Roman Empire

Harris is fantastic! A jewel in Columbia's crown. Yes, you may not like his class, but not because of him, but because of the two of you -- if he 'aint your style (which you'll be able to tell if you show up for the first session and 'shop'). The fact is, Roman history is not at all static and received. It is highly debated and fluid, and it is truly a gift to be in such knowledgeable and even hands as Harris'. Be prepared for 80% of the class to be totally oblivious to his incredible wit that only a Brit could summon -- if you're in on it, though, it will be completely hilarious. A true master of the subject. Go to his office hours. Take notes. Don't skip class.

Worst history class I've taken so far here. The other reviewers must be freshmen--they're definitely not history majors. True, Harris is entertaining for his eccentric personality, but then again, dozens of Columbia profs are. But the course: basically a lot of memorization, no interpretation--i.e., all the fun drained out of history. There is a 50% chance you will get the TA who does not speak English, yet returns every year. Grading is wildly unpredictable at best, due to the swapping between the two TAs and Harris, each of which has different standards. If you want Roman history, buy the readable Marcel Le Glay textbook Harris uses, and go through it yourself over X-mas vacation. Then take a better history course in the spring.

This guy's a trip! Lectures are a lot of fun. He essentially despises the ancient Romans as a people, yet he's a specialist in this field. He'll ramble on from battle to battle and what not, but I recommend this class.

Professor Harris had a great sense of humor. And not all of us got the joke all the time. He brought the material to life by dividing the subject matter thematically. Definitely into S&M, and I liked it. Not an easy class for the brain-dead.

Harris looks like a stereotypical Hollywood vision of a professor. Lectures are wonderfully informative and interesting -- Harris has a sense of humor that could only belong to a doddering old British man. Fast talker, anyone who tries to capture it all can expect writer's cramp after every class. Roman History: The reading list is frightening but you can still do well with the main books and a few of the 'required' primary sources.

'Doddering old man' just isn't true. He's got a strong sense of style, and sports a spiffy leather jacket with badass sunglasses. In the Roman Empire course, the thematic lectures are the most interesting and informative; the rest are largely recitations of dates and facts which he doesn't expect you to remember but apparently enjoys sharing. If he focused more on the general picture perhaps he wouldn't have to speak so quickly (sometimes incomprehensibly) to get all the dates, places, votes, and battles in.