'Foreigners and Propaganda: War and Peace in the Imperial Images of Augustus and Qin Shi Huangdi' (MA in Classics, 2018).
This thesis explores the relationship between the portrayals of foreign peoples and concepts of ‘moral’ or ‘just’ warfare during the reigns of Augustus (r. 27 BCE–14 CE) and the first emperor of the Qin dynasty (221 BCE–206 CE), Qin Shi Huangdi (r. 221 BCE–210 BCE), from China. This thesis examines the manner and method by which the two emperors portray foreign peoples but also analyses the reasons behind such portrayals and how they were manipulated to form the emperors’ imperial images and ideologies (and vice versa, how their imperial images or ideologies might have influenced Roman and Chinese portrayals of foreigners). The Res Gestae of Augustus and the stele inscriptions of Qin Shi Huangdi form the core of the analysis.
Supervisors: Dr Hyun Jin Kim, Associate Professor Frederik Vervaet
Who am I? What does it mean to be human? Where do I belong? These have always been central and urgent questions for the humanities. The 2016 SHAPS flagship public lecture series explored such questions under the broad theme of “Identities”. The concept of identity, both individual and collective, is fraught with complexity. There has always existed a multiform universe of parallel identities in every human society, profoundly colouring and shaping the ways people think and act. In this lecture series, a diverse group of inspiring speakers approached the topic of identity from a range of perspectives, informed by the School’s vibrant mix of disciplines. What makes a person, a civilisation, or an object the same over time? How much change can we undergo and yet remain identical? What role does our knowledge of the past play in defining the ways we understand who we are today? How are we connected to our heritage and future? How do race and gender construct who we are? Take a look, hear for yourself, and leave a slightly different person!
Videos of lectures on this theme are available through the links below.
Lectures
Professor Yasmin Saikia Nations, Neighbours & Humanity
Image: AUSSIE Posters, 2018. Image © Peter Drew. Thanks to Peter for the permission to use his images. For more on his AUSSIE Posters head to his website.
Selected content from the 2015 SHAPS public lecture series on 'Conflict':
Dr David M. Pritchard (University of Queensland), War and Military Spending in the Ancient Athenian Democracy
Professor Guoqi Xu (University of Hong Kong), The First World War and China’s Great Awakening
Rodric Braithwaite (British ambassador to the USSR under Gorbachev and award-winning writer and historian), Managing Putin
Image: riots-14, 2012. Photograph © Thanasis Troboukis via Flickr CC BY-NC 2.0
