This course is an introduction to Roman history and culture as reflected foremost in writings by ancient authors.  Although it originated as a tiny city-state in central Italy, over the span of several centuries Rome grew into a superpower whose dominion reached from the Atlantic to the Indian Oceans, from Scotland to the Sahara.  The legacy of Rome today is far-reaching: Latin is at the root of several modern western languages; Roman political forms and processes are reflected in modern government; Roman literature still furnishes rhetorical and stylistic models.  Apart from exploring the importance of Roman achievements for the world in which we live, this course will also address several topics of particular relevance to the modern experience, including the meaning of the past, the nature of power, the construction of social and gender relations, and the interaction between cultures.  In this investigation, students will develop a familiarity with the basic geographic and historical conditions of the Roman world.  They will also read several major literary works of different genres that richly illustrate these themes, including prose and poetry by Plautus, Catullus, Sallust, Cicero, Vergil, Livy, Tacitus, Juvenal, Petronius, Apuleius, and early Christians.  Although the main focus will be on literature, we will also discuss examples of visual and material culture, including sculpture, architecture, and topography.  Class meetings will combine lecture and discussion.  Students will be graded on quizzes, three short analytical papers, and a final examination.