Charles Leslie Murison

Professor Emeritus
B.A., M.A. (Cambridge), Ph.D. (Edinburgh)

Talbot College, Room 429
661-2111 ext. 89159
cmurison@uwo.ca

 

Current Teaching (2009-2010):

·         Classical Studies 2700A “Technology and Engineering in the Ancient World” (Tu, Th 9:30am-10:20am) (TC 309) (First Term)

·         Greek 9150 “Greek Historiography: Alexander the Great” (Tu, Th 11:30am-12:20pm) (TC 403) (Graduate Course, First Term)

·         Classical Studies 2700B  “Technology and Engineering in the Ancient World” (Tu, Th 9:30am-10:20am) (TC 309) (Second Term)

·         Classical Studies 2902B  “Selected Topics in Ancient History: Alexander the Great” (Tu, Th 11:30am-12:20pm) (TC 309) (Second Term)

Teaching Areas:

  • Ancient Civilisation; Greek and Roman History and Historians; Technology in the Ancient World.

Research Interests:

  • Roman History from 100 B.C. to A.D. 200

Current Projects:

  • The reigns of Nerva, Trajan and Hadrian in the Roman History of Cassius Dio.

 

Publications:

BOOKS PUBLISHED:

  • Suetonius: Galba, Otho, and Vitellius. Edited with introduction and historical commentary. Bristol Classical Press, England, 1992
  • Galba, Otho and Vitellius: Careers and Controversies. Georg Olms Verlag, Hildesheim, 1993
  • Rebellion and Reconstruction: Galba to Domitian. An Historical Commentary on Cassius Dio's Roman History Books 64-67 (A.D. 68-96). Scholars Press, Atlanta, Ga. 1999

    ARTICLES PUBLISHED:
  • "The Peace of Callias: Its Historical Context," Phoenix 25 (1971) 12-31
  • "Darius III and the Battle of Issus," Historia 21 (1972) 399-423
  • Introduction to C. Schrader, La Paz de Calias: Testimonios e Interpretacion (Barcelona, 1976)
  • "Some Vitellian Dates: an Exercise in Methodology," Trans. Amer. Philol. Assoc. 109 (1979) 187-197
  • "Galba in Germany, A.D. 43?" Historia 34 (1985) 254-256
  • "The Revolt of Saturninus in Upper Germany, A.D. 89," Echos du Monde Classique 29 (1985) 31-49
  • "Tiberius, Vitellius and the Spintriae," Anc. Hist. Bulletin 1.4 (1987) 97-99
  • "The Historical Value of Tacitus' `Histories'," Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt II. 33.3 (1991) 1686-1713
  • "The Death of Titus: A Reconsideration," Anc. Hist. Bulletin 9.3/4 (1995) 135-142
    Encyclopedia of Greece and the Hellenic Tradition. Articles on Cartography, Crates of Mallus, Delian League, Historiography (classical period). Fitzroy Dearborn, London, 2000.

    ARTICLES ACCEPTED:
  • “M. Cocceius Nerva and the Flavians”, TAPA, 133.1, (Spring, 2003)

    BOOK REVIEWS:
  • R. H. Webb; translation of Aristophanes' Peace in Phoenix 19 (1965) 95-96
  • E. T. Owen: The Story of the Iliad: in Alphabet 8 (1966) 72-74
  • M. Hadas: The Living Tradition in Classical News and Views 12 (1968) 67-69
  • E. M. Smallwood: Documents Illustrating the Principates of Gaius, Claudius and Nero in Phoenix 22 (1968) 360-362
  • P. Petit: La Paix Romaine in American Journal of Philology 91 (1970) 101-104
  • P. Green: Alexander the Great in Phoenix 25 (1971) 194
  • James Paton Isaac: Factors in the Ruin of Antiquity: A Criticism of Ancient Civilization in Classical News and Views 17 (1973) 78-80
  • F. Schachermeyr: Alexander der Grosse in Classical World 69, 2 (1975) 137-139
  • E. S. Ramage: Urbanitas. Ancient Sophistication and Refinement in Classical World 69, 3 (1975) 216-217
  • P. A. Brunt: Arrian: Anabasis I-IV in Phoenix 31 (1977) 379-380
  • The Institutes of Gaius. Translated with introduction by W. M. Gordon and O. E. Robinson in ECM 34 (1990) 463-465
  • B.W. Jones (ed.) Suetonius: Vespasian in Classical Review 52 (2002), 23-24

    PAPERS READ:
  • November, 1967: "Before the Battle of Issus" (Ontario Classical Association)
  • May, 1969: "The Peace of Callias -- yet again!" (Ancient Historians of New York and Ontario)
  • February, 1971: "Problems in the Principate of Otho" (University of Hull)
  • February, 1971: "Darius III and the Battle of Issus" (S. Yorks, branch of the Classical Association)
  • October, 1972: "The Chronology of Otho's Military Preparations" (Cornell University)
  • February, 1975: "The Roman Empire: A Banana Republic?" (Faculty of Arts Lecture Series)
  • June, 1975: "The Death of Alexander the Great" (Edmonton: Classical Association of Canada)
  • October, 1976: "III Non. Iun.: The Uses and Abuses of Evidence in Ancient History" (Waterloo: Ontario Classical Association)
  • June, 1977: "The Date of the Battle of Vesontio in A.D. 68" (Fredericton: Classical Association of Canada)
  • June, 1977: "The Teaching of Roman Law" (Fredericton: Classical Association of Canada)
  • October, 1978: "Evidence in Ancient History" (University of Hull; April, 1979 - University of Durham)
  • October, 1978: "The Nature of the Roman Empire" (Hull and District Branch of the Classical Association)
  • June, 1979: "Two Military Revolts in Germany -- Vitellius and Saturninus, A.D. 69/89" (University of Edinburgh)
  • May, 1981: "The Revolt of Saturninus in Upper Germany, A.D. 89" (Halifax: Classical Association of Canada)
  • April, 1982: "Dio's Portraits of Galba, Otho and Vitellius" (Saskatoon: Conference of the Dio Project)
  • October-November, 1982: "Eastern Tour" undertaken at invitation of Classical Association of Canada; papers delivered as follows: "The Nature of the Roman Empire" (Memorial University, Acadia University, St. Francis Xavier University, Mt. Allison University, University of New Brunswick, Bishop's University, Concordia University); "Two Military Revolts in Germany, A.D. 69 and 89" (Sir Wilfrid Grenfell College, Dalhousie University, McGill University); "III Non. Iun.: Some Uses and Abuses of Evidence in Ancient History" (Acadia University, McGill University, Bishop's University)
  • October, 1988: "Epidemics in the Ancient World" (St. Thomas-Elgin Branch, Ontario Medical Association)
  • October, 1993: "Time and Distance - and Some Historical Problems" (U.W.O., Colloquium on Trade and Communication in the Ancient World)
  • October, 2000: "Who was...the Emperor Nerva?" (Faculty Graduate Symposium, McMaster University)

    WORK IN PROGRESS:
  • Review of Cambridge ancient History, Vol. II "The High Empire, A.D. 70-192" (Cambridge, 2000), pp. xxi, 1222
  • Historical Commentary on Cassius Dio's Roman History Books 68-73 (A.D. 96-192).