I am in Dire Need of Advice :(

[J_the_Centrist]

OK, I have to present a description for my thesis on the reign of the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus and I have already completed it. The research I engaged in was very detailed and thorough to the point of utter exhaustion. One of the topics I decided to cover was Severus’ legacy and that is the problem, in the course of my research I could find no other far reaching unintended or intended consequence of Severus’ reign than the martyrdom of Perpetua. She is in all likelihood the first Christian woman to ever author anything, in addition she is one of the few women from the ancient world to author anything, period. Her name was mentioned in church many times over the years, although only briefly in about a sentence or two, but Severus’ decree is the reason she is mentioned at all. In order to avoid any controversy, I have strived to find any other such legacy on the reign of Severus, which extends into our present time and I am unable to do so.

My fear is that this may have an unintended consequence for me, as this professor is not a Christian and also because I have encountered this type of nonsense in the past. On one such occasion a professor interrupted an oral presentation I was giving, humiliating me in from of the class and bringing my presentation to an abrupt end. This was all because my presentation was favorable towards the Christian faith and there are other examples believe me! These acts of denigration occurred many years ago and I don’t want to relive them again, especially when my thesis is what I need to be concerned about! However, now that I have come to this conclusion I am fully resolved to move forward, though I am a bit frightened as I don’t know how this professor will react. I am also resolved and firm that if she wants me to change direction, than Severus’ reign will not be my thesis topic. I need advice, any feedback will be greatly appreciated on what I should do.

 

[DavidFilmer]

You say this is a “thesis” and your profile says you are in New York. Are you a candidate for a master’s degree?

If so, your thesis presentation should be judged by a committee (a jury), not by a single professor. The jury cannot dismiss your testimony without finding fault with it.

Or is this a “senior project” for a bachelor’s degree, as is done at several US universities?

Either way, you should have an academic adviser (a professor, or maybe a doctrinal student assigned to a professor). What does your adviser tell you?

If you are pursuing a Bachelor’s degree, your “thesis” should be acceptable provided it is well grounded with references. It cannot be dismissed simply because the reviewer does not personally agree with it (if it is, you should appeal to the Dean).

 

[Rolltide]

From what I understand, Septimius Severus was responsible for transforming the character of the Roman army. He doubled pay, which raised the imperial budget by about 25%. The army also had laxer discipline, more pleasant duties, and greater opportunity for advancement, largely to attempt to attract more men into the army. The long term consequence of this was to wipe out small independent family farms in favor of the large latifundias. (The poor farmers joined the army.) This reduced agricultural production. Also, since the army became more focused on external threats, domestic peace declined because the military was not as present in rural areas to protect travelers on roads. One result of this was debasement of coinage and inflation. The result of massively increased expenses and having to demand services that were given freely in the past was that the empire began living hand to mouth.

I’d say this is a fairly significant legacy. It almost collapsed the empire, until the brief revival under Diocletian and Constantine.

 

[J_the_Centrist]

From what I understand, Septimius Severus was responsible for transforming the character of the Roman army. He doubled pay, which raised the imperial budget by about 25%. The army also had laxer discipline, more pleasant duties, and greater opportunity for advancement, largely to attempt to attract more men into the army. The long term consequence of this was to wipe out small independent family farms in favor of the large latifundias. (The poor farmers joined the army.) This reduced agricultural production. Also, since the army became more focused on external threats, domestic peace declined because the military was not as present in rural areas to protect travelers on roads. One result of this was debasement of coinage and inflation. The result of massively increased expenses and having to demand services that were given freely in the past was that the empire began living hand to mouth.

I’d say this is a fairly significant legacy. It almost collapsed the empire, until the brief revival under Diocletian and Constantine.

Yes, but I am referring to a legacy that extends into our own time. Those other issues are laid out in my analysis and yes I do mention the legacy into Constantine’s reign. His legacy even extended now into art, Constantine seems to have used the innovations in art that Severus instituted. However, she is the only legacy I can find that exists to this day, especially since she is revered throughout the world. That legacy is a direct result of Severus’ decree. Do you understand what I mean now?

