film

Historical Context and Timeline

• General Knowledge: The midterm will assess your knowledge of Roman history, including the Roman Republic, the Roman Empire, and key figures such as Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, and Commodus.

• Timeline of Key Events:

  • 8th Century BC: Rome begins as a small town in Italy.

  • 3rd-2nd Centuries BC: Rome expands around the Mediterranean, conquering the Carthaginian Empire and Hellenistic Greek kingdoms.

  • 73-71 BC: The slave revolt led by Spartacus.

  • 60-53 BC: The First Triumvirate (Pompey, Crassus, and Caesar).

  • 55-30 BC: Setting for Cleopatra and Carry On Cleo.

    • 55 BC: Julius Caesar's first invasion of Britain.

    • 49 BC: Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon, initiating a civil war.

    • 48 BC: Julius Caesar defeats Pompey in Egypt and meets Cleopatra.

    • 44 BC: Julius Caesar is assassinated.

    • 31 BC: Octavian defeats Mark Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium.

    • 30 BC: Mark Antony and Cleopatra commit suicide; Egypt becomes a Roman province.

  • 27 BC: Octavian becomes Augustus, the first Roman Emperor, and establishes the Pax Romana.

  • 1st-2nd Century AD: Pax Romana.

  • AD 68: Death of Nero; civil war breaks out.

  • AD 69-96: Flavian Dynasty.

  • AD 96-180: Nerva-Antonine Dynasty; Emperors were adopted, not blood-related.

  • AD 161-180: Reign of Marcus Aurelius.

    • AD 180: Death of Marcus Aurelius; Beginning of Gladiator.

  • AD 180-192: Reign of Commodus.

    • AD 192: Death of Commodus.

  • 3rd Century AD: Crisis of the Third Century.

    • AD 293: Diocletian divides the empire into four sections (Tetrarchy).

  • Early 4th Century: Constantine reunites the empire and becomes the first Christian Roman Emperor.

    • AD 380: Christianity becomes the state religion of the Roman Empire under Theodosius I.

    • AD 391: The Temple of Serapis in Alexandria is destroyed by Christians; Start of Agora.

    • AD 395: Theodosius I dies, and the Roman Empire is divided for the last time.

    • AD 412: Cyril becomes Bishop of Alexandria.

    • AD 415: Hypatia is murdered; End of Agora.

  • AD 476: Fall of Western Roman Empire.

  • AD 1453: Fall of Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire).

History in Film

• Signaling the Roman World: Films use various visual and auditory cues to indicate ancient Rome, including:

  • Costumes: Soldiers in similar armor across different eras, togas for senators and emperors.

  • Architecture: Colosseum, triumphal arches, and senate buildings.

  • Interior Decor: Houses and palaces based on the ruins of Pompeii, Roman Egypt, and hybrid Egyptian-Greek styles.

• Inaccuracies and Their Effects:

  • Made-up Characters: Maximus in Gladiator or Davos in Agora serve specific narrative purposes.

  • Changed Characters: Alterations to historical figures like Commodus or Hypatia to create a more compelling story.

  • Altered Plotlines: Changing historical events, such as Mark Antony meeting Cleopatra before Caesar's death in Carry On Cleo.

Ancient Themes in Films

• Slaves and Gladiators: How slaves are portrayed in film impacts who the audience perceives as the "good guys".

• Enemies of Rome:

  • External threats such as barbarians and "effeminate" Easterners.

  • Internal threats such as corruption and ambitious individuals.

The Historical Epic Film in Hollywood

• Uses of Ancient History:

  • Bringing the past to life visually.

  • Providing escapism and spectacle.

  • Offering commentary on contemporary issues through a historical lens.

• Characteristics of Historical Epics:

  • On-screen text to establish historical context.

  • Large scenery and sets.

  • Strong characters, both heroes and villains.

  • Weighty themes and important contemporary messages.

• Contemporary Context of the Films:

  • Spartacus (1960): Made in the U.S. during the Cold War and Civil Rights Movement.

  • Carry On Cleo (1964): Made in Britain as a parody of historical epics.

  • Gladiator (2000): Made in the U.S., reflecting anxieties about power and leadership.

  • Agora (2009): A European film responding to religious fundamentalism and the "War on Terror".

• Section 1: Short answers about history, including dates, places, characters, and relationships.

• Section 2: Comparing ancient sources and film.

• Section 3: Questions requiring several sentence answers about how films portray history, their epic film tradition, and their contemporary relevance.

• Specific examples to support answers are needed.