In one experimental elective, Harvard professors Emma Dench and Frances Frei comb through writings of notable ancient Roman personalities and reflect how these are still relevant at present.
History is taught in school because of the events and personalities that shape a specific period of time and how these events and the actions of leaders and relevant individuals affected people and their environment. Looking through these, students can also learn some relevant points on leadership.
Dench, a Visiting Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, is a seasoned expert in classical history and has written books in ancient European history. She's also widely recognized for her work with her undergraduate student, providing them excellent advice and mentoring.
Frei is a professor in the Technology and Operations Management Unit of Harvard Business School and is the best selling author of Uncommon Service: How to Win by Putting Customers at the Core of Your Business.
Their collaboration resulted in a sophomore elective for Harvard's MBA students focusing on how ancient Rome was able to oversee and expand their empire that lasted several centuries. The course aims to scrutinize Roman organizational structure, power dynamics and leadership practices.
While the professors already prepared a syllabus and designed a structure for the class, they made changes and modified as they go. The class which was initially skeptical of the course came to receive it very well. Both educators and learners were delighted with the experience.
"So I think being able to scrutinize things that we might all do in our lives and careers that we're not particularly aware of through these quite outlandish examples has been astonishing for the students." Dench commented on the Harvard Gazette.
Professor Dench also highlighted the uniqueness of the Roman Empire compared to other imperial societies because of the important role it played in European history and its ties to American culture and consciousness.
Professor Dench also noted it was not difficult for the students to transpose the use of power, force, rewards and punishment of ancient Rome to modern American political scene.