 

[Linusthe2nd]

OK, I have to present a description for my thesis on the reign of the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus and I have already completed it. The research I engaged in was very detailed and thorough to the point of utter exhaustion. One of the topics I decided to cover was Severus’ legacy and that is the problem, in the course of my research I could find no other far reaching unintended or intended consequence of Severus’ reign than the martyrdom of Perpetua. She is in all likelihood the first Christian woman to ever author anything, in addition she is one of the few women from the ancient world to author anything, period. Her name was mentioned in church many times over the years, although only briefly in about a sentence or two, but Severus’ decree is the reason she is mentioned at all. In order to avoid any controversy, I have strived to find any other such legacy on the reign of Severus, which extends into our present time and I am unable to do so.

My fear is that this may have an unintended consequence for me, as this professor is not a Christian and also because I have encountered this type of nonsense in the past. On one such occasion a professor interrupted an oral presentation I was giving, humiliating me in from of the class and bringing my presentation to an abrupt end. This was all because my presentation was favorable towards the Christian faith and there are other examples believe me! These acts of denigration occurred many years ago and I don’t want to relive them again, especially when my thesis is what I need to be concerned about! However, now that I have come to this conclusion I am fully resolved to move forward, though I am a bit frightened as I don’t know how this professor will react. I am also resolved and firm that if she wants me to change direction, than Severus’ reign will not be my thesis topic. I need advice, any feedback will be greatly appreciated on what I should do.

The Catholic Encyclopedia had a few paragraphs here : newadvent.org/cathen/13721a.htm

There is also a New Catholic Encyclopedia which most good libraries would have. It might have more.

Wikipedia has a long list of sources and references here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Septimius_Severus

About.com Ancient/Classical history has a list of sources and references here:
ancienthistory.about.com/cs/rome/a/aa0629999.htm

Historia Augusta seems a major source. See:
penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Historia_Augusta/Septimius_Severus*.html

All I did was google " Septimus Severus. " More info is there as well. Good luck.

Linus2nd

 

[J_the_Centrist]

You say this is a “thesis” and your profile says you are in New York. Are you a candidate for a master’s degree?

If so, your thesis presentation should be judged by a committee (a jury), not by a single professor. The jury cannot dismiss your testimony without finding fault with it.

Or is this a “senior project” for a bachelor’s degree, as is done at several US universities?

Either way, you should have an academic adviser (a professor, or maybe a doctrinal student assigned to a professor). What does your adviser tell you?

If you are pursuing a Bachelor’s degree, your “thesis” should be acceptable provided it is well grounded with references. It cannot be dismissed simply because the reviewer does not personally agree with it (if it is, you should appeal to the Dean).

The thesis is only in the embryonic phase and I am only presenting a proposal of what I would like to write about. This professor is supposed to be my primmary assistance throuhout the process. I have already discussed various issues relating to my topic with the deputy of the department as well as the office of graduate studies, in addition to other professors. She is the one that requires immediate convincing and that is what I am concerned about as I was assigned to her, I don’t want to have any negativity associated with my thesis. Furthermore, she is the only ancient historian in the graduate department right now, so her accedence is crucial.

 

[Aloysium]

You may be feeling overly anxious about this.
Do your best.
Your prof is a “she” and your thesis will be stating that the lasting contribution was by a “she”; not wishing to sound sexist, but that may be an advantage in getting your proposal OK’d.
We will pray for you.
Let us know how it turns out.

 

[J_the_Centrist]

You may be feeling overly anxious about this.
Do your best.
Your prof is a “she” and your thesis will be stating that the lasting contribution was by a “she”; not wishing to sound sexist, but that may be an advantage in getting your proposal OK’d.
We will pray for you.
Let us know how it turns out.

