This module concentrates upon a critical period of Roman history, when Rome's first emperor came to power. It explores the emergence of a new political and social order at Rome - not just in the form of the emperor himself, but also new noble families, the imperial household (including women, children, freedmen, and slaves), equestrians, and the inter-relationship between the common people,or plebs, of Rome and Rome's autocratic ruler. The module deals with political, social, and cultural issues, confronting them through an inter-disciplinary study of literature, art, archaeology, inscriptions, architecture, and coins. The module does not limit itself to the city of Rome, but also considers the impact of Augustus' reign upon Italy and the provinces. It also assesses the changing perception of Augustus' historical importance in the eyes of post-antique societies, considering factors behind the relatively recent emphasis on Augustus rather than Julius Caesar as the key figure in the history of Rome.

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• assess the significance of material culture in the self-presentation of the Augustan regime
• appreciate the complexities of tracing the political history of a period for which no contemporary narrative historical source survives
• outline and understand the fundamental changes undergone by Roman society and politics from 31 BC to AD 14
• perceive how important the political programmes of modern regimes may be in forming our picture of the past
• develop methodological principles in how to deal with archaeology, epigraphy, numismatics, art, architecture, and literature
• be aware of the problems of studying the period chiefly through translated ancient texts