Overview

Explore the lives of great, powerful, influential, and interesting Romans in this course by the unforgettable J. Rufus Fears. “Famous Romans” presents the stories of remarkable individuals—statesmen, thinkers, warriors, and writers—who shaped the history of the Roman Empire and, by extension, our own culture. This course consists of 24 engaging lectures that delve into the achievements and legacies of these historical figures.

Professor Fears divides the course into three significant epochs in Roman history: the Second Punic War, the end of the Roman Republic, and the imperial era from Augustus to Marcus Aurelius. You’ll discover the profound impact of each character on the trajectory of Roman and world history.

Course Structure

1. Publius Cornelius Scipio (33 min)
   • Understand the role of Scipio during the Second Punic War.

• Hannibal (30 min)
  • Examine the life of Hannibal, Rome’s formidable adversary.

• Gaius Flaminius (31 min)
  • Analyze the political and military context of Flaminius at Lake Trasimene.

• Quintus Fabius Maximus (31 min)
  • Discover Fabius’s strategies to combat Hannibal’s aggression.

5. Scipio Africanus the Elder (31 min)
   • Investigate Scipio’s decisive victory at the Battle of Zama.

• Scipio the Younger (31 min)
  • Learn about Scipio’s experiences during the fall of Carthage.

7. Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus (31 min)
   • Explore the reforms attempted by the Gracchi brothers to address social inequalities.

• Crassus (31 min)
  • Study how Crassus leveraged wealth for power in Rome.

• Gaius Julius Caesar (31 min)
  • Delve into Caesar’s leadership and conquest of Gaul.

• Caesar and Vercingetorix (31 min)
  • Examine Caesar’s victory over the Celtic leader in the Gallic Wars.

11. Pompey the Great (31 min)
    • Discuss Pompey’s role in the civil war against Caesar.

• Cato the Younger (31 min)
  • Discover Cato’s ideals of virtue and his opposition to Caesar.

• Brutus and the Opposition to Caesar (31 min)
  • Analyze the motivations behind Brutus’s involvement in Caesar’s assassination.

• Cicero (31 min)
  • Learn how Cicero championed justice and integrity in Roman politics.

15. Augustus (31 min)
    • Investigate the rise of Augustus and his impact on the Roman Empire.

16. Vergil (31 min)
    • Delve into Vergil’s contributions to literature during Augustus’s reign.

17. Claudius (31 min)
    • Understand the complexities of Claudius’s rule and reign.

• Nero (31 min)
  • Explore the reign of Nero and its dramatic consequences for Rome.

• Trajan (30 min)
  • Study the prosperous reign of Trajan and his reforms.

• Hadrian (31 min)
  • Discover Hadrian’s architectural achievements and governance.

21. Epictetus (31 min)
    • Learn about the teachings of the Stoic philosopher, Epictetus.

• Apuleius (31 min)
  • Investigate the literary contributions of Apuleius during the 2nd century.

23. Plutarch, Suetonius, and Tacitus (31 min)
    • Examine the works of these historians and their relevance to Roman history.

24. Marcus Aurelius (32 min)
    • Reflect on the life and philosophy of the Stoic emperor, Marcus Aurelius.