I have thought about that and yes, I mention quite extensively that Perpetua is respected by modern day feminists, even quoting from a few of them. There is no missing the message that I emphasize the “women’s issue”, even though I fail to see how Perpetua being probably the first Christian woman to author anything is not a “women’s issue.” It should also be stated that my conclusions are academic and not spiritual, that also is emphasized, although I am unapologetic about my faith as we all should be! The legacies of Severus’ reign on the surface extend no later than the reign of Constantine at best. The fact that Perpetua is mentioned in churches around the world and is honored in most, if not all denominations, as well as that she is a hero among some feminists and historians is a direct result of Severus’ decree. More people around the world are probably more familiar with Perpetua than they are with Severus, who is most likely only referred to within the confines of academia. My proposal is very detailed, so detailed that it is twice as long as was originally assigned and everything I address is not drawn-out. Rather, all if not most of the theories on Severus’ reign are presented briefly and treated with respect, even if I don’t agree with their conclusions. For example, I agree with Eric Birley’s conclusions, as opposed to Charles Freeman’s on the issue of Severus’ marriage and vice versa on other issues. So, Perpetua is not the primary focus of this paper and as I previously mentioned I tried everything possible to avoid this conclusion, but for me to suggest that she is not the most enduring legacy of Severus’ reign, would only be a fallacy.

 

[J_the_Centrist]

You may be feeling overly anxious about this.
Do your best.
Your prof is a “she” and your thesis will be stating that the lasting contribution was by a “she”; not wishing to sound sexist, but that may be an advantage in getting your proposal OK’d.
We will pray for you.
Let us know how it turns out.

Oh I am sorry I didn’t say this in my previous post, thank you for your kind thoughts, your words brought me comfort!

 

[Rolltide]

Yes, but I am referring to a legacy that extends into our own time. Those other issues are laid out in my analysis and yes I do mention the legacy into Constantine’s reign. His legacy even extended now into art, Constantine seems to have used the innovations in art that Severus instituted. However, she is the only legacy I can find that exists to this day, especially since she is revered throughout the world. That legacy is a direct result of Severus’ decree. Do you understand what I mean now?

I see, yes. Is the month of September named after him, or was it just the seventh month on the calendar?

 

[J_the_Centrist]

I see, yes. Is the month of September named after him, or was it just the seventh month on the calendar?

No, the month of September was in existence even before the time of Christ. If there was such a legacy associated with Severus, I would certainly have known about it and I would certainly utilize it. Perpetua, really is the most enduring legacy of Severus’ reign, I am becoming more convinced of that by the minute! Now this can be disputed, but I encourage you to read my previous post where I address these matters in more detail. If you can think of anything more enduring associated with his reign, I beg you to share it and I suggest that with all due respect!

 

[J_the_Centrist]

The Catholic Encyclopedia had a few paragraphs here : newadvent.org/cathen/13721a.htm

There is also a New Catholic Encyclopedia which most good libraries would have. It might have more.

Wikipedia has a long list of sources and references here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Septimius_Severus

About.com Ancient/Classical history has a list of sources and references here:
ancienthistory.about.com/cs/rome/a/aa0629999.htm

Historia Augusta seems a major source. See:
penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Historia_Augusta/Septimius_Severus*.html

All I did was google " Septimus Severus. " More info is there as well. Good luck.

Linus2nd

I have already become very familiar with all of these links, I resisted looking at them until just now due to my assumption that I have already encountered them. It turns out my assumptions were confirmed just now, in addition to these sites I have about 10 books in my possession that I have referred to, thus far. I appreciate the links, your efforts in trying to help me are very appreciated, thank you and God bless you.

 

[J_the_Centrist]

I just wanted to let everyone who reads this know that I submitted my analysis. Whether the professor receives it with an open mind is another matter. Nevertheless, I know that I have right on my side and as I previously stated, my conclusions are academic and not spiritual. Thank you everyone for your (name removed by moderator)ut and advice, I really appreciate it!

J