Representations of the Roman Empire, the Italian Middle Ages and the Renaissance are often topics of modern popular culture. In this course, you have read widely about the social, political, and cultural history of both periods.

You should be able to view cultural representations of ancient Rome amd Italy in the Middle Ages with a critical eye. In years past, classic movies like The Agony and the Ecstasy depicting the story of Michelangelo Buonarotti and painting of the Sistine Chapel won numerous film awards. Umberto Eco's In the Name of the Rose was also made into a film.

Films such as The Gladiator have glorified the culture of ancient Rome. I recommend them all! Moreover, today there are numerous TV series such as "The Borgias: and in recent years, "Rome." There are even video games that focus on Italian historical themes.

For this extra credit assignment, I would like you to choose an example of either ancient Rome or the Italian Middle Ages and Renaissance as seen through modern popular cullture.

Write a 700-900 word review of a film or other media example. Summarize the media example of your choice and then discuss it in light of what you have learned from this course.

The best reviews will draw on material from the course to analyze the film or other media example. Use MLA citation and include a Works Cited.