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Accessibility statement
Qualification dates
StartEnd
03 Oct 2026Jun 2027
At its height, the Roman empire stretched from Scotland to Syria. This module will introduce you to this empire, addressing questions such as how this vast multicultural population of diverse ethnic, cultural and religious groups maintained itself. How was it viewed by those who ruled it? What forces held the empire together, and what happened when these came under pressure? You'll learn how to use written sources and archaeological remains to explore these fundamental questions about what the empire was, how it worked, what it meant to be Roman and the continuing legacy of the empire.
The module consists of five main blocks and a conclusion. Each block emphasises a different aspect or way of thinking about the Roman empire.
The module begins by asking big questions about what we mean when we write about ‘the Roman empire’, introducing you to the different ways in which it can be investigated. Equipped with an understanding of the different types of sources that can be used to examine the empire, you will then begin to explore it from a number of alternative perspectives. This begins with the view from Rome, at the centre of the empire, before moving on to consider the military, governmental and economic mechanisms and structures which enabled the empire to function successfully. After this, you'll explore the cultural forces that shaped what it meant to be ‘Roman’ before assessing the impact of changes that took place during the later empire, as well as the continued significance of the empire for later generations.
As the module progresses, you are expected to develop a degree of independence in learning to the extent that you are able to complete independent analyses using the skills you have learned in the course of your study.
The module uses a number of interactive resources, accessed via the module website, including an interactive map which will enable you to locate and explore a variety of different sites and regions across the empire. You'll also watch a series of videos presenting evidence from key sites in different parts of the empire, including Britain, Italy and Morocco. Audio discussions and features allow you to listen to experts debating the key issues raised in the written material and help you develop skills related to the evaluation of particular types of ancient source material. ICT is also used to give access to a range of specialist websites that comprise works of reference and scholarship in the field.
The module content is as follows:
Block 1: Framing the empire

You'll be introduced to the history and geography of the empire, considering the different narratives constructed to tell its story. Using Hadrian’s Wall as a case study, you'll learn how to evaluate a range of primary sources through which we construct our knowledge of the empire.
Block 2: The heart of empire: the city of Rome

In this block, you'll concentrate on the benefits and problems of empire from the perspective of its centre. You'll examine snapshots of Rome at key periods to investigate how the development of the empire impacted upon its monumental landscape. You'll study key sites within the city, the emperors who shaped them, and the community who lived there, before following in the footsteps of Hadrian to journey away from Rome towards the provinces.
Block 3: Structures of empire

The emphasis of this block is on the different mechanisms used by Roman emperors to govern, control and support such a vast empire. You'll evaluate the role of the army, examine the nature of local government and the importance of cities as focal points for Roman authority and law, before looking at how the empire’s economy not only allowed it to prosper but connected its disparate parts.
Block 4: A cultural empire

You'll examine the cultural influences that united the empire, focusing on issues of identity, religion, diversity and shared ideas about Roman urban life and leisure. As you explore how people lived and died in the empire, you will also be introduced to ongoing and dynamic debates about varied responses to Roman culture and the process of ‘Romanization’.
Block 5: Legacy of empire

Your attention turns to a series of case studies that consider the extent to which late antiquity was a period of continuity or change. How did the empire respond to the pressures of ‘barbarian’ incursions and economic crisis, and how did it draw upon its own history to create a new imperial focus at Constantinople? In what ways has the Roman empire continued to have an impact in the modern world?
Block 6: Conclusion

A short case study brings together the themes, materials, sources and debates that you have studied in order to consider what the empire was, the impact that it had on the people who lived within it, and why it was so important.
This is an OU level 3 module. OU level 3 modules build on the skills and subject knowledge acquired from studies at OU levels 1 and 2. They are intended only for students who have recent experience of higher education in a related subject, preferably at the OU.
Although no particular modules are required before studying this one, we recommend that you have taken at least two arts modules at OU levels 1 and 2. The OU level 1 modules Discovering the arts and humanities (A111), Cultures (A112) or Revolutions (A113), as well as any OU level 2 arts module, would be ideal preparation. This is because the module has been designed to enable you to apply and develop skills in working with source material that you would get from an interdisciplinary or single-discipline OU level 2 module.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available.
Course work includes:
You’ll be provided with three printed module books and have access to a module website, which includes:
You will need a headset with a microphone and earphones to record the audio presentation component of the second tutor-marked assignment.
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone, and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying A340 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our Disability support website.
The Roman empire starts once a year – in October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2026, when we expect it to start for the last time.
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