on people and conquered territories through the case study of ancient Dacia,the only province to be conquered through warfare in the second century AD, when Rome was at the height of her power. The module employs extensive comparison with other Roman provinces conquered previously in order to build student awareness of how archaeological evidence contributes to critical, decolonized understandings of ancient imperialism.
Module aims - intentions of the module
Focusing on the case of one province of the Roman Empire, students will develop an archaeological understanding of the impact of the Roman civilisation on native cultures as an Empire-wide, changing phenomenon.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Show critical awareness of the importance of archaeological and historical context in interpreting social evolution in Dacia and the Roman Empire
- 2. Understand the concept of Romanisation as a process of cultural interaction and acculturation
- 3. Demonstrate knowledge of the archaeology of Iron Age and Roman Dacia (main sites, current
- 4. Show familiarity with the biases which apply to archaeological data and their effect on historical interpretation in Dacia and the Roman Empire
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Research a topic guided by a reading list and using your own initiative, to understand and interpret information from a range of sources
- 6. Produce an analytical overview/synthesis of a particular issue
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Participate in open discussion; express opinions based on reading; respond to comments
- 8. Produce clear and concise written work
- 9. Write clearly and concisely in English
Syllabus plan
Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Introduction to Romanisation
- The archaeological and historical background of the area
- The Roman conquest of Dacia and its provincial organisation
- Military presence
- Settlement pattern
- Economy
- Religion and spiritual life
- Society: colonists and natives
- The end of Roman Dacia
- Colonialism and nationalism in the archaeology of the Roman conquest of Dacia
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 130 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 16 | 8 x 2 hour lectures OR equivalent portfolio of online sessions, including lectures and presentations, both live and recorded, and online group activities |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 2 | 2 x workshops |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 2 | Tutorial |
| Guided independent study | 130 | Independent studying time |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workshop group project | 10 minutes group presentation plus class participation | 1-8 | Oral feedback (lecturer and peers) |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual presentation (choice of site brochure or digital exhibition) | 40 | 1000 words | 1-6; 9 | Mark and written feedback |
| Discussion paper | 60 | 2000 words | 1-6; 9 | Mark and written feedback |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual presentation (choice of site brochure or digital exhibition 1000 words) | Individual presentation (choice of site brochure or digital exhibition 1000 words) | 1-6; 9 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Discussion paper (2000 words) | Discussion paper (2000 words) | 1-6; 9 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Hanson, W.S. and Haynes, I.P. (eds) (2004). Roman Dacia: the making of a provincial society, JRA Supplementary Series 56, Portsmouth, Rhode Island.
- Oltean, I.A. (2007). Dacia. Landscape, Colonisation, Romanization, Routledge, London, New York
- Oltean IA, Hanson WS (2017). Conquest strategy and political discourse: new evidence for the conquest of Dacia from LiDAR analysis at Sarmizegetusa Regia. Journal of Roman Archaeology, 30, 429-446
- Oltean I, Fonte J (2019). Microtopographies of Dacian upland settlement strategies and community aggregation trends in the Or??tie Mountains, Romania. In Cowley DC, Fernandez-Gotz M, Romankiewicz T, Wendling H (Eds.) Rural Settlement Relating Buildings, Landscape, and People in the European Iron Age, Leiden: Sidestone Press, 251-261
- Pitts, M. and Miguel John Versluys, M.J. (eds) (2015). Globalisation and the Roman world: world history, connectivity and material culture Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (online).
- Popa, C. N. and Stoddart S. (eds). (2014). Fingerprinting the Iron Age: approaches to identity in the European Iron Age: integrating South-Eastern Europe into the debate. Oxford: Oxbow Books (online).
- Roselaar, S.T. (ed) (2015). Processes of cultural change and integration in the Roman world Leiden; Boston: Brill (online).
- Wells, P.S. (1999). The Barbarians speak: how the conquered peoples shaped Roman Europe, Princeton
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
| Credit value | 15 | |
|---|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 | |
| Module pre-requisites | None | |
| Module co-requisites | Students cannot also take: ARC2404: Romanization: Interaction, Conquest and Change in Late Roman and Iron Age Dacia
| |
| NQF level (module) | 6 | |
| Available as distance learning? | No | |
| Origin date | 01/03/2012 | |
| Last revision date | 05/02/2025 |