How to do well in History? Newbie at undergrad level trying to come to terms with...

[Liz G]

...the roman empire!? I'm an undergrad, my main degree is italian with history of art but at my university i can do an outside subject. I bravely decided to take on the Roman empire, beginning with August and going on to Constantine.

It's an intense course, I have 3 lectures a week but have to do major readings both to understand the lectures and for tutorials. This week alone I need to read Tacitus-the annals and the autobiography of Augustus, beside a chapter from the prescribed text.

Next week I'll have to do the same again. Bare in mind I also have to dedicate a lot of time to Italian and to reading for history of art.

The imperial chronology is somewhat overwhelming me. It's interesting though, whilst I find the translations of Tacitus difficult to read.